2026 Preview: Husky Softball

Photo by: Washington Athletics

February 02, 2026 | Softball

After an uncharacteristic year of many new faces and a new look to Washington softball, the Huskies are locked and loaded for a big year in 2026.

This season, UW welcomed 10 newcomers – nine new to college softball and one redshirt sophomore transfer. New to the purple and gold this season are Arizona transfer Ryan Maddox along with nine freshmen – Melody Acevedo, Kaycie Burdick, Mila Reddy, Marley Teasley, Amira Rodriguez, Allie Thomsen, Ally Hetzel, Zuri Patterson and Grazia Mazzola.

With just four returning Huskies between the 2024 and 2025 seasons, head coach Heather Tarr has a more consistent lineup look between 2025 and 2026 with 15 returning student-athletes.

Get to know our 10 newcomers! ????https://t.co/FtmHJWew8C
— Washington Softball (@UWSoftball) January 8, 2026

Despite only having four returners in 2025, the Huskies finished 35-19 and earned a spot in the NCAA Regionals, the 20^th time for head coach Heather Tarr in her 21-year stint (excluding 2020 – no postseason).

After the 2025 season, Washington lost graduating seniors Stevie Hansen, Haley Winckler, Charity Sevaaetasi and Alycia Flores as well as Madi Balk.

The Dawgs begin the 2026 campaign later this week at the UTSA Invitational in San Antonio. The Huskies, who were ranked in the preseason Top-25 by USA Softball, Softball America and D1 Softball, have opening weekend matchups with Top-25 Nebraska and defending national champion Texas on the docket.

BATTERY: PITCHING STAFF
With six capable arms available in the circle this season, Heather Tarr is excited for what's to come for her 2026 pitchers.

Sophia Ramuno, UW's only senior this season, has pitched a lot of innings of college softball and is in her second season as a Dawg. Ramuno spent the first two seasons of her collegiate career at Cal Poly where she had 12 complete games and was Top-5 in the Big West in multiple pitching categories. She's proven to be dominant in the circle – both at Cal Poly and at Washington – with an effective rise ball and effective off-speed pitch in her arsenal.

Morgan Reimer also brings strength to the Husky pitching staff after a great freshman campaign and summer. The sophomore spent last summer competing with Team Canada, helping her national team beat Team Japan, one of the best teams in the world, at the World Games.

"This was amazing for an athlete her age because those opportunities are coveted during collegiate development time," Coach Tarr said. "For her to compete as an intending Olympic athlete is near for the UW program and for her."

Reimer has upper velocities and a good off speed pitch that keeps people honest, so game plans against her are tough for opponents. She fields her position well and can be expected to be used for a good bulk of innings this season.

Rylee Rehbein adds to the pitching staff, and, as Coach Tarr put it, is sort of starting her sophomore season this year although she's a junior. Now with a season of Big Ten play under her belt, she knows what is expected of her. After last season with a new pitching coach and a new team, Rehbein has a ton of unique pitches in her arsenal that are great compliments to Ramuno and Reimer.

Ryan Maddox clearly brings something different to the Huskies. She is left-handed, UW's only left-handed pitcher, and overall wants to compete at the highest level. She won a national championship with the Orange County Bat Busters at the travel ball level. People know her and know of her. As a transfer from Arizona with a year of collegiate softball under her belt, she is in a situation where she gets a reset and a restart in her collegiate career.

"She's a competitor in the circle and a really good athlete," Coach Tarr said. "How she's developing and what she's going to do – she is effective in relief and matchup roles. She's a huge asset and a leader on the team. She is coming into her own as a pitcher and leader in the program."

Amira Rodriguez – a powerhouse athlete. The freshman has all the tools in the world to be great in the game, both offensively and as a pitcher. Rodriguez is a power pitcher, throwing with velocity that you like to have on your pitching staff. The Huskies will likely use her multiple times in a given weekend, whether that's in a relief or starting role.

The other freshman on the Husky pitching staff is Allie Thomsen, who brings a key piece to the pitching arsenal. She is an asset because she has the velocity and her pitches complement each other well. With her best years of her as a pitcher, Thomsen provides a tall, long and powerful look for the Huskies.

BATTERY: CATCHERS
Jadyn Glab enters 2026 with the most innings behind the plate. The junior is coming into her own after dealing with an injury during the 2025 season. She performed well despite playing with a back injury and had to manage it all of last season. As one of the four returning players from 2024 to 2025, she has had a lot on her back to be a leader on this Husky squad. She is ready to have her best year yet offensively and defensively, as she has come back stronger and more confident both in herself and her leadership abilities.

Glab was named one of the Big Ten's preseason Players to Watch coming off an NCFA All-Mountain Region Third Team and B1G All-Defensive Team sophomore season in 2025. She was also ranked a preseason Top-10 catcher by both Softball America and D1 Softball as well as the 94^th overall player by D1 Softball.

Ready to put in work behind the plate. @JadynGlab checks in at No. 94 in the preseason @D1Softball player rankings ?? pic.twitter.com/saIvjPLJEW
— Washington Softball (@UWSoftball) January 13, 2026

Tia Durst is a junior entering her second season as a Husky after a freshman campaign at Lake Land Community College. Durst is a tremendous athlete and a five-tool athlete based on her impressive numbers in the weight room – speed, power, etc. Although catching is not her natural position (she has been more of a middle infielder who can catch), she has completely owned being a catcher and has been a soldier for Washington.

Backing up Jadyn Glab at the catcher spot, Durst has stayed ready for when her number has been called. In the summer of 2025, she played alongside teammate Ava Carroll as a member of the Madison Night Mares, helping the team win the Northwoods League title and growing as a player along the way.

Freshman catcher Ally Hetzel brings a lot of depth to the plate. She has a great personality and is someone pitchers like to throw to. So far as a Husky, Hetzel has played a key role in helping develop the bullpen – helping the pitchers while also strengthening her craft as a catcher.

Annika Ticen is primarily a bullpen catcher who will continue to help UW in those ways. She was voted as the Most Inspirational Player in 2025 by her teammates, which speaks to her role in the program and what she contributes, whether that's in a game or in her bullpen role.

INFIELD
New to the infield this season are Mila Reddy, Marley Teasley and Melody Acevedo. The trio was named to the Softball America Big Ten Preseason Freshman Watch List, with Reddy set to compete for time at second base and Acevedo and Teasley both working for that shortstop position.

Jade Bubke comes back as a returning infielder after a freshman campaign where she was largely playing with a shoulder injury. The sophomore had an offseason surgery and will come back ready to compete in the infield. She'll add on to what she did last season – posting a .981 fielding percentage at second base with 51 putouts and 53 assists.

Giselle Alvarez is one of the most experienced players returning for the Dawgs, having started in all 46 games last season as a sophomore and registering 38 putouts and 73 assists at third base. Alvarez is a pure left-handed power hitter who can play both corner positions. She entered the Husky lineup late as a freshman at first base and hasn't left the lineup since. The junior infielder is the Husky team leader on defense, playing with Husky passion and understanding the game at a very high level.

Alexis DeBoer brings a great swing back to the Husky lineup. She had about as good of a freshman year as anyone, finishing last season as the conference's Freshman of the Year, First Team All-Big Ten, an NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 10 finalist, as well as Softball America's and D1 Softball's First Team All-Freshman Team selections.

The sophomore is projected to have an even stronger season this year, as she has continued to learn what she can and can't handle as a hitter. She moved from third base to first base last season and will likely play at first for Washington. She's already begun to feel the preseason love, as DeBoer has been selected to USA Softball's Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List, D1 Softball and Softball America Preseason All-American Second Team, as well as a Top-40 overall player and Top-5 first baseman from both of those same organizations.

The preseason recognition continues.@alexisdeboer22 is on the @USASoftball Softball Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List ????? pic.twitter.com/AzBgQuGGdN
— Washington Softball (@UWSoftball) January 22, 2026

Freshmen Zuri Patterson and Grazia Mazzola round out the 2026 infield. Patterson is a pure left-handed power hitter and has intimidating power at the plate. Mazzola, who joined her old sister Sophi Mazzola and the Dawgs in January after graduating high school early, is a middle infielder who has great speed and some power, projecting as a triple threat.

OUTFIELD
Ava Carroll enters her second season as a Husky better than ever. The junior outfielder spent the summer of 2025 competing in the Northwoods League with teammate Tia Durst in Madison, Wisconsin, helping the Madison Night Mares to a league championship while leading the league in batting average along the way.

Carroll has continued to impress with her work ethic, putting in the work last summer and fall and is ready to hit the ground running. She spent her freshman year at Mount Hood Community College where she won an NWAC title and South Region MVP thanks to a .529 batting average. She made an immediate impact when she became a Husky and is ready to do it again.

Sophi Mazzola was a tremendous asset to Washington in 2025 in the center field position. She began last year at shortstop before making the transition to center field, showing off her above average speed and range and great arm. Her leadership ability and personality fit perfectly in center field.

Riley Peschek also returns for the Huskies this season, who ended last season playing shortstop but will compete for time in right field in 2026. Peschek began her collegiate career with one year at Montana before transferring to Washington ahead of 2025.

Jing Gardner is set to return for Washington and can play any infield or outfield position. Last year she backed up Giselle Alvarez at third base and was a solid contributor.

Gabi Toney began last season in the middle infield but since has been moved to the outfield. Offensively, she is developing into a right-handed power hitter with a lot of potential.

Addie Craig is a triple threat player who has an incredibly fast arm and lots of range in the outfield. The sophomore has improved the most in the weight room amongst this Husky squad – both in speed and in power. Her background in cross country running shows on the softball field where she is converting into a speed player.

Kaycie Burdick has been slated primarily in right field thus far but is capable of playing all outfield positions. The freshman outfielder is a triple threat and a savvy offensive player.