Santa Clara University has been selected as the top team in the West Coast Conference (WCC) preseason softball poll for 2026. The Broncos, who are defending conference champions, received six out of seven first-place votes from WCC head coaches. Saint Mary’s placed second with one first-place vote.
This year marks the inclusion of Seattle U into the conference, expanding the league to seven teams for the season.
Last season, Santa Clara set a program record with 32 wins and secured their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 46 years after winning the WCC title. The team achieved victories in each of its five conference series, also setting a new high for league wins. Head coach Gina Carbonatto became the program’s all-time leader in coaching victories and was named WCC Coach of the Year.
The Broncos’ roster this spring includes 16 returning players along with seven newcomers.
Four Santa Clara athletes—Taryn Clements, Cairah Curran, Cari Ferguson, and Hazyl Gray—were named to the preseason All-WCC Team after earning first-team honors last year.
Curran led the conference during regular season play in batting average (.429), runs (49), hits (78), triples (5), and stolen bases (26). She started all 52 games and reached base safely in 48 contests. Her total of 78 hits set a new single-season record for the WCC.
Clements was recognized as Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 after not committing an error in 166 chances behind home plate. She threw out nearly 39 percent of attempted base stealers—the second highest mark in the league—and ranked among conference leaders offensively as well.
Ferguson earned both Pitcher and Freshman of the Year honors last season by recording a win in each WCC series and finishing league play with a 0.77 ERA over more than 45 innings pitched. She was also credited with three shutouts against San Diego, Pacific, and Saint Mary’s.
Gray contributed on both offense and defense as a two-way player. The former Player of the Year batted .311 with 36 RBIs while posting an 11-2 pitching record during regular season competition.
Santa Clara will open its title defense on February 6 against Southern Utah at the Grand Canyon Kickoff Classic. Tickets for home games are now available through online purchase or by contacting the Broncos ticket office by phone or email.
