After a breakout junior season, expectations are sky high for Arizona softball senior catcher Sydney Stewart in 2026.
Stewart on Wednesday was named a .
Arizona catcher/utility player Sydney Stewart (21) throws the ball back to her pitcher during an early-morning practice at Hillenbrand Stadium, Oct. 15, 2025.
Stewart earned second-team NFCA All-America accolades last year after leading the Wildcats in home runs (20), RBIs (68), on-base percentage (.542) and slugging percentage (.819). Those figures all ranked second in the Big 12; Stewart was a first-team all-conference selection.
Last season was Stewart’s first at Arizona after she transferred from Washington. She nearly tripled her home run output from her UW days (seven in 91 games).
Stewart also drew a team-high 48 walks and committed only one error in 270 chances for a .996 fielding percentage.
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Stewart was one of three Wildcats named to the top 50 watch list for USA Softball's Collegiate Player of the Year. She is joined by outfielder Regan Shockey and utility player Grace Jenkins.
ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV outfielder Regan Shockey (25) throws the ball during an early-morning practice at Hillenbrand Stadium, Oct. 15, 2025.
Shockey, a junior, has been Arizona's starting center fielder since the day she arrived on campus. She batted over .400 in each of her first two seasons while scoring 99 runs and stealing 28 bases. She was named second-team All-Big 12 in 2025.
Jenkins, a senior, is entering her first season at Arizona after spending the previous three years at Connecticut. She was the Big East Player of the Year in '25 after batting .424 with 21 home runs and 68 RBIs. A catcher at UConn, Jenkins is expected to play a corner outfield spot for the Wildcats.
ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV opens the 2026 season Feb. 5 with a doubleheader vs. Southern Utah at Hillenbrand Stadium.
Contact sports reporter/columnist Michael Lev at mlev@tucson.com. On X (Twitter): @michaeljlev. On Bluesky: @michaeljlev.bsky.social

