As reigning national champions, Texas softball is starting the season with high expectations. Last week, D1 Softball and ESPN.com/USA Softball ranked Texas No. 1, with the Longhorns earning the outright top spot on D1 Softball’s list.
The preseason noise isn’t shaking the stacked roster. This season’s team will blend athletes with national championship experience alongside new, developing players who are eager to hit the ground running.
Here’s a look at four players to keep an eye on throughout the Longhorns’ 2026 season.
Junior infielder Viviana Martinez
Martinez enters the upcoming season as an integral part of Texas’ infield. While she never saw the field in 2025 due to a season-ending knee injury that was announced just weeks before the season started, Martinez is ready to return to shortstop after a full year of recovery. Texas hopes Martinez can bring reliability to the position after no one stood out as a dependable replacement in the 2025 season. In recent fall ball games, Martinez appears to have gotten her groove back. Her defensive reflexes kept Texas A&M scoreless through seven innings, and she recorded one hit and an RBI against Temple in a 10-inning game.
Junior pitcher Teagan Kavan
The winner of the Women’s College World Series Most Outstanding Player isn’t dwelling on the past — she is ready to get back on the field and earn another national title. Kavan’s reliability in the circle was clutch in securing Texas the national championship, and those skills will be of use in both conference and non-conference play.
Last season, Kavan started in 33 games and pitched 207.0 innings, recording 230 strikeouts against 788 hitters. She also posted a 12–3 record in conference starts, with two saves, two shutouts and a team-best 92 strikeouts.
“I’ve been working on some different things to make me better and make my same pitches better,” Kavan said. “I think a lot of it is a mental piece, too. Just being stronger mentally, because I think at the end of the day, that is what pushes you over the edge sometimes more than a physical ability to do something.”
Freshman pitcher and utility Hannah Wells
Texas is looking to utilize Wells both in the circle and offensively this season. The freshman was ranked in the top 10 by Softball America and was named MaxPreps National Softball Player of the Year in 2025. Head coach Mike White thinks Wells could be Texas’ number two pitcher behind Kavan, while also providing hits to get her teammates around the bases and points on the board.
“Hannah Wells has impressed us both on the mound and at bat,” White said. “(She’s) hitting the ball really well right now.”
Freshman outfielder Alisa Sneed
Sneed is another new spark Texas has brought on for the 2026 season. She has the ability to move around the outfield, excelling in any position, and has worked closely with junior center fielder Kayden Henry. Sneed’s versatility in the outfield gives Texas a significant defensive advantage, allowing the team to adjust to its opponent’s strengths.
