ARLINGTON, Texas – Grand Canyon was chosen as the team to beat in the preseason 2025 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Softball Coaches’ Poll that was released on Wednesday. The predicted order of finish and all-conference awards were voted on by the league’s nine head coaches.
Grand Canyon, the three-time defending WAC Tournament champion, captured seven first-place votes and 62 total points in the coaches’ poll. Last year’s tournament runner-up, California Baptist, was picked to finish second with 53 points. Utah Valley and Seattle U each collected a first-place vote while claiming 51 and 48 points, respectively. UT Arlington rounded out the top five teams in the coaches’ poll with 32 points.
Grand Canyon’s sophomore infielder
Savannah Kirk was named the 2025 WAC Preseason Player of the Year. Kirk was selected as last year’s WAC Freshman of the Year and locked a spot on the All-WAC First Team after hitting .389 last year with 63 hits and 20 RBIs. Kirk collected the second-most stolen bases in the conference with 19 bags on 21 attempts.
Grand Canyon’s senior right-handed pitcher
Meghan Golden was voted as the 2025 WAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Golden accumulated a record of 13-4 in the pitching circle for the Lopes in 2024 and led the conference in multiple categories including earned run average (2.15), opposing batting average (.213), strikeouts per game (6.51), doubles allowed per game (0.74), hits allowed per game (5.57) and runs allowed per game (2.48). Golden tossed four complete game shutouts and got the save in the WAC championship game last year. Golden was named to the 2024 All-WAC Second Team.
Grand Canyon and California Baptist both took up three spots in the Preseason All-WAC Team, followed by Seattle U and Utah Tech each claiming two spots. Utah Valley also had one honoree for the preseason all-conference team.
2025 WAC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Grand Canyon (7) |
62 |
| 2. |
California Baptist |
53 |
| 3. |
Utah Valley (1) |
51 |
| 4. |
Seattle U (1) |
48 |
| 5. |
UT Arlington |
32 |
| 6. |
Utah Tech |
29 |
| 7. |
Tarleton State |
22 |
| 8. |
Abilene Christian |
16 |
| 9. |
Southern Utah |
11 |
2025 WAC Preseason Player of the Year
Savannah Kirk, So., INF, Grand Canyon
2025 WAC Preseason Pitchers of the Year
Meghan Golden, Sr., Grand Canyon
2025 WAC Preseason All-WAC Team
Kalena Burns, Gr., 1B/DP, California Baptist
Priscilla Estrada, Sr., SS, California Baptist
Kate Penberthy, So., 3B, California Baptist
Meghan Golden, Sr., RHP, Grand Canyon
Makaiya Gomez, Gr., OF, Grand Canyon
Savannah Kirk, So., INF, Grand Canyon
Taylor Fitch, Jr., 3B, Seattle U
Mikee Morris, So., SS, Seattle U
Carly Eldredge, Sr., 2B, Utah Tech
LB Kahahawai-Kekona, Jr., SS, Utah Tech
Megan Gibbs, R-Sr., INF, Utah Valley