NEW ORLEANS – Fifty-three Sun Belt Conference softball student-athletes have been named to the 2026 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Division I Softball Team.
Four Sun Belt student-athletes were selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced Tuesday, June 16.
Finalists include Georgia Southern senior outfielder Emma Davis, ULM junior pitcher Skylar Waggoner and Texas State’s junior pitcher Maddy Azua and senior outfielder Keely Williams.
Eleven of 12 Sun Belt softball programs earned multiple all-district selections, including 10 schools leading the way with five apiece.
The 2026 Academic All-District® Softball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes softball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Nominees must hold at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA and compete in 90 percent of the institution's games played or start in at least 66 percent of games. For pitchers, a student-athlete must have made at least 17 appearances or pitched 35 innings.
For more information about CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit
AcademicAllAmerica.com.
2026 CSC Academic All-District (Sun Belt Conference)
| Grace Barrett, App State |
| Emilie Ching, App State |
| K.B. Bradshaw, App State |
Julia Girk, App State
Sophie Moshos, App State |
| Clara Hudgens, Coastal Carolina |
| McKennah Metzger, Coastal Carolina |
| Brie Normandin, Coastal Carolina |
| Libby Pippin, Coastal Carolina |
| Abby Henderson, Coastal Carolina |
| Bailey Holland, Georgia Southern |
| Delanie Thames, Georgia Southern |
| Valerie Combs, Georgia Southern |
| Braelyn Queen, Georgia Southern |
| *Emma Davis, Georgia Southern |
| Chloe Hatcher, Georgia State |
| Zoey Defoor, Georgia State |
| Lauren Brister, Georgia State |
| Caitlyn Hall, Georgia State |
| Makayla Stephens, Georgia State |
| Madison Edwards, James Madison |
| Kirsten Fleet, James Madison |
| Bella Henzler, James Madison |
| *Skylar Waggoner, ULM |
| Meagan Brown, ULM |
| Hollie Thomas, ULM |
| Carys Platt, ULM |
| Kelsey Kovar, ULM |
| Bella Gerlach, Marshall |
| Haleigh Adkins, Marshall |
| Abby Darnley, Marshall |
| Ava Blake, Marshall |
| Paige Maynard, Marshall |
| Virginia Mambelli, South Alabama |
| Olivia Branstetter, South Alabama |
| Ansleigh Smith, South Alabama |
| Presley Lively, South Alabama |
| Sydney Scapin, South Alabama |
| Carrie Green, Southern Miss |
| Hannah Christian, Southern Miss |
| Nealy McManus, Southern Miss |
| Kinsley Gordon-Sivley, Southern Miss |
| Kayla Giardina, Southern Miss |
| *Maddy Azua, Texas State |
| *Keely Williams, Texas State |
| Sydney Harvey, Texas State |
| Megan Kelnar, Texas State |
| Kat Zarate, Texas State |
| McKinnon Howard, Troy |
| Kiley Huffman, Troy |
| Kalee Rochinski, Troy |
| Megan Loftis, Troy |
| Esmee Ames, Troy |