BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Off the heels of one of the best freshman campaigns in Auburn softball history, infielder AnnaLea Adams was selected to the Preseason All-SEC Team on Thursday.
The Preseason All-SEC Team was selected by a vote of the league’s 15 head coaches. Twenty-one players from 11 schools were named to the team.
Earning her way into the starting lineup last season, Adams was an undeniable force at the plate. Adams started 43 games, splitting time as Auburn’s designated player before taking over as the primary starter at first base.
One of most consistent bats in the league, Adams finished 15th overall in the SEC with a .390 batting average behind 57 hits. She scored 21 runs while adding 41 RBI, the third most RBI recorded in a season by an Auburn true freshman.
She knocked nine doubles and 10 home runs for a .658 slugging percentage and was just the fourth freshman in program history to record double-digit home runs. She coupled her slugging clip with a .434 on-base percentage with help of 10 walks.
Defensively, Adams recorded a .988 fielding percentage at first base, committing just two errors across her 162 chances.
Despite not playing in nine games, she finished the season as the team leader in batting average and slugging percentage while ranking in the top three on the team in on-base percentage, hits, RBI, doubles and home runs.
In league action, Adams turned in a .392 batting average, the highest mark ever recorded by a Tiger freshman in SEC play. She totaled 29 hits in conference play and led the team with 20 RBI in league action.
Adams became the first Auburn freshman to ever earn First Team All-SEC honors. The Liberty, Indiana, native closed her debut season by adding NFCA All-Gulf Region First Team accolades and was named to D1 Softball’s Freshman All-America Team.
As part of Thursday’s announcement, the league also released its annual preseason poll as voted on by the head coaches. Auburn received 55 points and was selected to finish 12th overall.
Auburn opens the 2026 season on Thursday, Feb. 5 at North Florida. First pitch is at 3 p.m. CT with JJ Jackson providing radio coverage on the Auburn Sports Network. The Tigers then continue to Clearwater, Florida for the NFCA Leadoff Classic, playing five games across Feb. 6-8.
Opening Weekend on The Plains is set for Feb. 12-15 as the Tigers host the War Eagle Classic at Jane B. Moore Field.
2026 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
|
Place |
School |
Points |
|
1. |
Texas (9) |
189 |
|
2. |
Oklahoma (6) |
186 |
|
3. |
Tennessee |
166 |
|
4. |
Florida |
144 |
|
5. |
Arkansas |
137 |
|
6. |
Texas A&M |
125 |
|
7. |
LSU |
119 |
|
8. |
Georgia |
105 |
|
9. |
Alabama |
94 |
|
10. |
South Carolina |
90 |
|
11. |
Mississippi State |
65 |
|
12. |
Auburn |
55 |
|
13. |
Ole Miss |
51 |
|
14. |
Missouri |
32 |
|
15. |
Kentucky |
17 |
2026 All-SEC Preseason Softball Team
|
Name, School |
Class |
Hometown |
|
Audrey Vandagriff, Alabama |
So. |
Bogart, Ga. |
|
Robyn Herron, Arkansas |
Sr. |
Tampa, Fla. |
|
Ella McDowell, Arkansas |
So. |
Richmond, Texas |
|
AnnaLea Adams, Auburn |
So. |
Liberty, Ind. |
|
Jocelyn Erickson, Florida |
Sr. |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
|
Keagan Rothrock, Florida |
Jr. |
Whiteland, Ind. |
|
Taylor Shumaker, Florida |
So. |
Fullerton, Calif. |
|
Maci Bergeron, LSU |
Sr. |
Rayne, La. |
|
Tori Edwards, LSU |
R-So. |
Flower Mound, Texas |
|
Persy Llamas, Ole Miss |
So. |
Eastvale, Calif. |
|
Gabbie Garcia, Oklahoma |
So. |
Chandler, Ariz. |
|
Nelly McEnroe-Marinas, Oklahoma |
R-So. |
Waianae, Hawai’i |
|
Ella Parker, Oklahoma |
Jr. |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
|
Kasidi Pickering, Oklahoma |
Jr. |
Humble, Texas |
|
Arianna Rodi, South Carolina |
Sr. |
Cranston, R.I. |
|
Karyln Pickens, Tennessee |
Sr. |
Weaverville, N.C. |
|
Reese Atwood, Texas |
Sr. |
Sandia, Texas |
|
Kayden Henry, Texas |
Jr. |
Dickinson, Texas |
|
Teagan Kavan, Texas |
Jr. |
West Des Moines, Iowa |
|
Katie Stewart, Texas |
Jr. |
Frankfort, Ill. |
|
Mya Perez, Texas A&M |
Jr. |
Corona, Calif. |