Arizona’s Sydney Stewart named finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year

Arizona softball catcher Sydney Stewart (21) and pitcher Jalen Adams (12) during a game against Arizona State on Mar. 22, 2026 | Photo by Ryan Kelapire

USA Softball has whittled its Collegiate Player of the Year nominees down to 25, and the No. 19 Arizona Wildcats once again have a representative. All-American catcher Sydney Stewart is one of the 25 college players who is in the running for the honor.

Stewart leads Arizona in WAR at 5.12. That is fifth in the Big 12 and 28th in the country. The four above her in the league are Texas Tech’s Kaitlyn Terry (2nd/8.31), NiJaree Canady (12th/5.86), and Mia Williams (23rd/5.28), and Oklahoma State’s Ruby Meylan (11th/6.16).

Softball America’s latest in-season rankings rank Stewart third in the country at catcher. She sits behind Oklahoma’s Kendall Wells and Florida’s Jocelyn Erickson.

Stewart’s hitting .431 with one week left in the regular season. She leads Arizona in home runs (19), RBI (73), walks (41), slugging percentage (1.055), on-base percentage (.584), and OPS (1.639).

Her OPS, total RBI, RBI per game (1.55), home runs per game (.40), slugging percentage, total walks, and walks per game (.87) all lead the Big 12. She is listed as second in total home runs by the Big 12, although both she and Williams have Texas Tech have 19. Stewart has hit hers in 45 fewer at-bats and five fewer games than Williams. She ranks seventh in the league with 50 runs scored and is fifth with five sacrifice flies.

Last year, Arizona pitcher/infielder Devyn Netz made it all the way to the top 10 for the award, which is considered the top individual award in the game. It was first awarded in 2002. No Wildcat has ever won it.