Two Longhorns softball stars named Player of the Year finalists

With the 2026 college softball season winding down, yearly awards are starting to come into focus. Two Longhorns stars could be adding to their trophy case in Teagan Kavan and Katie Stewart. The talented duo has been named top 25 finalists for USA Softball's Collegiate Player of the Year and has made compelling cases to win the honor.

During the 2026 campaign, Kavan has again been one of the best pitchers in the country. In a team-high 141.1 innings, the Iowa native has posted a 2.87 ERA and struck out 169 batters. She ranks in the top ten in wins with 18 and complete games with 12. That impressive run includes a no-hitter vs. Incarnate Word on March 1.

While Kavan has impressed on the mound, Stewart has been a human highlight reel at the plate. In 47 games, the Lincoln-Way East Alumni has posted a .468 batting average and driven in 61 runs. She has also shown some power with 30 extra-base hits, including 24 home runs. The Longhorns Junior currently ranks in the top ten in the nation in slugging percentage and home runs per game.

Over the next few weeks, Stewart and Kavan will be looking to finish the regular season strong and impress voters. For Kavan, this is not unfamiliar territory as the right-hander was a finalist for the award last year. She has followed that up with another brilliant stretch on the mound.

If either Stewart or Kavan were to take home the honors, they would join a special group. That includes Cat Osterman, who won it three times during her college career. Osterman is the only three-time winner in college softball history.

For the Longhorns duo, winning a national title is the priority, but adding the Player of the Year honor to their trophy case would not be a bad ending.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas softball's Kavan, Stewart in running for Player of the Year