LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Nebraska’s Alexis Jensen, along with University of Oklahoma teammates Kai Minor and Kendall Wells were voted as the three finalists for the 2026 NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year award, the Association revealed on Thursday afternoon. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, May 26, prior to the start of the 2026 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
Jensen, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, is one of the top rookie hurlers in Division I, leading all freshmen with 210 strikeouts this year and ranking 14th nationally. Keying Nebraska to its second straight Super Regional, the first as a host, Jensen is 24-2 with a 2.45 ERA and three shutouts over 145.2 innings of work. Appearing in 33 contests and starting 24, the southpaw has held her opposition to a .205 batting average and issued just 22 walks for a 6.18 strikeout-to-walk ratio, fourth best in the NCAA. She also contributes with her bat, hitting .329 with six home runs, 17 RBI and 13 runs scored.
As a freshman, Minor has quickly established herself as a top-tier center fielder, putting up elite numbers both at the plate and in the outfield. The speedy outfielder earned first-team NFCA All-Region honors, and is currently tied for the SEC lead with a .446 batting average and six triples, and is perfect in the field in 62 chances. She is also tied for third in the SEC with 79 base hits, 17 doubles and 67 runs scored.
Wells’ rookie campaign will go down as one of the finest in Division I softball history. The standout catcher, who earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors, shattered Oklahoma's single-season home run record while simultaneously setting new program and national benchmarks for freshmen. A first-team NFCA All-Region selection, Wells leads the SEC with 37 home runs, 81 RBIs, and a 1.030 slugging percentage—stats that all rank in the top six nationally and earned her a spot as an USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 finalist.
All three finalists will be participating with their teams in Super Regionals this weekend with the Huskers hosting their first-ever Super Regional and the Sooners making their 16th consecutive appearance, the longest active streak in Division I.
The top 10 list, along with the top three and winner, are voted on by the NFCA Division I All-America Committee. To be eligible, student-athletes must be nominated by their member head coach and in their first year of NCAA Division I collegiate competition as a true freshman or redshirt freshman.
The NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created in 2014 to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes. The NFCA awards Freshman of the Year plaudits to a student-athlete from NCAA DI, NCAA DII, NCAA DIII and NAIA. For more information about all NFCA Awards, visit nfca.org.
2026 NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 3
Nebraska
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Winners
2025 - Taylor Shumaker, Florida; 2024 – Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State; 2023 – NiJaree Canady, Stanford; 2022 – Jordy Bahl, Oklahoma; 2021 – Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma; 2019 – Danielle Williams, Northwestern; 2018 – Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma; 2017 – Rachel Garcia, UCLA; 2016 – Amanda Lorenz, Florida; 2015 – Paige Parker, Oklahoma; 2014 – Annie Aldrete, Tennessee & Kasey Cooper, Auburn
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded TUCCI/NFCA Freshman of the Year Awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to a comprehensive drills database, to in-person events and National Convention.
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NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year
