With Super Regionals starting this week, it marks three weeks since the Aztec Softball season ended. Since then, Coach Nuveman-Deniz has done exit interviews, transfer portal news, and All-MW honors for a handful of Aztecs.

San Diego State had an extremely underwhelming season for the team’s standards on the field. Off the field, the graduating Aztecs and Nuveman-Deniz described it as a massive success. Off the field and in the clubhouse, the Aztecs became better women, leaders, and students as described by the graduating five.

The public, unfortunately, only pays attention to the win and loss column, and in the 2026 season, the Aztecs went 24-26. Finishing below .500 for the first time in Nuveman-Deniz’s tenure as the head coach of the program.

With the new way of college athletics, until a player announces they are back to their respective school, most people should assume the players are free agents. Before discussing the transfer portal and what the Aztecs need could be. Let’s take a look at the All-MW players the Aztecs garnished.

All-MW Performers

Kaila Pollard

Kaila Pollard received All-MW first team honors for her performance in conference play and the season. Pollard started the season with a massive moment for the Aztecs. That go-ahead RBI single was a prerequisite to what her season would be.

In the year Pollard finished with .365/.655/1.073 splits, driving in 28 runs with 16 extra base hits on the year. Pollard was one of the older leaders of this elite Aztec offense. Whenever the Aztecs needed a big hit, Pollard delivered a majority of the time. The redshirt junior will garner a good amount of transfer portal buzz.

If Pollard is to return to the Mesa for her senior year, a trio of Cunningham, Williams, and Pollard is an amazing start.

Jade Ignacio 

Jade Ignacio received All-MW second team honors for her stellar performance. An Aztec for life through and through, the senior showed an amazing amount of poise and leadership this season.

In her last season on the Mesa, Ignacio played her best softball. Finishing with .371/.560/.953 splits, hitting 17 extra base hits and driving in 37 runs on the year. The four-year mainstay on the Mesa was a big leader in the clubhouse and helped lead the Aztecs to many of their wins on the year. Ignacio put her stamp on this Aztec softball program, both as a teammate and as a player.

Lala Macario

Lala “MeeMaw” Macario received All-MW Honorable Mention for her super senior season. A player who, after tearing her ACL last season, had no doubts in her mind about coming back and finishing her career on her terms.

Macario had splits of .304/.333/.726 with 42 hits and eight runs driven in. Macario did not have the senior season she wanted, but she made her mark as an Aztec. Early on in the season, she struggled; she was playing with a knee brace that hindered her mobility. Once the brace was off, she started to play at the level Aztec fans knew she could play at.

Quinn Waiki

Quinn Waiki received All-MW Honorable mention for her elite two-way play on the year.

Waiki had splits of .309/.503/.853 with 23 runs driven in and 16 extra base hits on the year. Waiki turned in yet another stellar defensive season. Where the sophomore made her improvement was at the plate. Last season, the defensive superstar had a .746 OPS, compared to her .853 OPS this past season.

Everything on offense improved for the best defender on the West Coast. Now comes the time to keep her on the Mesa. Just like Pollard, Waiki will be of interest to Power Four programs.

Transfer Portal 

The Aztecs received news that true freshman Tylie Kitchen will be entering her name into the portal. The Rocklin, CA native appeared in only 11 games for the Aztecs. Although she barely appeared in games this year, Kitchen had a walk-off earlier in the year for the Aztecs. In fact, it was her first hit as a collegiate athlete that gave the Aztecs the walk-off win against Baylor.

With College Softball, they have two transfer portal dates. June 8th-22nd and December 1-15, before the start of the season and second semester. Players around the country are starting to make announcements now for their plans. So far, the Aztecs have only lost one player to the portal in the kitchen.

The plan for Coach Nuveman-Deniz and her staff is unclear at this time. One thing is for certain: Nuveman-Deniz will do her best to keep her team together and continue to build her pitching staff.

Bryant Thursby

Bryant is an Assistant Coach at Heritage High School. He is a big-time SDSU fanatic and a Padres fan.