The 2026 San Diego State Softball season begins later this week on Friday.

Head Coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz is entering her 19th year at The Mesa, and her fifth season as the head of the program. In her first four years as the Aztecs’ head coach, Nuveman Deniz brought home four Mountain West Titles to the Mesa. Nuveman Deniz is hoping to end the Aztecs’ final year in the Mountain West with a fifth straight league title.

The coach and her staff built a strong non-conference schedule to help attain that goal. The Aztecs’ non-conference schedule may be one of, if not the strongest, non-conference schedules among non-power four schools.

Get your calendar ready! Our 2026 schedule is here! #GoAztecs pic.twitter.com/1uk4PGEtqK

— San Diego State Softball (@AztecSoftball) November 7, 2025

The Aztecs open the non-conference schedule this weekend with a four-game slate on the menu. San Diego State will go up against Minnesota, Loyola Chicago, Miami (OH), and Kentucky at SDSU Softball Stadium. In just the non-conference schedule alone, the Aztecs face 10 teams inside the Top 80 in the Massey rating in college softball.

Three of those teams are in the preseason NCAA Top 25: Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Washington.

Nuveman Deniz had this to say about the tough scheduling. “I am a firm believer in iron sharpens iron; in terms of wanting to play a tough schedule. Our goal is to be seasoned and tenderized for conference play… we like to challenge ourselves, and it has served us well when we get to the postseason. Ultimately, that’s when you want to be playing your best, when you are fighting for championships.”

An interesting note to the Aztecs’ schedule, 33 of the team’s games are either on the Mesa or in San Diego. If you count the Aztecs’ drive up to the Mary Nutter Invitational and the drive to Long Beach, 39 games in Southern California are within driving distance for Aztec fans to travel.

Now, let’s take a look at the roster Coach Nuveman Deniz will be rocking with this year.

New Editions

The Aztecs added five freshmen and four transfers to this year’s roster.

After the mass exodus of graduates and the transfer of ace Cece Cellura last year. Along with the nine new players added to the roster,  Nuveman Deniz brought in two new assistants to the staff. Assistant Coaches Madilyn (Bubba) Nickles-Camarena and Grace French are the new assistants to the staff.

Let’s take a quick look at the freshman on the roster.

Coach Curly Grimes spoke to the new additions on the roster this offseason. “Going into the offseason, our intent was to make sure they were a good fit for this program. We have goals in mind, and we want to go above and beyond. We have been fortunate to have really athletic and smart teams the past couple years… our main priority going into this summer was to bring in solid pitching.”

“From the freshman side of it, Emma French has really stood out for us. We are really excited to see what she is going to be able to do on the field and in the box,” Coach Grimes said about French and how she looked in the fall.

Emma French: French is a freshman infielder from Benicia, California, who committed to the Aztecs early in the recruiting process back in 2023. French, in her senior year, hit .444 with a slugging percentage of .630 and an OBP of .433. Expect French to have a big role for the Aztecs this upcoming season.

“This kid has been all around the infield, seeing the plays that she can make as a freshman is really incredible. She has a big nose on the grindstone, works hard, and takes extra reps. Fans will be pleasantly surprised when they see her,” said Shannon Cunningham in an interview before the season.

Montse Reyes-Cardenas: Reyes-Cardenas is a freshman pitcher from Whittier, California, who committed to SDSU in 2023, at the same time French chose the Aztecs. Reyes-Cardenas was one of the top pitchers in High School softball in Southern California during her time at La Miranda High School.

Cunningham had this to say about her freshman teammate. “She is small but mighty, very quiet, but she can spin the ball and could get going.”

Tylie Kitchen: Kitchen is a freshman utility player from Rocklin, California, who committed in late 2023 to the Aztecs. In her senior season, Kitchen batted .452 with an OBP of .505. Along with those impressive averages, Kitchen hit seven home runs and had 33 RBIs.

Matti Kwarta: Kwarta is a freshman pitcher and utility player from Red Bluff, California. Kwarta committed to SDSU in late 2023 before her junior season. Kwarta is more known as an elite hitter in her high school career, but she was not too shabby as a pitcher. Kwarta, in her senior season, hit .500 with an OBP of .592 and an OPS of 1.747. In the circle, Kwarta had a 3.86 ERA in 18 appearances.

“I like to think her swing looks like Kyle Schwarber’s a little bit. Has that effortless pop that can really unload it, and is a power pitcher too. I’m excited to see what she brings,” said Cunningham about the two-way player from Red Bluff.

Andrea Tall: Tall is a freshman infielder from Fremont, California. Tall committed to the Aztecs late in 2023, along with her fellow freshman. In her senior season, Tall had a batting average of .607 and a mind-boggling 17 home runs. The young freshman had an OPS of just over 2.000 in what was a highly impressive senior season.

Kaila Pollard: Pollard is someone who has already been on The Mesa for a full season. Pollard transferred to SDSU last year from Oregon. The junior from King High School in Riverside, California, originally committed to Florida. After a year with the Gators, Pollard transferred to Oregon, where she redshirted. Pollard is going to be a very key asset to this Aztecs roster.

Key-Annah Pu’a: Pu’a is a senior transfer from Fresno State, one of two Bulldog transfers on the roster. Last year, Pu’a was a key piece in Fresno State’s run at winning a Mountain West title. Coach Nuveman Deniz and the Aztecs are very familiar with Pu’a, which is what attracted them to bring her to The Mesa. With the Bulldogs last year, Pu’a pitched 80.1 innings and struck out 32 hitters while in the circle. Everyone knows that the Aztecs love to use a plethora of pitchers. Pu’a is one of the many pitchers Nuveman Deniz will use this season.

Faith Jordan: Jordan is the second Bulldog the Aztecs acquired in the transfer portal this offseason. Jordan is entering her junior season after two seasons in Fresno. In her young career so far, Jordan has established herself as a great pitcher in the Mountain West. Unfortunately, last year, Jordan suffered a season-ending injury after what looked to be a promising Sophomore season. Before her injury, she had a 2.64 ERA, 34 strikeouts, and 63.2 innings pitched.

Candace Tarle: Tarle is a Sophomore transfer from the University of Utah. Last year, in her freshman season, Tarle only pitched in 2.1 innings. Before going to Utah, Tarle went to a high school that Coach Nuveman Deniz is fairly familiar with. Tarle attended Cathedral Catholic High School, the same school that Coach Nuvemen Deniz’s son, Chase Deniz, attends and plays football.

Coach Nuveman Deniz and her staff are excited for this roster, and they should be. This Aztec roster with the new editions could be the best roster fans have seen. A pretty high bar to challenge the Super Regional team, but a bar everyone around the team believes is in the realm of possibilities.

Now, let’s take a look at the returning players on the mesa.

Key Returners

The Aztecs are returning 14 players from last year’s Mountain West Championship roster. Lala Macario, who had a season-ending injury last year in the middle of the season, is back and ready to lead.

“The people we had on our bench last year would be starters at any other program; we just had an incredible senior class. Pollard, Cunningham, and Macario are all players coming back who were and are going to be staples in our lineup this year. With the addition of some of the athletes that weren’t starters last year, they were hungry and ready to go this year in the fall, and proved we did not need to go and get a bat in the portal,” stated Grimes when talking about the reason for not adding a bat in the transfer portal over the offseason.

Mia Rodriguez: Last year, Rodriguez was strictly a pinch runner for the Aztecs. Expect her to stay in a similar role this year, with some starts every now and then.

Ally Dueker: Dueker last year was used in a defensive substitute role with the occasional spot start in the season. This upcoming year, Dueker is expected to take on a much larger role for the Aztecs.

Julie Holcomb: Holcomb last year was one of the best hitters in conference play. She struggled early on, but made a stamp for the Aztecs. Holcomb led the Aztecs in batting average last season; it will be a battle between Macario and Holcomb this year for that title.

Kiara Cisneros: Cisneros, like Dueker, was mainly used as a defensive substitute in late-game situations. She is expected to also attain a larger role for Coach Nuveman Deniz.

Jazmin Williams: Williams was a mainstay in the Aztec starting lineup all year long. After an impressive Sophomore season from the Cal State Fullerton transfer, she is expected to be better this season. Williams showed high-quality defense with the ability to provide major pop with her bat. Expect her to show the same defensive production, as well as more power in her at-bats, this year.

Gabriella Terrones: Terrones, last year, was a bench bat for the Aztecs who provided quality at-bats. Late in the season, the now Sophomore on The Mesa came up huge in big-time moments. Including a go-ahead home run to beat Arizona State in the UCLA regional.

“I have been working with Bubba consistently and fine-tuning. Not looking too much on the past and moving forward, and trying to be good for this year.” Terrones said, speaking about how she plans to stay consistent in the box this year.

BACK TO BACK BOMBS TO TAKE THE LEAD 💣#RoadToWCWS x 🎥 ESPN2 / @AztecSoftball pic.twitter.com/vwN8IG9PjG

— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 17, 2025

Ava Schaffel: Last year, Schaffel appeared in just 15 games for the Aztecs. She posted an impressive 3-1 record with a 2.01 ERA along with 24 strikeouts. The Sophomore from Long Beach, California, is going to take on a larger role for the Aztecs this year. The expectation is that Schaffel will take a major leap in her Sophomore season.

Quinn Waiki: Waiki, in her freshman season, won the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year award. The Sophomore from Hawaii is one of, if not the best, defensive infielders in all of softball. This season, Waiki is determined to continue her elite showing on defense, as well as improve herself in the box. She will make strides as a hitter and will help contribute to the Aztecs’ success.

Shannon Cunningham: Cunningham will be entering her second season on The Mesa. Last year, she had some extreme clutch moments of her own. Most notably, the RBI single to keep the Aztecs’ hopes in the UCLA regional alive. Cunningham also hit a walk-off grand slam in Clearwater to help the Aztecs leave Florida undefeated at the Invitational.

Jayleen Hernandez: The Sophomore from Riverside, California, did not have much of a role last year. At times, Hernandez was used in pinch-hit moments and in blowout games, and as a defensive substitute. This upcoming season, Hernandez will be used more in the Aztecs’ plans as a batter off the bench and even in the field.

Jade Ignacio: Ignacio will be the Aztecs’ lead backstop, taking over for the clutch Cali Decker. Last year, the Senior from Oceanside, California, appeared in 50 games for SDSU. Posting a batting average of .286 and SLG% of .429, this year Ignacio is expected to take on the Decker role. A role of being the leader for the Aztec pitchers in the circle, and a leader in the clubhouse.

Angie Yellen: Yellen is entering her third year in the Aztec uniform and is one of the captains for this year’s team. Last year, she led the Aztecs in assists with 125, as well as fielding percentage with a perfect 1.000%. Along with her stellar performance at the hot corner, Yellen hit .294 on the season with 23 RBIs.

Lala Macario: The second-year transfer from UCF, before her torn ACL, led the Aztecs in batting average. Before her injury, Macario batted .465 with an OBP of .511 and started in all 16 games. The super Senior from Chula Vista, California, has been simply fantastic during the offseason for the Aztecs. Garnishing praise from her teammates and her coaching staff for her love of the game and her passion as a leader.

“She is really the heartbeat of our team; she is our most experienced leader. She has been around the block; she is very passionate about being an Aztec… her presence is huge for us, and excited to see her back on the field,” said Nuvemen Deniz early Wednesday afternoon.

Olivia Gigante: The Florida transfer is entering her second year on The Mesa and is expected to have a larger role this year. Last year, Gigante was used as a bench bat and a substitute defensively in blowout contests.

Preseason Selections

In the Mountain West Preseason selections, the Aztecs had three players selected to the preseason team: Senior Lala Macario, Junior Julie Holcomb, and Sophomore Quinn Waiki.

The Aztecs are one of four teams to garner multiple preseason All-MW selections.

In the preseason standings, the Aztecs were picked to finish third, behind Grand Canyon and Nevada.

San Diego State received zero first-place votes, GCU received six first-place votes, and Nevada received four.

Season Predictions

As mentioned earlier, the Aztecs have a pretty tough schedule.

San Diego State realistically has the toughest schedule for non-Power Four schools. The realm of possibilities for a team with this amount of talent is endless. In the regular season, the prediction that makes the most sense is that the Aztecs finish the season 34-16. Along with a conference record of 18-7. The Mountain West gained another elite team in Grand Canyon, which has been a softball powerhouse on the West Coast.

This will be a tough season for the Aztecs.

As far as end-of-season predictions go, the Aztecs should at least get five all-conference performers in the end-of-season polls. Along with Waiki winning back-to-back MW DPOY awards. Something that could come as a surprise to some outside of the Aztec camp is Macario winning MW Player of the Year honors to end the season. Especially if the Aztecs have a 30-plus win season on the Mesa.

“We did not know what this year was going to be. We lost our three captains from last year and wondered who was going to step up. Lala thankfully was back, and we knew she was going to be our main voice. It was an opportunity for Dueker, Ignacio, to step up as a voice…I think that through last year’s experiences, the seniors this year were able to bring everybody in along with them. It’s a joy to be around, and we are very fortunate with the closeness of this team,” Coach Grimes said when talking about the closeness of this year’s team.

San Diego State starts the Softball season this Friday at 4:30 PM against Minnesota at SDSU Softball Stadium.

Aztec fans and college softball fans as a whole are in for one heck of a season from this year’s SDSU Aztec Softball team.

Bryant Thursby

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