With the 2025 season just weeks away, Conference USA announced its Preseason Coaches’ Poll and Preseason All-Conference team on Thursday.

Both the poll and the team are voted on by the conference’s coaches. Western Kentucky is picked to finish second and sophomore infielder Morgan Sharpe earned a spot on the Preseason All-CUSA squad.

WKU is coming off a season that featured its fourth straight 30-win season and a trip to the CUSA championship game before coming up just short against Liberty in extra innings.

The Tops finished tied for a conference-best .297 batting average and a conference-best on-base percentage at .388. For the 2025 season, WKU returns senior catcher Randi Drinnon and Sharpe who combined for a .292 batting average over the 2024 campaign.

WKU coach Amy Tudor also returns a starting pitcher in sophomore Rylan Smith who finished with a 3.64 ERA and junior right hander Maddy Wood.

Sharpe earned the sole Preseason All-Conference honor for the Hilltoppers after a season that saw her start all 54 games and finished with a spot on the 2024 All-Freshman team. Over the season, she posted a .341 batting average – 10th best in the conference – with 10 extra-base hits and 26 RBIs. Starting at second base, she posted a .966 fielding percentage with 120 putouts and 79 assists.

WKU opens its 2025 season in Atlanta at the Buzz Classic hosted by Georgia Tech. The first game of the season will be on Feb. 7 against Belmont at 10 a.m. CT.

2025 CUSA Preseason Softball Poll

Rank School (first-place votes) Total

1. Liberty (9) 99

2. WKU 83

3. NM State (1) 82

4. LA Tech 71

5. Jax State 56

6. Sam Houston 38

7. UTEP 36

8. FIU 35

9. MTSU 30

10. Kennesaw State 20

CUSA Softball Preseason Player of the Year

Rachel Roupe, Liberty

CUSA Softball Preseason Pitcher of the Year

Elena Escobar, Liberty

CUSA Softball Preseason All-Conference Team

Name Yr. Pos. Hometown

Ansley Blevins, MTSU Jr. C Jasper, Tenn.

Bella Perez, Sam Houston So. C Houston, Texas

Brynn McManus, Liberty Jr. DP/UT McMinnville, Ore.

Ashley Phillips, Jax State Jr. IF Alexandria, Ala.

Claire Raley, LA Tech* Sr. IF Clovis, Calif.

Elia Hebel, Sam Houston* Gr. IF Albany, Texas

Ajia Richard, UTEP* Sr. IF Silver City, N.M.

Morgan Sharpe, WKU* So. IF Chattanooga, Tenn.

Kally Meredith, FIU So. OF Kaukauna, Wis.

Rachel Roupe, Liberty* Sr. OF Sharpsburg, Md.

Alexis Gilio, LA Tech* Sr. OF Lafayette, Colo.

Devin Elam, NM State* Jr. OF Long Beach, Calif.

Elena Escobar, Liberty* Sr. P Spring Hill, Tenn.

Kaylan Yoder, Liberty* So. P Greenwood, Del.

Desirae Spearman, NM State* So. P El Paso, Texas