the NCAA Regional final for the first time in program history, Villanova softball finished 2025 at 27-26-1 (15-9 Big East), fell in the Big East Tournament and ultimately missed the NCAA Tournament.
“We’re ready for a bounce-back year,” head coach Bridget Orchard said. “We’re hungry to get back to the Big East Tournament and reach our goal of an NCAA Tournament appearance.”
Orchard enters her eighth season leading Villanova, where she has guided the program to Big East titles in 2021, 2022 and 2024.
This season, the Big East Tournament will change its format to feature only four teams, tightening the path to postseason play. In the preseason poll, Villanova was projected to finish fourth in the conference.
“Being picked fourth, I am not opposed to that,” Orchard said. “It’s the lowest we have been picked since I’ve been here. We’re ready to prove people wrong.”
Villanova will open the 2026 campaign with a trip to Midtown Atlanta, GA, at the Buzz Classic from Feb. 3-7, facing No. 16 Alabama twice, along with Georgia Tech and East Carolina.
“We get the chance to play against some of the best in the country,” Orchard said. “You’re trying to win the game, but more importantly, you’re trying to learn from those games.”
Villanova brings a balanced roster with six seniors, four juniors, five sophomores and five freshmen.
The Wildcats will not lose much in the pitching department, as they will bring back their top two pitchers from last year. Senior pitcher Kat Gallant, who led the team in innings pitched with 147, and sophomore pitcher Lexi Kobryn, who threw 101 innings in 2025.
“Kat will be the ace of the staff,” Orchard said. “We are going to have her throw as many conference games and innings as she can handle.”
Offensively, Villanova will return its best offensive player, junior pitcher and first baseman Maranda Runco, who led the team last year with a .375 batting average and 20 home runs, along with senior outfielder Brooklyn Ostrowski, junior infielders Maddie Burrows and Grace Reed and sophomore catcher Ava Mahnken.
Unfortunately, the Wildcats will be without the only player to start all 54 games last year, shortstop Ava Franz, who graduated last spring.
A key name to watch this year for the Wildcats is senior infielder Lilly St. Jean. In 2024, she was a unanimous All-Big East First Team selection with a .302 batting average. She took a huge step back in 2025 with a .102 batting average.
“She [St. Jean] has played multiple positions over the years, and we expect her to be a leader,” Orchard said. “In 2024, she really hit the ball well, and we hope she gets back into that.”
Orchard will bring back a total of six starters from last year’s team, leaving the door open for three new players to step into big-time roles this upcoming season.
The five freshmen coming in are headlined by pitchers Maggie King and Carly Zych, utility player Katie Reed, outfielder Jacquelyn Cox and infielder Aubrey Police.
Villanova will spend the beginning of the season in warm climates playing a handful of nonconference tournaments. After Georgia, the Wildcats will travel to Charlotte, NC, for the Charlotte Invitational from Feb. 13-15. Next, they head to Boca Raton, FL, for the FAU Paradise Classic from Feb. 20-22.
The final tournament will be the UVA Party at the Palmer Invitational in Charlottesville, VA, from Feb. 27 to March 3.
For its home opener, Villanova will host Butler from March 13-15 in a three-game conference series.
