University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Alejandre, Garcia Named to NFCA National Freshman of the Year Top 25 List
April 23, 2026 | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. โ Infielders Bri Alejandre and Aleena Garcia were named to the 2026 NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25 list on Thursday afternoon.
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On May 7, the list will be trimmed to the top 10 and the three finalists will be released on May 20. The winner will be revealed on May 26, prior to the start of the 2026 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
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The list of 25 was selected by the NFCA. The top 10, top three and winner are voted 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. Nominated student-athletes remain in consideration for Top-10 selection.
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Alejandre and Garcia bring UCLA's total number of student-athletes recognized on the Top 25 list to 12. The award was created in 2014. UCLA ranks second among NCAA Division I programs in all-time representation, trailing only Oklahoma with 14.
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UCLA was tied with Alabama and Oklahoma for representation on this year's list, with each program having two honorees.
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Alejandre and Garcia have started all 46 games this season at third and shortstop, respectively. Alejandre ranks second among all freshmen nationally in RBIs (65) and fourth in home runs (17). The Alhambra, California, native is three home runs shy of tying Stacey Nuveman's UCLA freshman home run record of 20, set in 1997. On the season, Alejandre owns a .324 batting average (46-for-142), 29 extra-base hits, 65 RBIs, 45 runs scored and a .768 slugging percentage.
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Garcia, a redshirt freshman, is one of the top defensive shortstops in the country. She earned Softball America National Defender of the Week honors on April 7 after several standout plays in UCLA's series sweep of Rutgers. At the plate, Garcia is hitting .359 (46-for-128) with 14 home runs, 11 doubles, 46 RBIs and 45 runs scored. She has caught fire of late, homering in five consecutive games from April 7-14. That streak is tied for the longest by a Bruin in program history.
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The list of 25 was selected by the NFCA. The top 10, top three and winner are voted 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. Nominated student-athletes remain in consideration for Top-10 selection.
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2026 NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25
Bri Alejandre, UCLA
Brinli Bain, Arkansas
Ella Boyer, Kansas
Abby Carr, Missouri
Bree Carrico, Virginia Tech
Bronwyn Conroy, College of Charleston
Kenzie Farrier-Pilon, California Baptist
Tarisa Frans, Cornell
Aleena Garcia, UCLA
Madi George, Ole Miss
Mia Gomez, Utah
Camille Hamilton, UNC-Wilmington
Alexis Jensen, Nebraska
Sophia Lundstrom, Sam Houston
Marina Mason, Northwestern
Kai Minor, Oklahoma
Anna Moore, Purdue
Makenna Moore, Jacksonville State
Vic Moten, Alabama
Allison Oneacre, Penn State
Kaitlyn Pallozzi, Alabama
Dani Rauscher, UCSB
Kendall Wells, Oklahoma
Katelyn Wetteland, Nevada
Kinzey Woody, Wichita State
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NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Winners
2025 โ Taylor Shumaker, Florida; 2024 โ Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State; 2023 โ NiJaree Canady, Stanford; 2022 โ Jordy Bahl, Oklahoma; 2021 โ Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma; 2019 โ Danielle Williams, Northwestern; 2018 โ Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma; 2017 โ Rachel Garcia, UCLA; 2016 โ Amanda Lorenz, Florida; 2015 โ Paige Parker, Oklahoma; 2014 โ Annie Aldrete, Tennessee & Kasey Cooper, Auburn
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Bruins & The NFCA National Freshman of the Year Award
2014 โ Delaney Spaulding (Top 10)
2017 โ Rachel Garcia (Winner)
2018 โ Aaliyah Jordan (Top 10)
2018 โ Briana Perez (Top 25)
2019 โ Megan Faraimo (Top 10)
2019 โ Kelli Godin (Top 10)
2022 โ Savannah Pola (Top 25)
2023 โ Megan Grant (Top 10)
2023 โ Jordan Woolery (Top 10)
2025 โ Addisen Fisher (Top 10)
2026 โ Bri Alejandre (Top 25)
2026 โ Aleena Garcia (Top 25)
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On May 7, the list will be trimmed to the top 10 and the three finalists will be released on May 20. The winner will be revealed on May 26, prior to the start of the 2026 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
ย
The list of 25 was selected by the NFCA. The top 10, top three and winner are voted 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. Nominated student-athletes remain in consideration for Top-10 selection.
ย
Alejandre and Garcia bring UCLA's total number of student-athletes recognized on the Top 25 list to 12. The award was created in 2014. UCLA ranks second among NCAA Division I programs in all-time representation, trailing only Oklahoma with 14.
ย
UCLA was tied with Alabama and Oklahoma for representation on this year's list, with each program having two honorees.
ย
Alejandre and Garcia have started all 46 games this season at third and shortstop, respectively. Alejandre ranks second among all freshmen nationally in RBIs (65) and fourth in home runs (17). The Alhambra, California, native is three home runs shy of tying Stacey Nuveman's UCLA freshman home run record of 20, set in 1997. On the season, Alejandre owns a .324 batting average (46-for-142), 29 extra-base hits, 65 RBIs, 45 runs scored and a .768 slugging percentage.
ย
Garcia, a redshirt freshman, is one of the top defensive shortstops in the country. She earned Softball America National Defender of the Week honors on April 7 after several standout plays in UCLA's series sweep of Rutgers. At the plate, Garcia is hitting .359 (46-for-128) with 14 home runs, 11 doubles, 46 RBIs and 45 runs scored. She has caught fire of late, homering in five consecutive games from April 7-14. That streak is tied for the longest by a Bruin in program history.
ย
The list of 25 was selected by the NFCA. The top 10, top three and winner are voted 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. Nominated student-athletes remain in consideration for Top-10 selection.
ย
2026 NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25
Bri Alejandre, UCLA
Brinli Bain, Arkansas
Ella Boyer, Kansas
Abby Carr, Missouri
Bree Carrico, Virginia Tech
Bronwyn Conroy, College of Charleston
Kenzie Farrier-Pilon, California Baptist
Tarisa Frans, Cornell
Aleena Garcia, UCLA
Madi George, Ole Miss
Mia Gomez, Utah
Camille Hamilton, UNC-Wilmington
Alexis Jensen, Nebraska
Sophia Lundstrom, Sam Houston
Marina Mason, Northwestern
Kai Minor, Oklahoma
Anna Moore, Purdue
Makenna Moore, Jacksonville State
Vic Moten, Alabama
Allison Oneacre, Penn State
Kaitlyn Pallozzi, Alabama
Dani Rauscher, UCSB
Kendall Wells, Oklahoma
Katelyn Wetteland, Nevada
Kinzey Woody, Wichita State
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NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Winners
2025 โ Taylor Shumaker, Florida; 2024 โ Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State; 2023 โ NiJaree Canady, Stanford; 2022 โ Jordy Bahl, Oklahoma; 2021 โ Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma; 2019 โ Danielle Williams, Northwestern; 2018 โ Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma; 2017 โ Rachel Garcia, UCLA; 2016 โ Amanda Lorenz, Florida; 2015 โ Paige Parker, Oklahoma; 2014 โ Annie Aldrete, Tennessee & Kasey Cooper, Auburn
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Bruins & The NFCA National Freshman of the Year Award
2014 โ Delaney Spaulding (Top 10)
2017 โ Rachel Garcia (Winner)
2018 โ Aaliyah Jordan (Top 10)
2018 โ Briana Perez (Top 25)
2019 โ Megan Faraimo (Top 10)
2019 โ Kelli Godin (Top 10)
2022 โ Savannah Pola (Top 25)
2023 โ Megan Grant (Top 10)
2023 โ Jordan Woolery (Top 10)
2025 โ Addisen Fisher (Top 10)
2026 โ Bri Alejandre (Top 25)
2026 โ Aleena Garcia (Top 25)
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Players Mentioned
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