University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Photo by: Jesus Ramirez
Grant Named a Finalist for Honda Sport Award
May 29, 2026 | Softball
Senior utility Megan Grant on the UCLA softball team has been named a finalist for the Honda Sport Award for Softball, the Collegiate Women's Sports Awards (CWSA) announced Friday.
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Grant is one of four finalists for the Honda Sport Award, joining Nebraska's Jordy Frahm, Belmont's Maya Johnson and Florida State's Isa Torres. The recipient will become a finalist for the prestigious Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the Class of 2026 Honda Cup, to be presented live on Monday, July 27, at 4 p.m. PT on CBS Sports Network.
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The softball finalists were chosen by a panel of experts and coaches from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The Honda Sport award winner for softball will be announced later next week after voting by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools.
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UCLA softball leads all NCAA Division I women's athletic programs, regardless of sport, with four Honda Cup winners and paces all softball with 12 Honda Sport Awards. The Bruins' four Honda Cup winners include Lisa Fernandez (1993), Natasha Watley (2003), and Rachel Garcia, the only two-time winner in softball history (2019 and 2021).
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Grant has put together one of the most prolific seasons in college softball history, setting an NCAA record with 41 home runs. The San Bruno, California, native has also posted nation-leading marks in slugging percentage (1.333), on-base percentage (.646), OPS (1.979) and walks (74). Her slugging percentage is also on pace to set an NCAA single-season record.
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Her slugging percentage and OPS are on track to break UCLA single-season records. She also ranks second in UCLA single-season history in runs scored (86), walks (74) and total bases (196), while ranking third in RBIs (88).
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Grant's 74 walks are tied for the most by a Division I player over the last 14 seasons. Including hits, walks and hit-by-pitches, Grant has reached base in 157 of her 243 plate appearances and in 59 of 61 games this season. She has struck out just 12 times in those 240 plate appearances and has not struck out more than once in a game all year.
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Grant broke the NCAA single-season home run record previously held by Arizona's Laura Espinoza with her 38th homer of the year in the Big Ten Tournament championship game against Nebraska on May 9. In UCLA's NCAA Regional final against South Carolina, Grant hit a grand slam to become the first player in NCAA history to eclipse 40 home runs in a season.
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In addition to her power numbers, Grant ranks sixth nationally with a .467 batting average, with 41 of her 70 hits leaving the yard. When pitchers have given Grant the opportunity to swing, she has homered in 27.3% of her 150 at-bats.
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Grant is one of four finalists for the Honda Sport Award, joining Nebraska's Jordy Frahm, Belmont's Maya Johnson and Florida State's Isa Torres. The recipient will become a finalist for the prestigious Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the Class of 2026 Honda Cup, to be presented live on Monday, July 27, at 4 p.m. PT on CBS Sports Network.
ย
The softball finalists were chosen by a panel of experts and coaches from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The Honda Sport award winner for softball will be announced later next week after voting by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools.
ย
UCLA softball leads all NCAA Division I women's athletic programs, regardless of sport, with four Honda Cup winners and paces all softball with 12 Honda Sport Awards. The Bruins' four Honda Cup winners include Lisa Fernandez (1993), Natasha Watley (2003), and Rachel Garcia, the only two-time winner in softball history (2019 and 2021).
ย
Grant has put together one of the most prolific seasons in college softball history, setting an NCAA record with 41 home runs. The San Bruno, California, native has also posted nation-leading marks in slugging percentage (1.333), on-base percentage (.646), OPS (1.979) and walks (74). Her slugging percentage is also on pace to set an NCAA single-season record.
ย
Her slugging percentage and OPS are on track to break UCLA single-season records. She also ranks second in UCLA single-season history in runs scored (86), walks (74) and total bases (196), while ranking third in RBIs (88).
ย
Grant's 74 walks are tied for the most by a Division I player over the last 14 seasons. Including hits, walks and hit-by-pitches, Grant has reached base in 157 of her 243 plate appearances and in 59 of 61 games this season. She has struck out just 12 times in those 240 plate appearances and has not struck out more than once in a game all year.
ย
Grant broke the NCAA single-season home run record previously held by Arizona's Laura Espinoza with her 38th homer of the year in the Big Ten Tournament championship game against Nebraska on May 9. In UCLA's NCAA Regional final against South Carolina, Grant hit a grand slam to become the first player in NCAA history to eclipse 40 home runs in a season.
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In addition to her power numbers, Grant ranks sixth nationally with a .467 batting average, with 41 of her 70 hits leaving the yard. When pitchers have given Grant the opportunity to swing, she has homered in 27.3% of her 150 at-bats.
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Players Mentioned
UTIL
/ SoftballUCLA Softball Press Conference - Coach Inouye-Perez, Megan Grant, Taylor Tinsley (May 28, 2026)
Thursday, May 28
UCLA Softball Press Conference - Coach Inouye-Perez, Megan Grant, Taylor Tinsley (May 27, 2026)
Wednesday, May 27
Kelly Inouye-Perez Interview on B1G Today Show (May 26, 2026)
Tuesday, May 26
Cinematic Recap - 2026 UCLA Softball Super Regionals
Sunday, May 24