ORLANDO – As announced by the league office Wednesday in conjunction with its preseason coaches’ poll, redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Isabella Vega has been named to the Big 12 Conference’s 2026 All-Big 12 Preseason Team.
The preseason honor rolls in after the Bradenton, Florida, native established herself as one of the more dominant arms in the nation a season ago, finishing as a top 10 finalist for the NFCA’s National Freshman of the Year award and earning Softball America and D1Softball.com Freshman All-America, NFCA All-Gulf Region First Team, All-Big 12 Conference First Team, and All-Big 12 Freshman Team honors.
With her two All-America selections, she became the third player in program history to earn national All-America recognition, joining Shelby Turnier (NFCA, 2015) and Jada Cody (D1Softball First Team, Softball America Second Team, 2022).
The Knights’ team leader in starts (20), ERA (1.70), innings pitched (135.2), shutouts (5), strikeouts (110), and batting average-against (.197), Vega completed her season ranking among NCAA national leaders in ERA (16th), WHIP (0.98, 15th), fewest hits allowed/7 IP (4.90, 20th), shutouts (T-29th) and K:BB ratio (2.89, 83rd).
The right-hander also ranked among Big 12 Conference leaders in shutouts (T-2nd), ERA (3rd), fewest hits allowed/7 IP (3rd), WHIP (3rd), batting average-against (3rd), K:BB ratio (5th), total strikeouts (5th), complete games (7, T-6th), games started (7th), innings pitched (T-7th), winning decisions (14, T-7th), and fewest walks allowed/7 IP (1.96, 8th).
She earned the first two Big 12 Pitcher of the Week awards of her collegiate career, twice earned D1Softball.com National Freshman of the Week recognition, and garnered Wilson/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week recognition May 6 for her efforts against the Kansas Jayhawks, throwing her first career no-hitter and totaling nine spotless innings with just one hit allowed, two winning decisions, six strikeouts and a .034 batting average-against.
Other highlights from her 2025 campaign include her seven-inning complete game shutout against then-No. 3 Florida March 26, becoming the second freshman in program history and the first freshman of any team since 2023 to throw a seven-inning complete game shutout against the Gators, allowing just five hits with four strikeouts in UCF's 4-0 win.
Vega was also the catalyst for the largest comeback win against a ranked opponent in program history in just her third career appearance, tossing seven scoreless innings in relief against then-No. 15 Missouri Feb. 11; allowed just five hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in the effort.
Vega and her team kick off the 2026 campaign with the program’s annual Black & Gold Classic, beginning with a Feb. 5 twin bill against Boston U and CSU Bakersfield. The Knights will also meet No. 16 Duke, Maryland and Buffalo throughout the weekend.
ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program, representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.