Vote for No. 1: Arizona Republic's Top 10 High School Softball Teams

The Arizona Republic releases its first rankings of the 2026 high school softball season.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Arizona Republic has released its initial top 10 rankings for the 2026 high school softball season. The list includes powerhouses like Scottsdale Desert Mountain, Queen Creek, and Phoenix Xavier Prep, as well as some surprise entrants like Show Low from the 3A conference. Readers are invited to vote for the team they think should be ranked No. 1 to start the season.

Why it matters

High school sports, especially softball, are a point of pride for many Arizona communities. These rankings help set expectations for the season and highlight the top talent across the state. Fans will be eager to see if their local team cracks the top 10 and how they fare against the state's elite programs.

The details

The rankings were compiled based on results from early-season tournaments, including the Red Mountain Invitational, Lion Country Classic, and Sunrise Mountain Invitational. Scottsdale Desert Mountain, the defending 5A champion, leads the way at No. 1 after going 4-0-1 in the Red Mountain event. Queen Creek, Xavier Prep, Canyon del Oro, and Boulder Creek round out the top 5, with several other contenders like Basha, Willow Canyon, and Perry also making the list.

  • The rankings were released on March 2, 2026.
  • Voting for the No. 1 team will close on March 5 at 6 p.m.

The players

Lilly "Goose" Goodwin

The star player for Scottsdale Desert Mountain, the defending 5A champion.

Emma Reynolds

The standout junior shortstop for Queen Creek, one of the top players in the country.

Angie Falls

The ace pitcher for Phoenix Xavier Prep, the defending 6A champion.

Kinsey Wilcox

The pitcher for Anthem Boulder Creek who threw a 5-0 shutout against Tucson Sunnyside.

Ashlin Miller

The freshman for Gilbert Perry who went 5-for-5 with five runs scored in an opening week win.

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What’s next

Voting for the No. 1 team will close on March 5 at 6 p.m. The results will be published shortly after.

The takeaway

These rankings showcase the depth and talent of high school softball in Arizona, with powerhouses like Desert Mountain and Xavier Prep leading the way, along with several other contenders looking to make a run at state titles this season. Fans will be eager to see how these teams fare as the season progresses.