Florida was selected unanimously as the top team in the Big 12 preseason lacrosse poll ahead of the 2026 season. The Gators swept the 2025 regular and postseason league titles and advanced to the national semifinals for the second consecutive year.
UF had two Preseason of the Year honorees, with Kaitlyn Davies named Preseason Midfielder of the Year and Theresa Bragg voted Co-Preseason Defender of the Year.
Colorado’s Jess Peluso also earned Co-Preseason Defender of the Year honors, while her teammate Elena Oh was selected as Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
Arizona State rounded out the individual awards, as Jordyn Behar was named Preseason Attack Player of the Year and Anna Viglione earned Preseason Draw Specialist of the Year honors.
All six Conference teams are represented on the 20-member Preseason All-Big 12 Lacrosse team. The preseason honors were voted on by league head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own teams or student-athletes.
Davies enters the season after earning 2026 USA Lacrosse Magazine First Team Preseason All-America honors. The reigning 2025 Big 12 Midfielder of the Year started all 23 games last season, recording 51 goals, eight assists, 34 ground balls, 25 caused turnovers and 48 draw controls. Bragg, a Second Team Preseason All-American, was the 2025 Big 12 Lacrosse Tournament Most Outstanding Player and finished the season with a team-high 29 caused turnovers and 23 ground balls.
Peluso was named the 2025 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year after posting 29 ground balls, 19 caused turnovers and a team-leading 96 draw controls. Oh earned a spot on the 2025 Big 12 All-Newcomer Team after recording five or more saves in 12 of 14 games.
Viglione, a USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-America Second Team selection, returns as the reigning Big 12 Draw Specialist of the Year after leading the Conference in draw controls (215) and draw controls per game (11.32). Behar, a Third Team Preseason All-American, finished the 2025 season with 38 goals, 65 assists and 20 ground balls.
The regular season begins Feb. 6, while
Conference action commences March 28. The season will culminate with the 2026 Big 12 Lacrosse Tournament presented by Allstate, held at Florida’s Dizney Stadium from April 30 to May 2. The top four teams in the regular-season standings will qualify for the tournament.
2026 Big 12 Lacrosse Preseason Poll
- Florida (5) – 25 points
- Arizona State (1) – 20 points
- Colorado – 18 points
- UC Davis – 12 points
- Cincinnati – 10 points
- San Diego State – 5 points
(first-place votes)
2026 Big 12 Lacrosse Preseason Individual Awards
Preseason Attack Player of the Year
Jordyn Behar, Arizona State, A, Sr.
Preseason Midfielder of the Year
Kaitlyn Davies, Florida, M, Sr.*
Co-Preseason Defenders of the Year
Jess Peluso, Colorado, D, Sr.
Theresa Bragg, Florida, D, Sr.
Preseason Draw Specialist of the Year
Anna Viglione, Arizona State, M, Jr.*
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Elena Oh, Colorado, GK, So.*
2026 Big 12 Lacrosse Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Elena Oh, Colorado, GK, So.*
Jordyn Behar, Arizona State, A, Sr.*
Teagan Ng, Arizona State, A, Sr.*
Lydia Oldknow, Arizona State, A, Sr.
Paige Selhorn, Cincinnati, A, So.
Maddie Shoup, Colorado, A, Sr.*
Frannie Hahn, Florida, A, R-So.*
Clark Hamilton, Florida, A, So.
Annie Cimperman, UC Davis, A, Sr.
Anna Viglione, Arizona State, M, Jr.
Lily Assini, Colorado, M, Sr.*
Kaitlyn Davies, Florida, M, Sr.*
Gabby Greene, Florida, M, So.
Gabbi Koury, Florida, M, Jr.*
Keira Doyle-Odenbach, San Diego State, M, So.
Keeley Cleland, Arizona State, D, Sr.*
Helen Park, Arizona State, D, RS-Sr.
Jess Peluso, Colorado, D, Sr.*
Theresa Bragg, Florida, D, Sr.*
Ashley Dyer, Florida, D, Jr.*
*unanimous selection
Players are sorted alphabetically by school within their position grouping.
Ties created extra positions on the All-Big 12 team.