RENO, Nev. — Hailey McLean was named the Mountain West Preseason Pitcher of the Year, as one of three Nevada Softball standouts selected to the 2026 Preseason All-Mountain West Team, the conference announced Thursday. McLean, along with Madison Clark and Haylee Engelbrecht, earned recognition at their respective positions.

 The Wolf Pack received four first-place votes and was projected to finish second in the Mountain West Preseason Coaches' Poll following its 2025 regular-season championship run.

The Pack's preseason recognition was headlined by McLean, who was voted the Mountain West Preseason Pitcher of the Year after a dominant 2025 season in the circle. McLean was the only mid-major pitcher selected to any All-Mountain Region Team as a pitcher-only, underscoring her status as one of the nation's most impactful arms. She led the Pack with a 2.62 ERA and 17 wins across 34 appearances, throwing two complete-game shutouts in back-to-back conference outings against Boise State and San Diego State. McLean finished the season with six complete games and four saves, striking out 149 batters in 138.2 innings. The Spanish Springs alum returns as the anchor of Nevada's rotation and one of the conference's most reliable competitors.

Clark became nearly automatic at the start of Mountain West play last season. She hit .380 overall for the Pack and elevated to a remarkable .493 in conference play. Clark finished second on the team in hits (63), runs (47), and steals (26), while leading Nevada in sacrifice hits by a wide margin with 12 sacrifice bunts.

Engelbrecht was one of Nevada's most productive offensive players in 2025, finishing third among qualified Wolf Pack hitters with a .327 batting average and posting a .954 OPS. She recorded 12 extra-base hits in conference play and ranked among the Mountain West leaders at the end of the regular season, finishing tied for third in doubles, tied for ninth in runs scored (18), tenth in slugging percentage, tenth in RBI, tenth in home runs, and tied for seventh in stolen bases. Her standout moments included an NCAA-record four-double game against Utah State and her first career two-homer game at New Mexico.

Nevada opens its 2026 campaign February 6 at The Tiger Classic in Baton Rouge, La. The Wolf Pack is looking to build on last season's success, when Nevada captured the Mountain West regular season championship with a 41–14 overall record and an 18–4 mark in conference play, showcasing one of the most complete and competitive squads in program history. This year's preseason slate features eight programs that reached the NCAA Tournament in 2025, including UCLA and Oregon, both of whom advanced to the Women's College World Series. Early matchups against these national powerhouses will provide invaluable experience and set the tone for the season. Facing such high-caliber opponents reflects Nevada's commitment to growth and championship-level preparation as the Pack aims to defend its Mountain West crown.