Brooklyn Carter Earns Preseason All-Big 12 Nod, Poised to Lead Baylor Softball in 2026
WACO, Texas - Brooklyn Carter is no stranger to making an impact, and the Big 12 coaches clearly took notice. The Baylor senior outfielder has been named to the 2026 Preseason All-Big 12 Softball Team, a well-earned recognition for a player who’s been a spark plug at the top of the Bears’ lineup and a force in the outfield.
Carter, a senior from Englewood, California, is coming off a breakout season that saw her lead Baylor in hits (51), runs scored (51), and stolen bases (22) - all while starting every game. That kind of consistency and production is exactly what head coach Glenn Moore will be counting on as the Bears look to climb the conference standings this spring.
What makes Carter’s rise even more impressive is the path she’s taken to get here. After starting her college career at Washington, where she earned All-Pac 12 Freshman Team honors in 2023 by hitting .277 and swiping 28 bases, she transferred to Baylor and immediately became one of the team’s most reliable players. Now, with nearly 350 career at-bats and 145 games played at the Power Five level, she brings a veteran presence to a Baylor squad that’s blending experience with promising young talent.
And there’s plenty of that talent around her. The Bears return a solid core from last season and have added a strong group of newcomers, including three highly touted freshmen - Gianna Gusman, Harper Haas, and Kaygen Marshall - all of whom earned spots on D1 Softball’s D100 Big 12 list. Carter’s leadership will be key in helping that group adjust to the college game while keeping the team focused on competing in a deep conference.
Speaking of the Big 12, the league’s preseason poll has Baylor slotted eighth, but don’t expect that to rattle this group. Under Moore’s leadership, Baylor has a history of outperforming expectations - 17 times in his 25 seasons, to be exact. That kind of track record suggests the Bears are more than capable of turning heads again in 2026.
The journey begins soon. Baylor opens its season a week from Thursday against No.
22 Mississippi State in the Getterman Classic, marking the fifth time in seven years the Bears have opened against a ranked opponent. It’s a tough test right out of the gate, but also a golden opportunity to make a statement early.
That opening weekend includes matchups that will test Baylor’s depth and cohesion, culminating with a Sunday showdown against Northwestern State. With Carter leading the charge and a mix of seasoned returners and hungry newcomers behind her, the Bears are gearing up to show that their preseason ranking doesn’t define their ceiling.
The full 2026 Preseason All-Big 12 Team features a mix of familiar names and rising stars from across the expanded conference, with Texas Tech leading the way in the preseason poll. But if Carter and Baylor have anything to say about it, that eighth-place prediction may look a little off by the time we hit May.