IRVINE, Calif,--The Big West announced its 2026 softball preseason poll. The University of Hawai'i, under first year head coach Panita Thanatharn, was picked to finish in a tie for fourth by the conference's coaches. It is the fourth time in the last five seasons tha the 'Bows have been picked to finish fourth or higher in the 10-team conference preseason poll.

Both Hawai'i and UC San Diego earned 50 points each in the coaches' poll. Last season, in head coach Bob Coolen's final season, the Rainbow Wahine finished with a 33-20 overall record and a 17-10 conference mark to finish in a four-way tie for second. In the Big West's inaugural conference tournament, Hawai'i opened with upset wins over both Long Beach State and host/top-seeded Cal State Fullerton before falling to CSUN and eventual champion UC Santa Barbara. 

The UCSB Gauchos were this year's preseason favorite, garnering six of the 10 first place votes with 78 total points. Perennial power Cal State Fullerton received the remaining four first place votes and a total of 75 points as the predicted runner-ups. Long Beach State is ahead of UH in third place with 65 points while UC Davis is right behind the 'Bows picked to finish in sixth place with 38 points just ahead of CSUN who garnered 36 points for seventh

Coach Thanatharn is one of three first year head coaches in the Big West this year, joining CSUN's Jodie Cox and Long Beach State's Kendall Fearn. Five out of the league's 10 coaches have been at the helm of their programs for three seasons or less.

For Hawai'i, this marks its 26th overall season as a member of the Big West. UH spent its first 12 years (1985-86) as a BW member and rejoined the conference in 2013,  spending the last 13 season in the league. Next year the 'Bows will be moving to the Mountain West Conference..

The Rainbow Wahine open the 2026 season hosting the Bank of Hawai'i Paradise Classic from Feb. 5-7.  UH wil kick the season off against North Dakota, Pacific and SeattleU at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.