University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Photo by: Mac Brown
Megan Grant Named Top 3 Finalist for Player of the Year
May 18, 2026 | Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. โ Senior utility Megan Grant on the UCLA softball team was announced as a 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 3 Finalist, the organization announced on Monday.
ย
Joining Grant as Top 3 Finalists are Nebraska's Jordy Frahm and Florida State's Isa Torres. The Player of the Year will be revealed prior to the start of the Women's College World Series.
ย
The award is considered the most prestigious honor in Division I college softball and recognizes outstanding athletic achievement among Division I softball players across the country. There have been only two UCLA players who have won the award. Rachel Garcia won the award twice in 2019 and 2018 and Stacey Nuveman won the Bruins' first honor in 2002.
ย
This marks the 10th time a UCLA student-athlete has been named a Top 3 finalist and the first since Maya Brady in 2023.
ย
Grant has set the NCAA Division I single-season home run record with 40 this season. The San Bruno, California, native also leads the country in slugging percentage (1.342), on-base percentage (.647) and walks (68). Her current OPS of 1.989 is on pace to break the previous UCLA program record of 1.752, set by Megan Langenfeld in 2010.
ย
Grant reached the unprecedented 40-homer mark in dramatic fashion last Sunday, hitting her seventh career grand slam to opposite field against South Carolina in the Regional final. The homer was the 89th of Grant's career, putting her one shy of tying Stacey Nuveman's UCLA program record of 90.
ย
A dual-sport athlete, Grant was a member of the 2025-26 NCAA Champion UCLA Women's Basketball Team prior to the start of softball season. She appeared in 14 games as a reserve, playing a total of 33 minutes. She made 3-of-9 field goal attempts for six points, snagged four rebounds and dished one assist for the Bruins' hoops squad.
ย
On the awards circuit, Grant was named to the All-Big Ten and NFCA All-West Region First Teams earlier this month. This marks the second straight season Grant has been named a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Finalist after making the cut for the Top 25 as a junior in 2025.
ย
Grant and UCLA open the NCAA Los Angeles Super Regional this Friday versus UCF at 6 p.m. PT at Easton Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPNU.
ย
ย
Joining Grant as Top 3 Finalists are Nebraska's Jordy Frahm and Florida State's Isa Torres. The Player of the Year will be revealed prior to the start of the Women's College World Series.
ย
The award is considered the most prestigious honor in Division I college softball and recognizes outstanding athletic achievement among Division I softball players across the country. There have been only two UCLA players who have won the award. Rachel Garcia won the award twice in 2019 and 2018 and Stacey Nuveman won the Bruins' first honor in 2002.
ย
This marks the 10th time a UCLA student-athlete has been named a Top 3 finalist and the first since Maya Brady in 2023.
ย
Grant has set the NCAA Division I single-season home run record with 40 this season. The San Bruno, California, native also leads the country in slugging percentage (1.342), on-base percentage (.647) and walks (68). Her current OPS of 1.989 is on pace to break the previous UCLA program record of 1.752, set by Megan Langenfeld in 2010.
ย
Grant reached the unprecedented 40-homer mark in dramatic fashion last Sunday, hitting her seventh career grand slam to opposite field against South Carolina in the Regional final. The homer was the 89th of Grant's career, putting her one shy of tying Stacey Nuveman's UCLA program record of 90.
ย
A dual-sport athlete, Grant was a member of the 2025-26 NCAA Champion UCLA Women's Basketball Team prior to the start of softball season. She appeared in 14 games as a reserve, playing a total of 33 minutes. She made 3-of-9 field goal attempts for six points, snagged four rebounds and dished one assist for the Bruins' hoops squad.
ย
On the awards circuit, Grant was named to the All-Big Ten and NFCA All-West Region First Teams earlier this month. This marks the second straight season Grant has been named a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Finalist after making the cut for the Top 25 as a junior in 2025.
ย
Grant and UCLA open the NCAA Los Angeles Super Regional this Friday versus UCF at 6 p.m. PT at Easton Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPNU.
ย
Players Mentioned
UTIL
/ SoftballUCLA Softball's Megan Grant Hits Grand Slam for NCAA-Record 40th Home Run (May 17, 2026)
Monday, May 18
Highlights - UCLA Softball vs. South Carolina (May 17, 2026)
Sunday, May 17
UCLA Softball Press Conference - Coach Inouye-Perez, Megan Grant, Taylor Tinsley (May 17, 2026)
Sunday, May 17
UCLA Softball Press Conference - Coach Inouye-Perez, Soo-Jin Berry, Taylor Tinsley (May 16, 2026)
Saturday, May 16