The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics released its coaches poll on Thursday Morning. Pittsburg took first place with 10 first place votes and 141 points total. Newman took the 13th spot in the coaches poll. 

2026 MIAA SOFTBALL PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Pittsburg State [10] – 141 points
2. Central Oklahoma [1] – 125 points
3. Missouri Southern [1] – 116 points
4. Rogers State [1] – 111 points
5. Central Missouri – 101 points
6. Washburn – 96 points
7. Missouri Western – 84 points
8. Emporia State – 65 points
9. Northwest Missouri – 49 points
10. Fort Hays State – 45 points
11. Nebraska Kearney – 43 points
12. Northeastern State – 26 points
13. Newman – 12 points 
[#] - First Place Votes 


Coach Brittany Henning enters her first season as head coach of the Jets. This marks Henning's second stint with the program and her first as head coach, after previously serving as an assistant coach during the spring semester of 2023. Newman is coming off a 7–43 season in 2025, with two of those victories coming in MIAA play against Northeastern State and Fort Hays State. The Jets return 14 players from last season, including Hannah Nordby, Lani Dryden, and Malie Noda. In the circle, Newman brings back 128.1 innings of experience between Katelyn Westover and Kinyon DeCorte. The Jets will also look for an immediate impact from newcomers Audry Rumsey, Kinley Powell, and Taylor Palmer as they head into the 2026 season.

The Jets will open the 2026 campaign at the Branson Lead Off Classic, where they will face four opponents from the GAC, NSIC, and GLVC. Newman will remain on the road for two additional tournaments, first traveling to Topeka for the Washburn Tournament before heading to Kansas City, Missouri, for the Midwest College Classic. The Jets will then open their home schedule with a 12-game homestand, highlighted by the MIAA opener against Central Missouri, followed by a series with Emporia State. Newman returns to the road for a midweek matchup at Southern Nazarene before a conference road series at Northeastern State and Rogers State. The Jets come back home to host Tabor, followed by three straight MIAA opponents in Missouri Western, Northwest Missouri State, and Washburn. Conference play continues the following weekend as Newman travels to face Fort Hays State and Nebraska–Kearney. A midweek contest against Northwestern Oklahoma State will briefly interrupt the conference slate before road trips to Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State. The Jets will close out the regular season on May 1st at Central Oklahoma.