University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
Sanaa Thompson Named To Preseason All-ACC Team
January 22, 2026 | Softball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Sanaa Thompson has been named to the preseason All-ACC Team the league announced on Thursday afternoon.
The junior has been a star for the Tar Heels in her first two seasons at Carolina. Hitting .370 with a .410 on base percentage while slugging .594. She ranks in the top 10 in all three of those categories in program history. She's hit 14 home runs in two seasons with 93 RBI and 80 runs.
Thompson and the Tar Heels open the 2026 campaign on Feb. 5 when they head to Elon for an opening week tournament against St. Joe's, Radford, James Madison, UConn, and Elon.
The full preseason All-ACC Team and projected order of finish can be found below:
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Infielders:
Aminah Vega, Duke
Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State
Isa Torres, Florida State
Jade Hylton, Virginia
River Mahler, Stanford
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Outfielders:
D'Auna Jennings, Duke
Kennedy Harp, Florida State
Sanaa Thompson, North Carolina
Emily Jones, Stanford
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Pitchers:
Ashtyn Danley, Florida State
Jazzy Francik, Florida State
Eden Bigham, Virginia
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Catcher:
Kairi Rodriguez, Duke
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DP/UTL:
Macey Cintron, Clemson
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Preseason Coaches Poll:
1. Florida State, 179 | 12 first-place votes
2. Clemson, 173 | 1 first-place vote
3. Stanford, 170 | 2 first-place votes
4. Virginia Tech, 160
5. Duke, 151
6. Virginia, 133
7. North Carolina, 120
8. Georgia Tech, 101
9. California, 88
10. Louisville, 83
11. Notre Dame, 66
12. NC State, 59
13. Pitt, 37
14. Syracuse, 36
15. Boston College, 19
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The junior has been a star for the Tar Heels in her first two seasons at Carolina. Hitting .370 with a .410 on base percentage while slugging .594. She ranks in the top 10 in all three of those categories in program history. She's hit 14 home runs in two seasons with 93 RBI and 80 runs.
Thompson and the Tar Heels open the 2026 campaign on Feb. 5 when they head to Elon for an opening week tournament against St. Joe's, Radford, James Madison, UConn, and Elon.
The full preseason All-ACC Team and projected order of finish can be found below:
Â
Infielders:
Aminah Vega, Duke
Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State
Isa Torres, Florida State
Jade Hylton, Virginia
River Mahler, Stanford
Â
Outfielders:
D'Auna Jennings, Duke
Kennedy Harp, Florida State
Sanaa Thompson, North Carolina
Emily Jones, Stanford
Â
Pitchers:
Ashtyn Danley, Florida State
Jazzy Francik, Florida State
Eden Bigham, Virginia
Â
Catcher:
Kairi Rodriguez, Duke
Â
DP/UTL:
Macey Cintron, Clemson
Â
Preseason Coaches Poll:
1. Florida State, 179 | 12 first-place votes
2. Clemson, 173 | 1 first-place vote
3. Stanford, 170 | 2 first-place votes
4. Virginia Tech, 160
5. Duke, 151
6. Virginia, 133
7. North Carolina, 120
8. Georgia Tech, 101
9. California, 88
10. Louisville, 83
11. Notre Dame, 66
12. NC State, 59
13. Pitt, 37
14. Syracuse, 36
15. Boston College, 19
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Players Mentioned
OF
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