Arizona senior catcher Sydney Stewart was selected by the AUSL as one of 17 collegiate players to participate in the 2026 draft.
The announcement came after No. 13 Arizona completed its three-game sweep of Baylor with a 6-3 win Sunday at Hillenbrand Stadium.
Arizona legend and AUSL advisor Jennie Finch was in attendance to present Stewart with the golden ticket to the league’s second annual college draft. She joins Devyn Netz as the second Wildcat to receive a golden ticket after Netz earned one last season.
Stewart has more than 40 home runs and 150 RBIs, and drawn more than 120 walks in her career.
THE MOMENT. @sydneyyystewart pic.twitter.com/TxSKMk0v3z
— Arizona Softball (@ArizonaSoftball) March 29, 2026
She holds a .695 career slugging percentage and has maintained a .346 career batting average.
In her two seasons at Arizona, Stewart has hit 33 home runs with 124 RBIs, and 74 walks. She has a .389 batting average and .883 slugging percentage.
Stewart garnered NFCA second-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025 after leading Arizona with 20 home runs, 68 RBIs, a .819 slugging percentage, 48 walks, and a .542 on-base percentage.
Stewart leads in the Big 12 in RBIs (56) and RBIs per game (1.60) this season. She ranks fifth in the conference with 13 home runs. She leads Arizona with 15 multi-RBI games and is currently on a 20-game streak in which she reached base. Stewart was named to the USA Softball Top 50 Player Watch List and Preseason All-Big 12 team ahead of the 2026 season.
AUSL’s College Draft Show is scheduled for May 4 and will be televised on ESPN2.
A golden return back to Hillenbrand!
So happy to have Jennie Finch present Sydney with her Golden Ticket! ✨ pic.twitter.com/sw4wgr1XjR
— Arizona Softball (@ArizonaSoftball) March 29, 2026
Stewart and the 16 other golden ticket draftees will be assigned to the AUSL teams during the draft show to complete the rosters.
In the win for Arizona (27-9, 9-3 Big 12) over Baylor (21-12, 5-4) on Sunday, Stewart hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning that put the Wildcats ahead 5-3.
The Wildcats recorded 11 hits and scored six runs.
Regan Shockey went 3 for 4 while Stewart led the team with three RBIs.
Baylor struck first with three runs in the third on a two-RBI single and an RBI double.
The Wildcats scored two in the bottom of the third to cut into Baylor’s lead. Grace Jenkins drove in the first run with an RBI single and Kez Lucas followed with another RBI single.
After Stewart’s three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth that gave Arizona a 5-3 lead, Shockey had an RBI single in the sixth.
In the circle, Jalen Adams pitched a complete game to pick up the win and improve to 15-4. She allowed three runs on four hits.
Arizona will hit the road for nine straight games, starting Thursday at Iowa State.
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