The University of Delaware softball program received eight Conference USA postseason honors, the league announced on May 5, 2026. Three players—Sydney Shaffer, Maddie Diamond, and Allie Nankivell—were named First Team All-Conference USA selections. Katie Scheivert and Josie Crossman earned Second Team honors, while Karli Challburg, Diamond, and Nankivell were selected to the CUSA All-Freshman Team. The eight total selections are the most among all Conference USA programs this season.
These recognitions highlight Delaware’s strong performance in its inaugural year as a member of Conference USA. The team’s five first- and second-team selections ranked fifth in the league behind Jacksonville State’s six.
Shaffer received her third career all-conference honor and her second consecutive First Team selection. She has achieved several milestones this season including setting a program record for single-season walks and reaching her 100th career run. Diamond matched the Delaware freshman home run record with 15 homers and led all CUSA freshmen in home runs and walks. Nankivell became the first Delaware freshman outfielder since Jenny Richards in 2010 to earn First-Team All-Conference honors after hitting .396 with 19 stolen bases.
Scheivert marked her third postseason recognition by posting career-best numbers at bat while reaching multiple personal milestones such as her 200th game played. Crossman continued a streak for Delaware pitchers by becoming the sixth consecutive pitcher from the program to earn all-conference recognition after going 14-8 with a 3.13 ERA this year.
Challburg was recognized as an All-Freshman pitcher—the first for Delaware since Graceyn Frost in 2022—after posting six wins over more than sixty innings pitched during her debut season.
Delaware’s eight postseason honorees matched a program record set last year and maintained streaks of multiple players earning top conference awards each season for five straight years. As they enter their first CUSA Tournament as the No. 4 seed, Delaware will host a conference tournament for the first time since 2001.
