IRVINE, Calif. – The Big West announced the recipients of their All-Big West honors for the 2024 season. After rounding out the 2024 season, six athletes from UC Santa Barbara earned a spot on the All-Conference teams. Highlighting the six players is Freshman Ainsley Waddell who was named Co-Freshman Player of the Year.
 
In her first season in the Blue and Gold, Ainsley Waddell did not disappoint being named the 2024 Big West Co-Freshman Player of the Year, Second Team All-Big West and earning a spot on the All-Freshman team. The Sequoia High School product hit .342 with 14 doubles, one triple and four home runs. She was tied for the team lead in total bases (81) while also leading the team in slugging percentage (.523) and runs batted in (35). In the circle, she pitched six complete games including a complete-game shutout against Hawai'i on March 16. Over 87.2 innings pitched the San Carlos native struck out 47 hitters.
 
Madelyn McNally has cemented her spot as a First Team All-Big West selection for the fourth straight year. The senior hit .424 ranking second in The Big West and 22nd nationally. Her 70 total hits throughout the season ranked third in conference and 35th nationally. She drove in 13 runs while scoring 43 times. She tallied 81 total bases and was a perfect 19-for-19 in stolen bases. The senior leaves the program as the all-time leader in career batting average, hitting .403 across four seasons. She also ranks second in runs scored (141), third in hits (245) and triples (13) and fifth in stolen bases (51).
 
For the second straight year, Alexa Sams has been named an All-Big West selection. Sams was named Second Team All-Big West after a stellar year in the outfield. Sams ranked second on the team in batting average, hitting .357 across 126 at-bats. She drove in 22 runs while scoring 19 times. Her .357 batting average ranked ninth in The Big West while she also ranked top 20 in hits (45) and doubles (8). The La Mirada native had 13 multi-hit games, six multi-RBI games, and will carry a nine-game hitting streak into next season.
 
For the first time in her career, Elicia Acosta has been named All-Big West earning Honorable Mention recognition. The junior hit .312 with five doubles, two triples and team-high six home runs. Acosta drove in 29 runs good for second on the team while scoring 12 times. She also ranked second on team in slugging percentage (.507) and total bases (70). Acosta's two triples and six home runs ranked top 10 in The Big West.
 
After being named The Big West Player of the Week twice throughout the season Jazzy Santos earned All-Big West Honorable Mention. The sophomore hit .313 in her second season in the Blue and Gold with three doubles and five home runs, good for second on the team. She also drove in 21 runs and scored 28 runs also good for second on the team. Santos also ranked second on the team in multi-hit games with 17.
 
The Gauchos wrapped up the season with a 20-28 overall record and a 14-13 record in conference play, Santa Barbara's first winning record in conference since 2014. It was also the first time the Gauchos have won 20 or more games in back-to-back seasons since the 2017 and 2018 seasons.