LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The NFCA revealed its 2026 NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25 list on Thursday morning. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, May 26, before the start of the 2026 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. Dani Rauscher has been on the list. She is just the second Gaucho in program history to be recognized, joining Kristen Clark, who was named to the list in 2014.
 
This year's finalists hail from 22 different universities and represent 11 NCAA Division I conferences from across the nation.
 
Rauscher, despite not starting consistently until the second weekend of play, took the starting centerfield role after a tremendous weekend at the Silicon Valley Classic. Following the weekend, the freshman could not be removed from the lineup due to her consistent approach and ability to get on base.
 
The San Jose native currently leads the team in batting average (0.425), hits (57) and stolen bases. Her .425 batting average ranks 75^th nationally. The three-time Big West Weekly Award Winner ranks second in The Big West in batting average, third in hits, seventh in runs scored and stolen bases and eighth in on-base percentage.
 
The list of 25 was selected by the NFCA. The top 10, top three and winner are voted by the NFCA Division I All-America Committee. To be eligible, student-athletes must be nominated by their member head coach and in their first year of NCAA Division I collegiate competition as a true freshman or redshirt freshman. Nominated student-athletes remain in consideration for Top-10 selection.
 
Rauscher and the Gauchos will head to UC Davis this weekend to take on the Aggies in a three-game set. UC Santa Barbara and UC Davis will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 25 and a single game on Sunday, April 26.