LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - San Francisco State softball's Shaunessy Cardwell has been named to the NFCA DII Player/Pitcher of the Year watchlist.

One hundred and eighteen student-athletes from across the country were revealed as part of the 2026 NFCA Division II Player and Pitcher of the Year watchlist.

The list is broken down into the eight NCAA Regions (Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast and West) with up to 15 student-athletes represented in each region. The list is compiled by the elected members of the NFCA Division II All-American Committee with one head coach representing each of the eight NCAA regions. To be eligible, a student-athlete's head coach must be a member.

Voted on by the NFCA's Division II All-American Committee, the 2026 NFCA Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year will be announced on May 27, a day prior to the start of the NCAA Division II National Championships.

Cardwell has been one of the top hitters in the conference this season. The senior first baseman is currently slashing .410/.541/.675 and leads the team in hits (34), RBIs (21) doubles (13) and walks (22). She has already surpassed her total number of doubles from last season (six) and sits right outside the top ten mark of most doubles in a single season.

The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from webinars to legal counsel, to in-person events and the National Convention.

The Player of the Year award was created in 2015 to honor the outstanding athletic achievements among softball student-athletes throughout NCAA Division II. In 2019, the Association expanded the award to include a Player and Pitcher of the Year.