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ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ celebrated a national championship for the first time in nearly seven years and took home three Big 12 titles in three sports.

Even though ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won’t have Tetairoa McMillan, Devyn Netz, Colton Smith, Mason White, Carter Bryant or Caleb Love roaming the UA campus anymore, there are plenty of high-level athletes worth following.

As ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ turns the page to the 2025-26 academic year, we’re taking a look at 25 athletes you should pay attention to this year.

Smith Bailey, baseball

The right-handed pitcher had the ninth-best ERA (3.94) in the Big 12 as ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s No. 2 pitcher this season; his ERA was a team-best. In four starts in the postseason, Smith posted a 2.31 ERA with 18 strikeouts. Bailey’s 18 starts are tied for the most by a freshman in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ history. Bailey started in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s series-clinching game against North Carolina at the Super Regional in Chapel Hill to advance to the College World Series.

Brayden Burries, men’s basketball

The five-star shooting guard is expected to be one of the top contributors in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s backcourt this season. Burries averaged 27.2 points per game during his high school career at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Eastvale, California. Burries earned California Mr. Basketball honors and was named a McDonald’s All-American.

Jaden Bradley, men’s basketball

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s point guard enters his third season at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ after averaging 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game as a junior. In the NCAA Tournament last season, Bradley averaged 15.3 points, four assists and 1.7 steals per game. With ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s roster headlined by superstar freshmen, Bradley will be the straw that stirs the drink for the Wildcats this season.

Carlie Cisneros, volleyball

The highest-rated recruit in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ volleyball history completed her freshman season third on the team in points (374.5) and kills (307). The outside hitter and Kansas City native played in all 121 sets in 33 matches this season and recorded 382 digs (UA freshman record), 307 kills, 45 aces, 41 blocks and 27 assists.

Noah Fifita, football

The standout quarterback and face of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football enters the upcoming season eighth in UA history with 5,955 yards — seventh with 44 touchdowns. Fifita owns ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s single-game record for passing yards (527), a record he set against ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State in 2023. Despite a step-back season last year, Fifita remains the only Wildcat in school history to have a completion rate (73.6%) higher than 70%.

Jay Friend, men’s tennis

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ lost a generational talent in Colton Smith, along with veteran leader Casper Christensen, but the Wildcats have another pro-level player in Friend, who just won his third gold medal for Japan at the World University Games. The Tokyo native became the first Japanese player to win the men’s singles title at the World University Games since 1967.

Filip Jakubcik, men’s golf

Jakubcik capped his productive year at The Open in Northern Ireland, which was won by top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler. Jakubcik, who shot a 6 over and missed the cut, was one of nine amateurs to play in The Open this year. Before playing in one of golf’s major championships, Jakubcik was an All-Big 12 selection after finishing with six Top 10 finishes and a win at the Western Intercollegiate.

Dalton Johnson, football

Johnson was an All-Big 12 honorable mention and had a team-high 94 tackles to go along with two pass deflections and two forced fumbles in 2024. Johnson started 24 games in the last two seasons and enters this season as a third-year starter.

Owen Kramkowski, baseball

The Sahuarita native and Walden Grove graduate ascended in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s ace role as a right-handed pitcher. Kramkowski posted a 5.48 ERA with 90 strikeouts in 92 innings pitched and allowed 116 hits, 65 runs and eight home runs.

Motiejus Krivas, men’s basketball

Once a highly-touted recruit from Lithuania, Krivas was sidelined for most of last season with a foot injury. Krivas’ injury allowed Henri Veesaar to rise in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s frontcourt, but the 7-footer transferred to North Carolina in the offseason. Krivas, who averaged just over 12 minutes per game as a freshman in the 2023-24 season, returns to the lineup as ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s starting center.

Tomas Lukminas, men’s swimming

A Big 12 Freshman of the Year selection, Lukminas set ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s record in the 100-yard freestyle (41.56 seconds) and the 400 free relay (2:47.64). The Lithuania native also has a gold medal from the men’s 200-meter freestyle relay at the European Aquatics Championships last summer.

Abigayle Martin, gymnastics

Martin, a junior from Bacliff, Texas, has participated in all 28 meets during her time at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. Martin led the Wildcats to the NCAA Regional Final in Seattle and was named to the All-Big 12 All-Around Team. Martin had career-best scores in high vault, beam and floor last year.

Tanvi Narendran, women’s tennis

For two straight seasons, the former University High star led the Wildcats in individual wins. Last year, Narendran went 22-11 and helped ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ to the NCAA Regionals, where they fell to Illinois.

Koa Peat, men’s basketball

Peat helped Team USA — coached by UA head coach Tommy Lloyd — win the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland earlier this month and averaged 12.6 points and 6.9 rebounds. The 6-8, 215-pound Peat is the all-time most decorated junior player for Team USA with four gold medals. The five-star McDonald’s All-American and projected Top 10 pick in the NBA Draft is also a three-time ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Gatorade Player of the Year.

Tony Pluta, baseball

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s closer was named the National College Baseball Writers Association “Stopper of the Yearâ€� recipient as the best relief pitcher in college baseball. Last season, Pluta had a 1.46 ERA and a program-record 14 saves.

Zach Pollo, men’s golf

Even though he missed the cut, Pollo was one of 10 amateur golfers to qualify for the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club (Pennsylvania) this year. Pollo and Jakubcik were ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s top finishers at the Amherst Regional (Virginia) in May. Earlier in the season, Pollo won the individual title at St. Andrews Links Collegiate in Scotland.

Olivia Ramey, soccer

The Oklahoma transfer started 18 matches as ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s goalkeeper and played a team-high 1,530 minutes. Ramey had 59 saves and an 11-5-2 record as ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s goalkeeper.

Regan Shockey, softball

Shockey is the only starter remaining from ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s star-studded outfield last season after Dakota Kennedy and Kaiah Altmeyer transferred. Shockey has played all 117 games at center field in her first two seasons and became one of the Wildcats’ top offensive weapons last season with a .417 batting average and a team-best 88 hits.

Genesis Smith, football

Smith became a mainstay in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s defense last season as a sophomore, logging 63 tackles, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. The free safety was named the Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week following ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s win over Houston.

Jenna Sniffen, softball

The highly-touted recruit from Hawaii started all 61 games at third base as a true freshman and was named an All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Big 12 Freshman Team selection. Sniffen was 13th in the Big 12 with 107 assists.

Sydney Stewart, softball

The Washington transfer started 53 games at catcher for ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ softball and led the Wildcats in home runs (20). Stewart led ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in slugging percentage (.819) and RBIs (68). In her first season at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Stewart was named an All-Big 12 Team selection and an All-Big 12 Tournament Team choice.

Treydan Stukes, football

The senior nickel back missed the final eight games of the season due to a knee injury he suffered against Utah. Stukes, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s most experienced defensive player, is entering his sixth season with the program and has 154 career tackles, 25 pass deflections and three interceptions. Stukes is the only player from ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s 2020 team still at the UA.

Kelly Lyn Wetteland, triathlon

Not only did ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s triathlon team win the program’s first-ever national championship, the Wildcats dethroned rival ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State, which won the previous six triathlon national titles. Wetteland was ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s top finisher (59 minutes, 20 seconds), with freshman Margareta Vrablova (59:24), junior Molly Lakustiak (59:50) sophomore Dana Prikrylová (01:00:09) just behind her in the Top 10. The aforementioned athletes return to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ to defend their national championship — and be inducted into the UA Sports Hall of Fame.

Jordan Wilson, volleyball

The senior led ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ to the NIVC championship at McKale Center and a 24-9 overall record last season — a year after the Wildcats went 8-23. Wilson has been a catalyst to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s turnaround with 692 kills in 57 matches over the last two seasons. Wilson led the Wildcats last season with 446 kills. The outside hitter was selected to the All-Big 12 First Team.

Nena Wongthanavimok , women’s golf

Wongthanavimok, a junior from Bangkok, Thailand, was the runner-up on the individual leaderboard at the Big 12 championship and helped the Wildcats win their first-ever Big 12 title in head coach Giovana Maymon’s first season. Wongthanavimok recently qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon next month.