PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Eastern Connecticut State University softball team was named the unanimous favorite to win the Little East Conference (LEC) in 2026, as the Warriors secured each of a possible eight first-place votes for 64 points in the annual preseason coaches' poll. Eastern Connecticut won the LEC regular season title in 2025 before seeing an early exit in the conference tournament. 

Defending LEC tournament champion UMass Boston was picked to finish second in the preseason ranking with 50 points, while 2025 LEC tournament runner-up Plymouth State University (42 points) edged out UMass Dartmouth and the University of Southern Maine for third by a single point. 

Western Connecticut State University was projected to secure the sixth and final berth in the 2026 LEC Championship Tournament. The complete preseason ranking is as follows. 

Institution - Points (FPV)
1. Eastern Connecticut - 64 (8)
2. UMass Boston - 50 (1)
3. Plymouth State - 42
T4. UMass Dartmouth - 41
T4. Southern Maine - 41
6. Western Connecticut - 29
7. Vermont State Castleton - 23
8. Keene State - 18
9. Rhode Island College - 16