WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For the second consecutive year, senior Khloe Banks, and juniors Moriah Polar and Julia Gossett have been named to the Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch list as announced by the conference on Thursday.
The Boilermakers ended the 2025 season with a historic fourth place finish in conference, becoming the first-ever 12 seed to advance to both the quarterfinals and semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament. The Boilers also tied their program-high in RPI, and picked up ranked victories over No. 20 Nebraska and No. 21 Ohio State.
Banks finished the 2025 season starting and playing in all 52 games for the Boilers, while also achieving career milestones such as hitting her first-career home run and reaching 100 collegiate hits.
Banks was also highlighted nationally when her diving grab against rival Indiana earned her the No. 2 spot on Sports Center’s Top Ten. She finished the season setting career highs in hits (65), BA (.378), OPS (.928), triples (5), and total bases (81).
Polar earned various accolades during the 2025 season, including NFCA All-Region First Team, All-Big Ten Second Team, and back-to-back spots on Softball America’s Top Outfielder list for April and May. She had a record-setting season leading the team in hits (68), batting average (.444), stolen bases (30), and fielding percentage (.981).
Through the end of Big Ten play, Polar ranked 6th in the Big Ten in batting average and 24th nationally. She finished the year ranked 2nd in the Big Ten in stolen bases. As just a sophomore, Polar also eclipsed 100 career-hits.
Coming into the 2026 season, Polar was just tabbed the No. 26 outfielder in the country in Softball America’s preseason outfield rankings, and the No. 24 outfielder in the country according to D1 Softball’s rankings.
Gossett also had a big year for the Boilers, making a lot of noise especially during the Big Ten Tournament. She was tabbed All-Big Ten Tournament team after going 4-for-5 with four home runs in the Big Ten Tournament, tying the tournament record. Gossett finished the year earning NFCA All-Region Third Team and Academic All-Big Ten.
She was also named Co-Big Ten Pitcher of the Week during the season, the first Purdue pitcher to earn the honor in seven years.
After her stellar 2025 campaign on both sides of the ball, Gossett was named the No. 100 preseason player in the country in both the Softball America and the D1 Softball rankings. She also earned the No. 6 two-way player in the country honor in both polls as well.
Purdue is set to open the 2026 season of Feb. 6 in Las Vegas against Cal Baptist.
For updates on Purdue Softball, follow the Boilermakers on Twitter (@PurdueSoftball), Instagram (@purduesoftball), and Facebook (Purdue Softball).