Ava Smithson is a Middle-of-the-Order Threat with Big-Time Pop for UNI
In the 2026 season, Ava Smithson has been one of Northern Iowa’s loudest bats: she hit .326 with 9 home runs, 14 extra-base hits, and earned MVC Player of the Week plus All-MVC Second Team and MVC All-Defensive Team honors[1][7]. She was especially dangerous in the UIC series, where she went off for multiple homers and drove in runs at a game-breaking pace[8][12]. The differentiator here is not just power, but two-way value and grit; she returned from an early-season injury hit to produce immediately, which says a lot about her toughness and competitive edge[14]. A team wanting impact offense, defensive versatility, and a fearless presence would absolutely want her on the radar[1][14].
