OREM, Utah — Utah Valley softball head coach Cody Thomson has announced the signing of Southern Utah transfer catcher and corner infielder Michelle de la Cruz as part of his 2026 recruiting class. 

A Las Vegas native, de la Cruz spent the last two seasons playing for the Thunderbirds, where she appeared in 72 games and made 29 starts. Last season, de la Cruz finished tied for third on the team with four home runs, three of which came against in-state rivals. Her last home run of the season came at the expense of the Wolverines, a game-tying pinch-hit homer in the WAC Tournament. 

Prior to SUU, de la Cruz prepped at Palo Verde HS in Las Vegas, where she was named first team All-Region in 2023. In 2021, de la Cruz played for the Polynesian National Team. De la Cruz is engaged to BYU defensive tackle Anisi Purcell, who also started his collegiate career at SUU, and the couple is planning on getting married this fall.

De la Cruz is the second transfer to join the 2026 recruiting class, with GCU's Ellie Pond also signing for the Wolverines. This brings the total of newcomers to 11 for the upcoming 2027 season as Utah Valley begins a new era in The Big West.