When Palo Verde takes the field Monday against Liberty at Majestic Park, the Panthers will begin their quest for a second straight Class 5A state title under new leadership and without their usual home venue.

Angelique Council, an assistant last season, takes over as head coach after Kelly Glass retired following the 2025 campaign. Glass won 420 games and four state championships at Palo Verde.

The Panthers went 25-0 in 2025, becoming the first undefeated softball state champion in Nevada history. They outscored opponents 237-43 and won the 5A title by beating Centennial in the final.

Despite the coaching change, Palo Verde returns most of its roster, including senior Taylor Johns, the Gatorade and MaxPreps Nevada Softball Player of the Year. Johns hit .642 with 11 home runs and 39 RBIs last year. Senior pitcher Ava Koenig, a Boston University commit, went 20-0 with a 1.46 ERA and 149 strikeouts.

“We just let the game come to us,” Johns said. “We know that we didn’t lose any (games last season), however, this season is completely new, and we don’t want it to be like if we lose our season’s over, because it’s not true. The wins will come. We just want to make sure that we’re sticking to our fundamentals and doing our best.”

The Panthers will play all home games at Majestic Park this season because of the Clark County School District’s renovation of baseball and softball fields to install turf. The team is practicing at Veterans Memorial Park fields, which are larger than regulation high school dimensions.

“It’s sad for us seniors that we can’t play at our home field our last year,” senior infielder/pitcher Haley Kearnes said. “However, I think it’s good for us to be able to adapt with different changes, going to different fields and practicing at one field than having to play our home games at another field. It’s a good learning process and growth for the team.”

Council said the transition has been smooth. “As soon as we started doing practices, right after tryouts, it was muscle memory,” she said. “They knew exactly what was going to happen. They trust each other so much already. … Their chemistry and everything is locked in. This year, it’s going to be just as well working with each other.”

Palo Verde opens the season Monday at 3 p.m. against Liberty at Majestic Park, then faces Centennial on Wednesday — a rematch of the 5A state title game.

Centennial remains a top threat. The Bulldogs played Palo Verde six times last season, including two 1-0 losses. Junior pitcher Sloane Merrell, a Purdue commit, leads their returners. Arbor View, Coronado, and Shadow Ridge also figure to be competitive. Two-time defending 4A champion Basic and Doral Academy have moved up to 5A.

“No matter what, we have to go in with that mentality where everyone is competition and we have to play our best game,” Council said.