The 2025 school softball season is underway, and as faculties start the street to Oklahoma Metropolis, some groups are aiming to interrupt extended Ladies’s School World Collection droughts. Listed below are six applications with the potential to make a breakthrough this yr:
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Final WCWS look: 2013
For Nebraska softball, the previous decade has been a narrative of dedication, near-misses and rebuilding. The Huskers final reached the WCWS in 2013, struggling a heartbreaking 15-inning elimination recreation loss to Florida in one of many longest contests in WCWS historical past. The 2025 season might lastly be the yr Nebraska returns to Oklahoma Metropolis.
What’s the greatest motive Nebraska is a severe contender in 2025? Jordy Bahl is again. The previous Oklahoma ace, the place she was a two-time nationwide champion and the 2023 WCWS Most Excellent Participant, transferred dwelling forward of the 2024 season however was sidelined for the remainder of the yr with an ACL harm suffered in her Cornhuskers debut. Bahl has already made her presence felt now that she’s absolutely wholesome once more She led Nebraska to a 7-1 upset win over No. 6 Tennessee on opening weekend, because the Huskers went 3-2 within the NFCA Leadoff Traditional.
Nebraska additionally strategically constructed depth within the offseason, including key transfers like Kylee Magee (Arizona State) and Hannah Camenzind (Arkansas) to the pitching employees. On the high of the lineup, shortstop Ava Kuszak (Wisconsin switch) has been a revelation, slashing .467 with two dwelling runs and 6 RBIs by way of the primary 5 video games, whereas settling into her new function as Nebraska’s leadoff hitter. In the meantime, Emmerson Cope might be Nebraska’s X-factor — she hit .444 with a house run whereas tossing 5 scoreless innings over the opening weekend, proving she will contribute on either side of the ball. If this core continues to ship, the Huskers will likely be a harmful postseason group.
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Texas Tech Crimson Raiders
Final WCWS look: By no means
Texas Tech has by no means been to the Ladies’s School World Collection — however that might change in 2025. After lacking the NCAA event final season, the Crimson Raiders introduced in a brand new head coach and the No. 1 switch class within the nation — headlined by the addition of reigning Nationwide Participant of the 12 months NiJaree Canady.
Together with the departure of coach Craig Snider, 21 gamers both graduated or entered the switch portal, leaving Texas Tech with simply three returners from the 2024 squad. However new head coach Gerry Glasco has flipped the roster right into a title contender. The Crimson Raiders opened 5-1 on the NFCA Leadoff Traditional, notching a walk-off win over Nebraska and climbing into the highest 10 of a number of nationwide polls.
The largest transfer? Touchdown Canady. The previous Stanford ace brings a 41-10 profession file with a 0.67 ERA and 555 strikeouts and was the highest arm in back-to-back WCWS appearances for the Cardinal. Glasco additionally introduced 5 of his former Louisiana gamers with him, added Washington’s Alana Johnson, and retained just a few key items like outfielder Logan Halleman and infielder Raegan Jennings.
Canady has been as dominant thus far, with a 0.68 ERA, 40 strikeouts in 20.2 innings, and a three-run homer towards Nebraska to spark a comeback. Chloe Riassetto (2.10 ERA) and freshman Samantha Lincoln spherical out the rotation.
Whereas the roster is loaded with expertise, it is a brand-new one. Their extra-inning loss to Mississippi State confirmed that their offense nonetheless wants extra consistency (they managed simply three hits in that recreation). And whereas the Crimson Raiders have elite pitching, Canady’s workload might be a serious storyline because it’ll doubtless be heavy.
Missouri Tigers
Final WCWS look: 2011
Missouri has been knocking on the door of the WCWS for years however hasn’t been in a position to make the push since their final journey again in 2011. Final season, the Tigers got here heartbreakingly shut, pushing Duke to additional innings in tremendous regionals earlier than falling brief, 4-3. The loss prolonged their WCWS drought to 13 years, regardless of six tremendous regional appearances throughout that point.
The Tigers opened this season ranked No. 15 within the nation, proving that expectations stay excessive in Columbia. Their 4-2 begin on the NFCA Leadoff Traditional, which included wins over Duke and Northwestern, exhibits they’ve the expertise to hold with high groups.
Missouri’s offense has been led by Kara Daly (.353, 6 RBIs), Julia Crenshaw (.368, 4 RBIs), and Stefania Abruscato (.368, 4 RBIs), offering energy within the lineup. Madison Walker has additionally been a key contributor, blasting two dwelling runs within the first six video games. With a group batting common of .274, Missouri isn’t essentially the most explosive offensive group, however they’ve proven the flexibility to place up large innings—like their nine-run sixth towards Duke that turned a two-run deficit right into a win.
Pitching-wise, Missouri is anchored round junior Cierra Harrison (2.19 ERA, 8 Okay in 16 IP) and sophomore Marissa McCann (1.11 ERA in 12.2 IP), who’ve already been dependable. Final season, pitching depth turned a problem within the postseason, particularly of their Tremendous Regional loss to Duke when Laurin Krings pitched three straight days.
Missouri has all of the substances to be a severe WCWS contender: a deep lineup, a number of arms and postseason expertise.
Baylor Bears
Final WCWS look: 2017
Baylor has a wealthy softball historical past, with 4 WCWS appearances (most not too long ago in 2017). The group got here extremely near returning final season when the Bears pushed No. 4 Florida to the brink in tremendous regionals regardless of accidents.
Baylor opened this season 3-2 on the Aggie Traditional, choosing up wins over Abilene Christian (10-2), Purdue (6-1), and Villanova (8-2) whereas dropping a six-run result in No. 7 Texas A&M and dropping a recreation to Utah State. The offense has been stable (.341 group batting common), however the pitching employees remains to be discovering its rhythm (3.39 ERA).
Head coach Glenn Moore is in his twenty fifth season at Baylor and has some younger expertise to work with. Shaylon Govan, a preseason All-American, led the nation in on-base proportion (.579) final season whereas hitting .444 with 11 dwelling runs. She’s joined by Turiya Coleman, a Houston switch who led her earlier group in batting common and OBP. Coleman is off to a sizzling begin (.583, 6 RBIs in 5 video games), and her teammate Brooklyn Carter (.500, seven runs, first profession dwelling run) provides pace and energy.
The Bears get an enormous increase with Dariana Orme again from harm. The previous USA Softball Prime 50 Participant of the 12 months candidate missed almost all of 2024, however when wholesome, she’s an ace. Duke switch Lillie Walker additionally provides depth after pitching within the WCWS final yr.
If the pitching employees stabilizes behind Orme and Walker, the Bears have all of the items to make a giant postseason run.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Final WCWS look: 2008
The Hokies outscored opponents 50-0 of their first 5 video games within the Charleston Invitational to kick off 2025, profitable each recreation by run-rule whereas posting a nation-best 0.00 ERA. Their pitching has been un-hittable, and their offense is clicking early.
Senior Emma Lemley is the story thus far. She threw an ideal recreation in a 10-0 win over the School of Charleston, changing into simply the sixth Hokies pitcher ever with a number of profession no-hitters. Throughout 11 shutout innings, she’s allowed only one hit, two walks, and has 22 strikeouts. That earned her ACC Pitcher of the Week honors and reassured why she’s on the 2025 USA Softball Prime 50 Participant of the 12 months Watchlist.
She’s not alone. The complete Hokies employees, together with Cassie Grizzard, Sophie Kleiman, and Emma Mazzarone, is holding opponents to a .071 batting common. Virginia Tech has been simply as spectacular on the plate, hitting .432 as a group. Seven gamers are batting .400 or higher, led by Michelle Chatfield (.588, 10 hits, 4 RBIs) Jordan Lynch (.571, 4 doubles, 4 RBIs) Bre Peck (.353, two HRs, 12 RBIs).
Fordham, Charleston and North Dakota State, Virginia Tech’s first three opponents, had a mixed file of 52-105-1 in 2024. The true check comes on the Purple & Gold Problem Feb. 14-16, the place the Hokies face Northwestern and LSU.
Virginia Tech hasn’t been to the WCWS since 2008 — its lone look — however back-to-back tremendous regional journeys in 2022 and 2023 present this system is shut.
Kentucky Wildcats
Final WCWS look: 2014
Kentucky rolled by way of the NFCA Leadoff Traditional earlier than No. 8 Duke spoiled their good weekend. Regardless of the setback, the Wildcats had been topped event champs.
Head coach Rachel Lawson reached 600 profession wins at Kentucky. Earlier than she arrived in 2008, UK had by no means made the NCAA event — now, the Wildcats have made 15 straight appearances, together with eight tremendous regional appearances and one WCWS journey in 2014 underneath Lawson.
Offensively, this yr’s Wildcats are hitting .421 as a group thus far, led by Allie Blum (.600, 9 hits, six RBIs, two stolen bases), Peyton Plotts (.563, 4 doubles, 10 RBIs), and Ally Hutchins (.444, eight hits, seven RBIs,).
Kentucky’s pitching employees has held opponents to a .195 batting common by way of 5 video games, with Julie Kelley (1-0, 0.00 ERA) and Sarah Haendiges (1-0, 0.00 ERA) every tossing 5 scoreless innings. Alexia Lacatena (1-1, 0.96 ERA) has taken on the most important workload thus far, throwing 9.1 innings with 5 strikeouts. Whereas the employees has proven spurts of dominance, the protection must tighten up and restrict free bases.
This offense is harmful, and if the pitching holds up, UK might be a darkhorse within the crowded SEC.
