The 2025 USA Softball Collegiate Participant of the 12 months race is heating up, and this 12 months’s listing is full of elite hitters, dominant pitchers and highly effective two-way abilities. From power-hitting sluggers and dominant two-way gamers to record-breaking aces, the top-25 finalists embrace names who’ve delivered all season lengthy. With convention tournaments across the nook, right here’s a deeper take a look at six gamers who’ve made particularly sturdy instances by way of the top of April.
*Stats beneath are by way of April 30, 2025.
2025 Participant of the 12 months finalist stats
| PLAYER | TEAM | POSITION | AVG | HR | RBI | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reese Atwood | Texas | C | .413 | 16 | 65 | – | – |
| Taylor Shumaker | Florida | OF | .365 | 16 | 71 | – | – |
| Sam Landry | Oklahoma | P | – | – | – | 1.95 | 136 |
| NiJaree Canady | Texas Tech | P | .299 | 7 | 25 | 0.88 | 220 |
| Karlyn Pickens | Tennessee | P | – | – | – | 1.02 | 210 |
| Kasidi Pickering | Oklahoma | OF | .431 | 13 | 44 | – | – |
Reese Atwood, C – Texas
TEXAS WITH A WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM 😤
Reese Atwood goes DEEP 💥 @TexasSoftball pic.twitter.com/PBt4VaGEDo
— SEC Community (@SECNetwork) April 18, 2025
Atwood may be probably the most feared hitter within the nation. The junior catcher leads Texas with a .413 batting common, 16 house runs and 65 RBIs (the latter rating among the many nationwide leaders) and continues to shine in large moments. Her most iconic swing of the season got here on April 17 in opposition to LSU, when she crushed a walk-off grand slam to change into the primary participant in Longhorn historical past to take action. A finalist for the award in 2024, Atwood is as soon as once more the centerpiece of a Texas offense that’s ranked among the many nation’s greatest. Her consistency and talent to carry out underneath strain give her some of the full resumes within the nation.
Taylor Shumaker, OF – Florida
If you happen to’re in search of breakout star energy, look no additional than Taylor Shumaker. The freshman outfielder has taken the SEC by storm, hitting .365 with 15 house runs and her 71 RBIs are among the many high marks within the SEC. Shumaker has already had a number of standout video games, together with a five-RBI efficiency in a comeback win over Alabama and a pair of multi-homer outings in February. She’s the engine of a Florida offense that entered the season 8-0 and transitioned into the ultimate weeks of April ranked top-five nationally in scoring. Whereas a lot of the highlight has been on veterans this 12 months, Shumaker has confirmed she’s each bit within the Participant of the 12 months dialog, and never only for Freshman of the 12 months.
Sam Landry, P – Oklahoma
Sam followers the aspect within the sixth 🔥
ℹ️» https://t.co/Th2U6csZ7g pic.twitter.com/W0W41VR9Xm
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) April 27, 2025
Landry has flourished in her first season with Oklahoma, giving the Sooners a dominant arm alongside their loaded lineup. The Louisiana switch boasts a 17-3 document with a 1.95 ERA and 136 strikeouts over 129 innings. She’s been rock-solid in convention play and delivered arguably her greatest efficiency of the 12 months when the Sooners wanted it most. Landry threw an entire sport in opposition to Texas and gave up simply two earned runs to take the opening sport at Love’s Subject. Landry has quietly constructed top-of-the-line resumes amongst pitchers this season, serving to Oklahoma stay a top-10 group regardless of important offseason adjustments. Along with her poise and consistency, she’s pitching like a veteran within the sport’s most vital moments.
NiJaree Canady, P – Texas Tech
The reigning USA Softball Participant of the 12 months hasn’t slowed down since transferring from Stanford to Texas Tech. NiJaree Canady leads the NCAA with a 0.88 ERA and has racked up 220 strikeouts. She’s tossed a no-hitter (in opposition to Kansas), earned two Huge 12 Pitcher of the Week honors, and leads the nation in WHIP (0.74). She’s additionally contributed on the plate, hitting seven house runs with 25 RBIs in simply 67 at-bats. Canady has continued to show she’s greater than a one-season marvel; her dominance in each roles makes her a unicorn within the sport. If she finishes sturdy, she may change into the primary repeat Participant of the 12 months winner since Rachel Garcia.
Karlyn Pickens, P – Tennessee
Karlyn. Pickens.
Full Sport ✅
Shutout ✅
10 Ks ✅
2 hundredth Okay of the Season ✅
One other Dub ✅ pic.twitter.com/GGXIvh2gMn— Tennessee Softball (@Vol_Softball) April 27, 2025
Pickens has been almost untouchable this season. The Tennessee ace holds a 20-6 document with a 1.02 ERA and 210 strikeouts, serving to the Girl Vols keep within the SEC title hunt. She’s fired six shutouts and delivered 17 full video games — together with two in opposition to then-No. 1 Texas in a single weekend. Pickens additionally made NCAA historical past in March by throwing the quickest recorded pitch ever at 78.2 mph. On high of the spotlight reel, she’s a three-time NFCA Pitcher of the Week in April alone and the reigning SEC Pitcher of the 12 months. When she’s within the circle, Tennessee has an opportunity in opposition to anybody.
Kasidi Pickering, OF – Oklahoma
tack on one other +1@PickeringKasidi with the sac fly! pic.twitter.com/0tfFKzm4ls
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) April 27, 2025
Pickering has been a pressure on the high of Oklahoma’s lineup, hitting .431 with 13 house runs and 44 RBIs whereas main the Sooners in batting common, hits and slugging share. The sophomore outfielder tallied a career-best 16-game hitting streak from mid-March to mid-April and reached base safely in 15 consecutive plate appearances throughout that stretch. Her consistency and energy earned her Softball America Star of the Week honors in early March, following every week during which she hit .467 with 4 house runs and 12 RBIs. A 2025 Preseason All-SEC choice, Pickering has elevated her sport in each main offensive class in comparison with her standout freshman season and stays a key catalyst for the No. 1 group within the nation.
