Each NCAA Softball season, USA Softball recognizes a Collegiate Player of the Year based on outstanding play over the course of the entire season. At the beginning of each season, USA Softball issues a Top 50 “Watch List” for Player of the Year, followed by a list of finalists that narrows from Top 25 to Top 10 and Top 3. The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year is awarded during a team reception the week of the WCWS.
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award is voted on by previous award winners, coaching representatives from 10 Division I Conferences in the 10 USA Softball Regions as well as members of National and Local media who consistently cover Division I softball across the country.
Player of the Year — Announcement Dates
- Top 25 Finalists — May 1
- Top 10 Finalists — May 15
- Top 3 Finalists — May 20
- Player of the Year — Prior to the WCWS
*To ensure that the award only considers regular season performance and to prevent any influence from post-season play, the Player of the Year voting will conclude after the Top 10 vote. The Top 3 athletes with the highest number of points at the conclusion of the Top 10 vote will be selected as the Top 3 Finalists and, from them, the Player of the Year will be chosen as the athlete with the most votes.
NiJaree Canady
Canady, a five-time Pitcher of the Week and All-Pac-12 First Team selection, has had an outstanding season in the circle, making her way onto the national leaderboard with a 0.53 ERA (No. 1), 243 strikeouts (No. 1), 12 earned runs (No. 1), and a .133 opposing batting average (No. 2) at the conclusion of the regular season. During the 2024 season, Canady achieved a significant milestone by tossing her 251st strikeout, earning the seventh-most strikeouts in a single season in program history. Throughout her sophomore season, Canady maintained a dominant presence on the rubber, achieving a 21-4 win/loss record and a 0.50 ERA over 187.2 innings pitched through post-season conference play. Her impressive performance across multiple categories secured Canady the 2024 Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year title. Canady led the Cardinal through the Stanford Super Regional against No. 10 ranked LSU where she threw 17 innings and 18 Ks to lead the program to its second-straight WCWS appearance.
Reese Atwood
C | Texas
NiJaree Canady
P | Stanford
Lexi Kilfoyl
P | Oklahoma State
Reese Atwood
Texas
Jaysoni Beachum
Florida State
Maya Brady
UCLA
NiJaree Canady
Stanford
Claire Davidson
Duke
Tiare Jennings
Oklahoma
Lexi Kilfoyl
Oklahoma State
Korbe Otis
Florida
Karlyn Pickens
Tennessee
Karli Spaid
Miami-OH
Reese Atwood
Texas
Jaysoni Beachum
Florida State
Kayla Beaver
Alabama
Maya Brady
UCLA
Alyssa Brito
Oklahoma
NiJaree Canady
Stanford
Jayda Coleman
Oklahoma
Claire Davidson
Duke
Jocelyn Erickson
Florida
Jenna Golembiewski
Miami-OH
Payton Gottshall
Tennessee
Kinzie Hansen
Oklahoma
Tiare Jennings
Oklahoma
Emiley Kennedy
Texas A&M
Lexi Kilfoyl
Oklahoma State
Kelly Maxwell
Oklahoma
Kiki Milloy
Tennessee
Jessica Mullins
Texas State
Jess Oakland
Minnesota
Korbe Otis
Florida
Karlyn Pickens
Tennessee
Kasey Ricard
Boston U.
Emma Ritter
Virginia Tech
Karli Spaid
Miami-OH
CC Wong
Wichita State
Jala Wright
Duke
Jordy Bahl
Nebraska
Addison Barnard
Wichita State
Kayla Beaver
Alabama
Sydney Berzon
LSU
Maya Brady
UCLA
Ciara Briggs
LSU
Alyssa Brito
Oklahoma
Valerie Cagle
Clemson
NiJaree Canady
Stanford
Nia Carter
Arkansas
Jada Cody
UCF
Erin Coffel
Kentucky
Jayda Coleman
Oklahoma
Cassidy Curd
Duke
Michaela Edenfield
Florida State
Kendra Falby
Florida
McKenna Gibson
Tennessee
Megan Grant
UCLA
Kinzie Hansen
Oklahoma
Stevie Hansen
Oregon
Rylin Hedgecock
Arkansas
Alex Honnold
Missouri
Tiare Jennings
Oklahoma
D’Auna Jennings
Duke
Reagan Johnson
Arkansas
Jayda Kearney
Georgia
Taryn Kern
Stanford
Lexi Kilfoyl
Oklahoma State
Jenna Laird
Missouri
Emma Lemley
Virginia Tech
Mariah Lopez
Utah
Kelly Maxwell
Oklahoma
Nicole May
Oklahoma
Ruby Meylan
Washington
Kiki Milloy
Tennessee
Mac Morgan
Texas
Sara Mosley
Georgia
Dariana Orme
Baylor
Korbe Otis
Florida
Autumn Owen
North Carolina
Sharlize Palacios
UCLA
Maddie Penta
Auburn
Taylor Pleasants
LSU
Emma Ritter
Virginia Tech
Stephanie Schoonover
Kentucky
Mia Scott
Texas
Carlie Scupin
Arizona
Allie Skaggs
Arizona
Alana Vawter
South Carolina
Skylar Wallace
Florida
Shelby Walters
Georgia
Jordan Woolery
UCLA
| Year | Name | College | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Valerie Cagle | Clemson | Pitcher/Utility |
| 2022 | Jocelyn Alo | Oklahoma | Outfield |
| 2021 | Jocelyn Alo | Oklahoma | Outfield |
| 2020 | – | – | – |
| 2019 | Rachel Garcia | UCLA | Pitcher/DP |
| 2018 | Rachel Garcia | UCLA | Pitcher/DP |
| 2017 | Kelly Barnhill | Florida | Pitcher |
| 2016 | Sierra Romero | Michigan | Infield |
| 2015 | Lauren Haeger | Florida | Pitcher/Infield |
| 2014 | Lacey Waldrop | Florida State | Pitcher |
| 2013 | Keilani Ricketts | Oklahoma | Pitcher/DP |
| 2012 | Keilani Ricketts | Oklahoma | Pitcher/DP |
| 2011 | Ashley Hansen | Stanford | Infield |
| 2010 | Danielle Lawrie | Washington | Pitcher |
| 2009 | Danielle Lawrie | Washington | Pitcher |
| 2008 | Angela Tincher | Virginia Tech | Pitcher |
| 2007 | Monica Abbott | Tennessee | Pitcher |
| 2006 | Cat Osterman | Texas | Pitcher |
| 2005 | Cat Osterman | Texas | Pitcher |
| 2004 | Jessica Van Der Linden | Florida State | Pitcher/Outfield |
| 2003 | Cat Osterman | Texas | Pitcher |
| 2002 | Stacey Nuveman | UCLA | Catcher |
The story behind the trophy
Redesigned in 2017, the Player of the Year trophy symbolizes the prestige of the award in honor of one of the greatest to ever wear the USA Softball uniform – three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Lisa Fernandez, whose athletic achievements embody the essence of this prestigious award.
USA Softball commissioned MTM Recognition, the nation’s leader in sports awards and recognition, to craft the iconic Player of the Year trophy in effort of creating a symbol of Softball for years to come.
Though the sculpture is frozen in time, the fluid motion of the wind up and the player’s determination shine through in this iconic bronze. Mario Grijalva, a graduate of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma with hundreds of works of art to his credit, captured the fine detail of Lisa’s pitch through the month long process of sculpting the clay to ready for casting.
The black stained walnut base stands 5 ¼” tall and 11 ½” wide at front and is cut in the shape of a softball home plate. The bronze sculpture stands almost a foot tall atop this base to add to the rich texture of the overall look of the piece.
Player of the Year History
| Name | College | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Jordy Bahl | Oklahoma | Pitcher |
| Mac Barbara | South Dakota State University | Infield/Catcher |
| Addison Barnard | Wichita State | Outfield |
| Rachel Becker | Oklahoma State | Infield |
| Maya Brady | UCLA | Utility |
| Ciara Briggs | LSU | Outfield |
| Valerie Cagle | Clemson | Pitcher/Utility |
| Jada Cody | UCF | Utility |
| Erin Coffel | Kentucky | Infield |
| Jayda Cody | Oklahoma | Outfield |
| Chenise Delce | Arkansas | Pitcher |
| Charla Echols | Florida | Infield |
| Kendra Falby | Florida | Outfield |
| Megan Faraimo | UCLA | Pitcher |
| Kristina Foreman | Arkansas | Infield |
| Montana Fouts | Alabama | Pitcher |
| Hannah Gammill | Arkansas | Utility |
| Karina Gaskins | Notre Dame | Infield |
| Frankie Hammoude | Oregon State | Infield |
| Kinzie Hansen | Oklahoma | Catcher |
| Faith Hensley | Oklahoma | Outfield |
| Tiare Jennings | Oklahoma | Infield |
| Jayda Kearney | Georgia | Outfield |
| Baylee Klingler | Washington | Infield |
| Kayla Kowalik | Kentucky | Catcher |
| Jenna Laird | Missouri | Infield |
| Haley Lee | Oklahoma | Catcher/Utility |
| Emma Lemley | Virginia Tech | Pitcher |
| Mack Leonard | Florida State | Pitcher/Infield |
| Grace Lyons | Oklahoma | Infield |
| Kelly Maxwell | Oklahoma State | Pitcher |
| Sydney McKinney | Wichita State | Infield |
| Kiki Milloy | Tennessee | Outfield |
| Sara Mosley | Georgia | Infield |
| Jessica Mullins | Texas State | Pitcher |
| Sharlize Palacios | UCLA | Catcher |
| Maddie Penta | Auburn | Pitcher |
| Taylor Pleasants | LSU | Infield |
| Emma Ritter | Virginia Tech | Outfield |
| Ashley Rogers | Tennessee | Pitcher |
| Jordyn Rudd | Northwestern | Catcher |
| Kathryn Sandercock | Florida State | Pitcher |
| Cydney Sanders | Oklahoma | Infield |
| Mia Scott | Texas | Infield |
| Carlie Scupin | Arizona | Infield |
| Karli Spaid | Miami (OH) | Infield |
| Alex Storako | Oklahoma | Pitcher |
| Alana Vawter | Stanford | Pitcher |
| Skylar Wallace | Florida | Infield |
| Danielle Williams | Northwestern | Pitcher |
| Name | College | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Jordy Bahl | Oklahoma | Pitcher |
| Kayla Beaver | Central Arkansas | Pitcher |
| Rachel Becker | Oklahoma State | Infield |
| Maya Brady | UCLA | Utility |
| Valerie Cagle | Clemson | Pitcher/Utility |
| NiJaree Canady | Clemson | Pitcher |
| Erin Coffel | Kentucky | Infield |
| Jayda Coleman | Oklahoma | Outfield |
| Megan Faraimo | UCLA | Pitcher |
| Montana Fouts | Alabama | Pitcher |
| Alex Honnold | Missouri | Outfield |
| Tiare Jennings | Oklahoma | Infield |
| Taryn Kern | Indiana | Infield |
| Baylee Klingler | Washington | Infield |
| Kayla Kowalik | Kentucky | Catcher |
| Kelly Maxwell | Oklahoma State | Pitcher |
| Nicole May | Oklahoma | Pitcher |
| Sydney McKinney | Wichita State | Infield |
| Kiki Milloy | Tennessee | Outfield |
| Maddie Penta | Auburn | Pitcher |
| Ashley Rogers | Tennessee | Pitcher |
| Kathryn Sandercock | Florida State | Pitcher |
| Alex Storako | Oklahoma | Pitcher |
| Alana Vawter | Stanford | Pitcher |
| Skylar Wallace | Florida | Infield |
| Name | College | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Jordy Bahl | Oklahoma | Pitcher |
| Maya Brady | UCLA | Utility |
| Valerie Cagle | Clemsom | Pitcher/Utility |
| Jayda Coleman | Oklahoma | Outfield |
| Megan Faraimo | UCLA | Pitcher |
| Tiare Jennings | Oklahoma | Infield |
| Sydney McKinney | Wichita State | Infield |
| Kiki Milloy | Tennessee | Outfield |
| Ashley Rogers | Tennessee | Pitcher |
| Skylar Wallace | Florida | Infield |
| Name | College | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Maya Brady | UCLA | Utility |
| Valerie Cagle | Clemson | Pitcher/Utility |
| Skylar Wallace | Florida | Infield |
| Name | College | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Valerie Cagle | Clemson | Pitcher/Utility |
Cagle, a three-time ACC Pitcher of the Week and All-ACC first-team selection, etched her way on the national leaderboard in both pitching and hitting with a .469 batting average (No. 4), 19 home runs (No. 7) and 25 wins in the circle (No. 9). Making history during the 2023 season, Clemson’s dominating two-way player set a new single-season record for the Tigers with 19 home runs in addition to tossing the program’s first perfect game with a five-inning, eight-strikeout performance against Mercer on March 8. Cagle’s presence on the rubber remained consistent throughout her redshirt-junior season, tallying a 25-8 win-loss record and 1.56 ERA throughout 193 innings pitched. Earning her second ACC Player of the Year honor (2021, 2023), Cagle led the Tigers to the Norman Super Regional against No. 1 ranked Oklahoma where she finished with a .500 batting average and .625 slugging percentage against the Sooners.