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HomeCollege CornerUSA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year

USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year

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.  

Top 50 Watch ListTop 25 FinalistsTop 10 FinalistsTop 3 FinalistsPlayer of the YearPast Winners
NameCollegePosition
Jordy BahlOklahomaPitcher
Mac BarbaraSouth Dakota State UniversityInfield/Catcher
Addison BarnardWichita StateOutfield
Rachel BeckerOklahoma StateInfield
Maya BradyUCLAUtility
Ciara BriggsLSUOutfield
Valerie CagleClemsonPitcher/Utility
Jada CodyUCFUtility
Erin CoffelKentuckyInfield
Jayda CodyOklahomaOutfield
Chenise DelceArkansasPitcher
Charla EcholsFloridaInfield
Kendra FalbyFloridaOutfield
Megan FaraimoUCLAPitcher
Kristina ForemanArkansasInfield
Montana FoutsAlabamaPitcher
Hannah GammillArkansasUtility
Karina GaskinsNotre DameInfield
Frankie HammoudeOregon StateInfield
Kinzie HansenOklahomaCatcher
Faith HensleyOklahomaOutfield
Tiare JenningsOklahomaInfield
Jayda KearneyGeorgiaOutfield
Baylee KlinglerWashingtonInfield
Kayla KowalikKentuckyCatcher
Jenna LairdMissouriInfield
Haley LeeOklahomaCatcher/Utility
Emma LemleyVirginia TechPitcher
Mack LeonardFlorida StatePitcher/Infield
Grace LyonsOklahomaInfield
Kelly MaxwellOklahoma StatePitcher
Sydney McKinneyWichita StateInfield
Kiki MilloyTennesseeOutfield
Sara MosleyGeorgiaInfield
Jessica MullinsTexas StatePitcher
Sharlize PalaciosUCLACatcher
Maddie PentaAuburnPitcher
Taylor PleasantsLSUInfield
Emma RitterVirginia TechOutfield
Ashley RogersTennesseePitcher
Jordyn RuddNorthwesternCatcher
Kathryn SandercockFlorida StatePitcher
Cydney SandersOklahomaInfield
Mia ScottTexasInfield
Carlie ScupinArizonaInfield
Karli SpaidMiami (OH)Infield
Alex StorakoOklahomaPitcher
Alana VawterStanfordPitcher
Skylar WallaceFloridaInfield
Danielle WilliamsNorthwesternPitcher
NameCollegePosition
Jordy BahlOklahomaPitcher
Kayla BeaverCentral ArkansasPitcher
Rachel BeckerOklahoma StateInfield
Maya BradyUCLAUtility
Valerie CagleClemsonPitcher/Utility
NiJaree CanadyClemsonPitcher
Erin CoffelKentuckyInfield
Jayda ColemanOklahomaOutfield
Megan FaraimoUCLAPitcher
Montana FoutsAlabamaPitcher
Alex HonnoldMissouriOutfield
Tiare JenningsOklahomaInfield
Taryn KernIndianaInfield
Baylee KlinglerWashingtonInfield
Kayla KowalikKentuckyCatcher
Kelly MaxwellOklahoma StatePitcher
Nicole MayOklahoma Pitcher
Sydney McKinneyWichita StateInfield
Kiki MilloyTennesseeOutfield
Maddie PentaAuburnPitcher
Ashley RogersTennesseePitcher
Kathryn SandercockFlorida StatePitcher
Alex StorakoOklahomaPitcher
Alana VawterStanfordPitcher
Skylar WallaceFloridaInfield
NameCollegePosition
Jordy BahlOklahomaPitcher
Maya BradyUCLAUtility
Valerie CagleClemsomPitcher/Utility
Jayda ColemanOklahomaOutfield
Megan FaraimoUCLAPitcher
Tiare JenningsOklahomaInfield
Sydney McKinneyWichita StateInfield
Kiki MilloyTennesseeOutfield
Ashley RogersTennesseePitcher
Skylar WallaceFloridaInfield
NameCollegePosition
Maya BradyUCLAUtility
Valerie CagleClemsonPitcher/Utility
Skylar WallaceFloridaInfield
NameCollegePosition
Valerie CagleClemsonPitcher/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.

YearNameCollegePosition
2023Valerie CagleClemsonPitcher/Utility
2022Jocelyn AloOklahomaOutfield
2021Jocelyn AloOklahomaOutfield
2020–––
2019Rachel GarciaUCLAPitcher/DP
2018Rachel GarciaUCLAPitcher/DP
2017Kelly BarnhillFloridaPitcher
2016Sierra RomeroMichiganInfield
2015Lauren HaegerFloridaPitcher/Infield
2014Lacey WaldropFlorida StatePitcher
2013Keilani RickettsOklahomaPitcher/DP
2012Keilani RickettsOklahomaPitcher/DP
2011Ashley HansenStanfordInfield
2010Danielle LawrieWashingtonPitcher
2009Danielle LawrieWashingtonPitcher
2008Angela TincherVirginia TechPitcher
2007Monica AbbottTennesseePitcher
2006Cat OstermanTexasPitcher
2005Cat OstermanTexasPitcher
2004Jessica Van Der LindenFlorida StatePitcher/Outfield
2003Cat OstermanTexasPitcher
2002Stacey NuvemanUCLACatcher

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. 


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