Mar 27, 2025, 08:00 AM ET
The primary part of the 2025 school softball season has equipped a lot of superlatives already.
The SEC has performed at a prime stage this yr with all 15 groups making a minimum of one look in our weekly Most sensible 25 ballot. The Giant Ten has come alive with Ohio State (71) and Nebraska (63) main the country in house runs. And within the cirlce, Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady has lived as much as the hype thus far, and Nebraska’s Jordy Bahl is taking part in on the best of her recreation.
There are lots of different attention-grabbing storylines, so we requested our mavens six giant questions on the midseason mark. Which groups have essentially the most to turn out? Who’re the highest applicants for Participant of the 12 months? Additionally they pick out best groups, sleepers and cap issues off with their 2025 Girls’s Faculty International Sequence choices.
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Most sensible groups | Maximum to turn out | POY choices
Tendencies/storylines | Sleeper groups | WCWS predictions
Which group has inspired you essentially the most within the first part of the season?
Jenny Dalton-Hill: Florida State. It is a group that turns out to have uncharacteristic losses early within the season maximum years, however trainer Lonni Alameda isn’t any person to push the panic button. The Seminoles began this season with a loss to Oklahoma State and misplaced two times to each Texas A&M and Oregon, however this staff can rating in bunches with 15 run-rule wins in 2025. The most recent hit parade was once in Durham towards ACC rival Duke.
Michele Smith: LSU. This proficient group has the chance to punch their price ticket to the WCWS for the primary time since 2017. The Tigers are hitting the ball higher than they have got in years — their .369 batting moderate ranks 5th within the country — and they have got some nice revel in within the circle. It is attention-grabbing as a result of they misplaced numerous senior management and revel in the previous couple years, however this can be a proficient group this is creating a remark early on within the season.
Madison Shipman: Mississippi State. I picked the similar group at this level final season, however I think the similar method this yr! I think like for the previous few seasons, we have now observed the Bulldogs proceed to recuperate and higher. The group is led offensively by means of Sierra Sacco and Nadia Barbary who’re having nice seasons thus far. Mississippi State has six other avid gamers with 20 or extra RBIs midway in the course of the season. And within the circle, Raelin Chaffin has stepped up because the ace.
Amanda Scarborough: South Carolina. I like the way in which this group fights. The Gamecocks have been picked to complete final within the SEC this yr. And despite the fact that it is nonetheless early in convention play, I simply do not suppose that is going to occur. They play like they have got one thing to turn out each and every unmarried recreation. This group does not surrender and has the skill within the circle and on the plate to again that up.
Which group has essentially the most to turn out because the season is going on?
Dalton-Hill: This looks like a loaded query as a result of everybody nonetheless has one thing to turn out. There’s numerous season left, so every group’s purpose is to increase the consistency, grip and tenacity to make a deep run that ends with a countrywide championship. That being mentioned, Auburn were given off to a scorching get started beneath new co-head coaches, Kate and Chris Malveaux, however has since misplaced 10 of its previous 11 video games and is winless in SEC play. The trail to OKC does not get any more uncomplicated because the Tigers nonetheless have 4 SEC sequence to play towards best 25 groups.
Smith: Texas Tech and Nebraska. Each groups have megastar pitchers that experience transferred in — Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady and Nebraska’s Jordy Bahl — that almost all assumed would take them all of the strategy to the WCWS. However this can be a group recreation, so those groups must turn out that they’re in a position to compete day in and day trip. The Crimson Raiders and Cornhuskers want to display that they are able to shield the ball in the back of their ace pitchers and put runs at the board.
Shipman: Tennessee. The Woman Vols received back-to-back common season SEC championships in 2023 and 2024, however final season didn’t finish the way in which they was hoping after shedding to Alabama within the Tremendous Regionals. They’re made up our minds to make it again to the WCWS with Karlyn Pickens main the way in which within the circle.
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Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens throws quickest pitch in NCAA softball historical past
Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens fires a 78.2 mph strike for the fastest-recorded pitch in school softball historical past.
Scarborough: Oklahoma. Even after successful 4 nationwide championships in a row, if I have been at the group I might wish to turn out that shall we win regardless of graduating the most productive senior elegance to ever play the sport. The Sooners have one of these younger group with many new faces, however the expectation to win the natty stays the similar. That championship mindset is what made them outstanding the previous 4 seasons and created a long-lasting legacy. Oklahoma will have to nonetheless proceed to lift the bar, set the usual and turn out everybody mistaken (and themselves proper).
Who’s your Participant of the 12 months pick out as of now and why?
Dalton-Hill: I anticipated Nebraska pitcher Jordy Bahl to come back again from her ACL damage sturdy and be in a position to compete, however she has exceeded expectancies now not simply within the circle but additionally on the plate. She’s posted a 1.69 ERA in 91 innings pitched and is hitting a team-leading .473 — with 11 house runs. Whilst there could also be others that experience unmarried stats which can be higher, none are doing it all of the method Bahl is these days.
Smith: I believe if pitcher NiJaree Canady can keep wholesome and lend a hand Texas Tech make it to the WCWS, she is going to win back-to-back Participant of the 12 months awards. She may be hitting neatly like Bahl this season, and I trust Jenny that hitting pitchers are particular if they are able to be elite on each side of the ball. Canady hit over .300 and has a minuscule .64 ERA. Alternatively, she has now not been hitting in March, so she will have been close down at the offensive aspect to stick wholesome.
Shipman: Can I pick out a tumbler and participant of the yr? It is going down! My Pitcher of the 12 months thus far is Canady. She remains to be dominant within the circle with 137 strikeouts this season. My Participant of the 12 months pick out is Arkansas’ Bri Ellis. She is batting over .500 with a Department 1-leading 17 homers midway in the course of the season!
Scarborough: Bahl as a result of how she is excelling on each side of the ball. As of at the moment, Nebraska has not more ranked fighters left on its agenda, so Bahl has a possibility to make her already stellar stats even higher. It is been a laugh to observe her hit for herself this season — a possibility she wasn’t afforded at Oklahoma — and we’re in a position to peer what she is totally able to as she proves she’s a lot more than only a dominant pitcher.
What’s the largest storyline/development to observe over the remainder of the season?
Dalton-Hill: I’m nonetheless staring at the affect convention realignment has at the Energy 4. Groups that have been perennial powers of their respective meetings at the moment are being challenged by means of the additions of displaced Pac-12 groups. FSU would possibly not meet Stanford till the ACC match. Northwestern faces UCLA in its ultimate common season sequence of the yr. Oklahoma and Texas being added to the SEC makes that convention even more potent. And Arizona sits on the best of the Giant-12. There are such a lot of distinctive and hard matchups that we don’t seem to be used to seeing arising!
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Across the Diamond: Any other day of dominance within the SEC
The SEC Now group highlights spectacular performs from softball as they proceed to turn why the SEC stays essentially the most dominant convention within the diamond.
Shipman: I’m going to be retaining my eye on how the pitching is used for the remainder of the season. There are moderately a couple of groups who use 4, 5 and even six fingers constantly within the circle. After we get nearer to the postseason, do we nonetheless proceed to peer such a lot of pitchers getting used, or will groups flip to extra of a standard ace to hold them down the stretch?
Scarborough: The supply of pitcher Keagan Rothrock for Florida. The final time she pitched was once Feb. 22; do we see her once more this season? Florida with out her continues to be an excessively proficient group that may rating numerous runs temporarily, however do they have got the body of workers to make a run on the nationwide championship with out Rothrock?
Which sleeper group (outdoor of the present best 10 ratings) do you suppose has the most productive probability to have a deep run within the WCWS?
Dalton-Hill: Stanford. Prior revel in is a large consider creating a deep run in OKC, and the Cardinal have made journeys there the previous two seasons. Granted their roster would possibly not have the Participant of the 12 months on it this time as Canady departed to Texas Tech, however this group best has 3 losses at the season. It is a staff I might now not wish to see in Regionals or Tremendous Regionals.
Scarborough: Virginia Tech. Emma Lemley seems like she’s pitching the most productive in her occupation and will beat somebody within the nation together with her filthy riseball. Plus, Virginia Tech traditionally has an offense that may submit runs in bunches. After the Hokies’ 2024 common season good fortune however falling wanting the WCWS, this can be a group that desires to in spite of everything get there in Lemley’s final season within the circle.
Shipman: I’m pondering the similar as Amanda in this one; Virginia Tech is the group to observe. Lemley has been dominant within the circle with a 1.97 ERA, and the Hokies are led offensively by means of Cori McMillan and her 13 house runs. The opposite spectacular piece in their recreation is their protection. The Hokies are these days 3rd within the nation with a .983 fielding share. It is a group that I might now not wish to face within the postseason.
Who would be the final 4 groups status within the 2025 WCWS?
Dalton-Hill: Oklahoma, Texas, Florida and Florida State
Shipman: Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and LSU
Scarborough: UCLA, Texas, LSU and Arizona
