Over the last week and a half, we’ve reviewed the top stories of 2024 in softball at all levels—from club to college to the pro level.

Below are the Top 10 listed in 10 to 1 order going back to the week of Christmas through New Year’s Day.

Click on the headlines below to be directed to each article.

Tomorrow, we’ll finalize our 2024 look at the Other Stories Considered among the more than 825 published on Line Drive Softball last year.

Finally, thanks to Justin McLeod of D1 Softball who shared his thoughts and input on what was most impactful on the collegiate side as part of our overall summaries.

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball

*****

No. 10: The Alliance to Hold All National Championships In Indy

Date Published: Dec. 23, 2024
Why Chosen: Announced in September, the decision by The Alliance to host all its club championships, ages 10U to 18U, at the same time Indiana is designed to emulate the successful NCAA softball postseason. A great opportunity to see all the best in The Alliance Fastpitch playoffs at one time and in one place.

No. 9: The State of the Pro Game

Date Published: Dec. 24, 2024
Why Chosen: It’s been a mixed-bag when it comes to pro softball and in 2024 there was more bad news as the Women’s Professional Fastpitch league announced in wouldn’t be playing over the summer. However, heading into 2025, there’s exciting news coming out of Athletes Unlimited with the launch of its league this year as well as the one run by the Association of Fastpitch Professionals (AFP).

No. 8: The Power of GoFundMe in Softball (Dec. 25, 2024)

Date Published: Dec. 25, 2024
Why Chosen: GoFundMe has raised over $9 billion over the last 10 years and the great fund-raising tool has made its presence felt in softball helping several in the high school and college spaces who have suffered and need funds raised for them.

No. 7: The Passing of 2016-17 Gatorade National Player of the Year Taylor Dockins

Date Published: Dec. 26, 2024
Why Chosen: Taylor Dockins stole the heart of softball fans everywhere eight years ago as she emerged as a feisty and dominating record-setting pitcher from Norco, Calif. who was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year. What really was uplifting was how Taylor battled a rare form of cancer to come back to the field triumphantly, but in June 2024, the athlete succumbed to cancer and passed at the tender age of 25.

No. 6: Oklahoma’s Launch of Love’s Field Raises the Bar For Softball Stadium

Date Published: Dec. 27, 2024
Why Chosen: A huge accomplishment and reward for the premier program in college softball right now, the University of Oklahoma, which launched a state-of-the-art softball stadium called Love’s Field that holds 4,200 fans and cost $48 million to build.

No. 5: Duke Softball Makes The WCWS… In Only Its 7th Year of Play

Date Published: Dec. 28, 2024
Why Chosen: Duke has been known forever as a power in college basketball, but the school’s softball program has quickly become a power in college softball as the Marissa Young-led program went 52-9 this year to capture the ACC title and make it to the Women’s College World Series for the first time—an impressively quick ascension to the premier level in D1 softball.

No. 4: Jordyn Bahl Redshirts After Season-Ending Injury

Date Published: Dec. 29, 2024
Why Chosen: Expectations were very high at the Univ. of Nebraska in 2024 as the Cornhuskers had a huge transfer come in: pitcher Jordy Bahl, who had been a two-time All-American at Oklahoma and a contributor to the Sooners’ pair of National Championships. But in the opening game for Nebraska, Bahl went down with a knee injury in the 3^rd inning of the very first game and saw that end her season.

No. 3: The “Killer B’s” – The Bolts & Bombers – Dominate Club Summer Ball 

Date Published: Dec. 30, 2024
Why Chosen: Travel softball has dozens, if not hundreds, of quality programs fielding teams that can win Nationals and top tournaments at any given time. But there were two that were unusually dominant in the Birmingham Thunderbolts led by Rocky Thompson and Texas Bombers headed by Scott Smith.

No. 2: Oklahoma Sooners Make It Four NCAA D1 Championships in a Row

Date Published: Dec. 31, 2024
Why Chosen: There have been some tremendous dynasties in college fastpitch softball including UCLA coached by Sue Enquist and Arizona under the direction of Mike Candrea, who’s also been a USA Olympic Team coach. However, over the last four years something has been done for the first time in D1 history: four straight national titles under Head Coach Patty Gasso who has built a dynasty in Norman, Okla. as the Oklahoma Sooners are dominating on the field and in the recruiting scene.

No. 1: NiJaree Canady’s NIL Deal Raises the Bar in Women’s Sports

Date Published: Jan. 1, 2025
Why Chosen: NiJaree Canady has emerged as the top player in the collegiate game after two huge years for Stanford that culminated in 2023 with her being named the USA Softball’s Collegiate Player of the Year. Still, no one was prepared when she announced a transfer to Texas Techy and an NIL deal over $1 million annually that will open the doors for female athletes everywhere.