USA Softball has announced the Top 25 Finalists for the 2025 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award.

This prestigious award honors outstanding athletic performance throughout the entire softball season and is regarded as the highest individual honor in Division I collegiate softball.

Previous winners of the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year include:

• Stacey Nuveman (UCLA – 2002),
• Cat Osterman (Texas – 2003, 2005, 2006),
• Jessica Van der Linden (Florida State – 2004),
• Monica Abbott (Tennessee – 2007),
• Angela Tincher (Virginia Tech – 2008),
• Danielle Lawrie (Washington – 2009, 2010),
• Ashley Hansen (Stanford – 2011),
• Keilani Ricketts (Oklahoma – 2012, 2013),
• Lacey Waldrop (Florida State – 2014),
• Lauren Haeger (Florida – 2015),
• Sierra Romero (Michigan – 2016),
• Kelly Barnhill (Florida – 2017),
• Rachel Garcia (UCLA, 2018 and 2019),
• Jocelyn Alo (Oklahoma – 2021, 2022),
• Valerie Cagle (2023),
• NiJaree Canady (2024).

The Top 25 Finalists consist of one fifth-year student, nine seniors, eight juniors, five sophomores, and two freshmen, representing 18 NCAA Division I universities and four athletic conferences.

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has the largest representation with seven member schools, followed by the Big Ten with five, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with four, and the Big 12 with two.

The Texas Longhorns, ranked No. 5, have the most athletes on the list with three, while Florida, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and UCLA each tab two athletes.

Additionally, Arizona, Arkansas, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Indiana, LSU, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Texas Tech, and Virginia Tech are represented by one athlete apiece.

The Top 25 Finalists will be narrowed down to 10 athletes on May 14, followed by the Top 3 Finalists set to be released on May 19.

The 2025 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed prior to the Women’s College World Series, which is scheduled to take May 29 – June 6 at the Softball Capital of the World®.

Paired with the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, USA Softball is also in its 23rd season of presenting the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll, which is released every Tuesday throughout the regular season.

Follow along with Division I NCAA Softball all season long at USASoftball.com.

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List of the Top 25 Finalists

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Head Shots of the Finalists