The 2025 university softball season is here!
Can Oklahoma win your fifth consecutive title or other team will raise the National Championship trophy? Does Stanford Nijaree Canady find success in Texas Tech? Are Florida's gators really? that Well after all your low season additions? And what about the realignment of the conference?
There are many interesting stories in 2025, so we ask our experts, Jenny Dalton-Hill, Amanda Scarborough, Michele Smith and Madison Shipman, to answer some of the most important questions to help him prepare for the season.
They also made first selections for the player of the year, the WCWS predictions and shared what they are looking for in Clearwater Invitational, which begins on February 13.
Jump to:
The biggest stories | OU's greatest obstacles
Newcomers | Sleeping equipment
Poy picks | WCWS predictions
Clearwater Invitational
What is the largest story of university softball by 2025?
Jenny Dalton-Hill: What kind of transfer will have the greatest impact? We have seen the change of attention from the softball world to Texas Tech due to the Nijaree Canady pitcher, but how will the trajectory of a program quickly improve?
Amanda Scarborough: Everything unknown. This year will be the year of innovative players and teams with so many changes that enter the season: teams in new conferences, many impact transfers, a lot of chief coach changes and many kinds of inherited older adults who graduate the season pass.
Michele Smith: All 'novelty' many of the conferences of power will have to deal. It will be interesting to see how the realignment of the conference develops with new travel problems and players competing in new stadiums. It can be a challenge for some to adjust quickly.
Madison Shipman: To adjust to the new changes, without a doubt, it will be one of the greatest stories of the season. But another that comes to mind is to follow Oklahoma this year. After graduating from a senior class that won four consecutive national championships, can the Sooners do five in a row?
What is the greatest obstacle in the search for Oklahoma of a peat of five?
Dalton-Hill: I feel that I stay to repeat for this question every season: how will the Sooners keep their culture with so many graduations of players last season? The player's dynamics change with different names in the positions, but can those players gelify and maintain the mentality of the “First Program” and find the leader to guide them there? They will always be talented, but being led by the player is the magical sauce.
Scarborough: Competing without his 2024 senior class. That was a group of winners who knew how to sail all the different challenges they faced during their time with the uniform. Who will step forward to fill those gaps/holes in terms of leadership? In addition, how is this program without those four -year -old headlines?
Blacksmith: Oklahoma will not have the dominant pitchers in the circle that once had in the past or in his senior veteran class that he believed they could not lose. I think coach Patty Gasso's staff will put the defense and blows in order, and coach Jennifer Rocha will use a launchers staff to compete. This is still a team sooner, but they will have to win in a different way.
Shipman: Discover what the identity of this team is. This season will try to identify the new strengths of Oklahoma. Is this an offensive of homer? Dominant pitching in the circle? Lights out of defense?
In addition to Canady, which first year or transfer student will have the greatest impact?
Scarborough: UCLA Addisen Fisher's first year pitcher. A very promoted recruit, many eyes have been in Fisher since she committed to UCLA in 2022. The Bruins depended largely on Kaitlyn Terry and Taylor Tensley last season, and both are back, but Fisher adds depth to a staff that It should be a lot of fun to see.
Dalton-Hill: Oklahoma Rubylan state pitcher. She is a great truck for a cowgirls team that needed a replacement for Lexi Kyfoyl. Meylan, who played in Washington last season, joins a very promoted class of four other transfers. With Oklahoma and Texas that leave the Big 12 for the SEC, that leaves the door open so that a new school will reign supreme.
Blacksmith: Jenny, am I a home run if I agree with you? Coach Kenny Gajowski has done a great job by collecting key pitchers and batters for Oklahoma State, and I think this year is no different. Meylan will be strong in the circle with great enthusiasm and experience. Another talented transfer to see is the gardener Megan Delgadillo; She can hit and run, and is a dynamic player.
Shipman: Auburn Haley Rainey pitcher. Rainey was the pitcher of the year Big West 2024 and launched in the regional the last two seasons. After graduating more than 280 entries released from the list last season, Auburn needed an impact arm and got it in Rainey.
What team outside the pre -season Top 10 has the best opportunity to get to the World University World Series?
Dalton-Hill: Am I the homer if I choose Arizona? I think the Wildcats have a new life as they start the season with a complete and healthy release team. Last season, they had a pitching circle sometimes due to an injury. They graduated from great swingers, but the ball always flies for the Wildcats. Bateo coaches also changed, and Amber Freeman has reins for bats. Let them release and let it fly.
Scarborough: Arizona. The Wildcats arrived in Super Regional last season despite all their injuries in the circle. In 2025, they are starting the healthy season, with a deep launch team and returning many of their key players. Arizona is a team to see the pitcher Devyn Netz.
Blacksmith: Nebraska. After not doing the tournament in 2024, cornhuskers have a chance with a healthy majority to get to Oklahoma City, and pitcher Jordy Bahl will not be the only reason why they succeed. They have added key transfers such as Hannah and Lauren Camenzind and Kacie Hoffman, so I think Nebraska will surprise many people to OKC.
Shipman: Arkansas. Razorbs return power and speed in their alignment with players like Bri Ellis and Reagan Johnson. They added to Kailey Wyckoff, who hit more than .400 at Big 12 last season, and Robyn Herron launched some excellent tickets last season. I am excited to see what Arkansas can do this year.
Who is your early choice for the player of the year?
Dalton-Hill: Florida Jocelyn Erickson catchera. Forever Fan of Erickson because she is an impact player in many ways. She was the 2024 Sec's player as a first year transfer. With her in such a hot team this season, you will receive even more attention!
Scarborough: Canady I think I could do it again, just this time, in a different team. Could she be the first player to win Poy in two different teams?
Blacksmith: I think the player of the year will be reduced to Canady and Bahl. Both pitchers have the opportunity to take their programs to the University World University Series and in doing so they would consolidate their legacy to show the depth of their talent.
Shipman: Canady Its combination of speed and movement leads to its constant domain in the circle.
Who is your choice to win the WCWS?
Dalton-Hill: Oklahoma fans will not like this, but I have my eye in Florida this season. Key transfers were collected to join a team that had already stood out with young people last season. This could be a year in the SEC that sees battles that give us WCWs type confrontations several weekends of the regular season!
Scarborough: I agree with Jenny! Florida added depth to the circle and his infield and his offensive is a good combination of speed and power. After the Gators race last season as a youth team, this team has experience, key returns, a deep launch staff and a powerful offensive for more.
Blacksmith: I think there is a good possibility that the championship series can be a confrontation of Texas vs. Florida. Both teams are young and experienced, but I also think you can't count on a good staff of young launkers. The state of Oklahoma also has a great chemistry and is strong in all offensive and defensive positions.
Shipman: My first choice to win the WCWS is Texas. Longhorns seem to be a team built for postseason. What stands out first is its depth in the circle with Teagan Kavan, Citlaly Gutiérrez and Mac Morgan. Offensively, they have a combination of speed and power throughout the alignment. They are batters who return as Reese Atwood and Mia Scott that seek to take the offensive to the WCWS.
Dalton-Hill: I am seeing the impact of training change in Auburn. Chris and Kate Malveaux are some of the best masters of the game and see their first -year navigations from Clearwater will be interesting. They will not be a national contender this season, but they have the ability to build something that is quite special and I am curious to see their starting point.
Scarborough: Virginia and Texas A&M. Virginia is a team that has been increasing in recent years, and returns many veterans. Texas A&M has not started the season at Top 10 since 2008, so there are many expectations around the Aggies. And, rightly, with the pitcher who returns Emiley Kennedy in the circle and a strong senior class.
Blacksmith: I am excited to see Texas A&M and Missouri. The Ford coach has done an outstanding job for the Aggies, and Kennedy came out strong last season, so it will be interesting to see if he can continue having that hot left arm. Coach Larissa Anderson has also been outstanding in Missouri. The tigers are always a difficult team and compete each launch. I am excited to see those two teams play.
Shipman: I really want to have the opportunity to see Virginia again. The pitcher Eden Bigham was outstanding in the circle in the Knoxville regional last season. Virginia returns several headlines of her 2024 team, including Jade Hylton and Bella Cabral.
