With college softball season starting in just two weeks Softball America has released their Preseason Top 25. This is a projection of how some of the teams are expected to perform in the upcoming season based on the previous season’s record and any off-season moves (transfers, recruits, coaching changes, etc.).
This year’s Top 25 are as follows: Florida Gators, Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowgirls, UCLA Bruins, Tennessee Lady Volunteers, Texas A&M Aggies, Duke Blue Devils, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Florida State Seminoles, Alabama Crimson Tide, LSU Tigers, Arkansas Razorbacks, Arizona Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Baylor Bears, Georgia Bulldogs, Northwestern Wildcats, California Golden Bears, Liberty Lady Flames, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Michigan Wolverines, Virginia Cavaliers, and the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Florida Gators
Florida debuted as No. 1 for the preseason rankings after a 54-win 2024 season. The previous season included an SEC Tournament Championship and the program’s 12th trip to the Women’s College World Series. The Gators have a powerhouse roster led by NFCA Player of the Year Jocelyn Erickson, who hit .382 with 15 home runs and 86 RBIs last season, along with three other NFCA All-Americans: Keagan Rothrock, Reagan Walsh, and Korbe Otis. They also strengthened their roster by adding transfers Kenleigh Cahalan (Alabama), Rylee Holtorf (Washington), and Kara Hammock (UNCW) and they also added seven freshmen. Holtorf, a first-team All-Pac-12 shortstop at Washington, hit .336 with 11 home runs and 25 RBIs last season and started all 47 games. The Gators aim to build on their success as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Texas Longhorns
Texas is kicking off the 2025 season just like they ended the 2024 season - as one of the best teams in the country. The Longhorns sit just behind Florida, their first SEC opponent, instead of Oklahoma, who is their longtime rival and four-time defending champs. Led by head coach Mike White, Texas has a stacked roster that looks a lot like last year’s top seeded squad. Some key players include Reese Atwood, the Softball America Player of the Year, utility star Mia Scott, and standout pitcher Teagan Kavan, who was one of 2024’s top freshmen. Texas has also added top recruits like infielder Shylien Brister, and pitcher Cambria Salmon. The Longhorns crushed last season with a 55-10 record, but had come up short against Oklahoma in both the Big 12 tournament and the Women’s College World Series. Being in the SEC, the Longhorns have a tough schedule ahead. Starting with Florida in mid-March, then Oklahoma in late April, before wrapping up with Kentucky in early May. The SEC tournament runs from May 6-10 in Athens, Georgia, and Texas is ready to make some noise.
Oklahoma Sooners
This season is already looking pretty different for the Oklahoma Sooners. This is the first time since 2021 that the Sooners aren’t starting at No. 1. After winning four straight national championships, they’re in rebuild mode. With 10 seniors graduating, including stars like Jayda Coleman, Kinzie Hansen, Tiare Jennings, Rylie Boone, and Nicole May. Seniors Alyssa Brito, Alynah Torres, Kelly Maxwell, Karlie Keeney, and Riley Ludlam also moved on. But coach Patty Gasso didn’t waste any time reloading. Gasso hit the transfer portal and brought in players like Abigale Dayton (outfielder, Utah), Sam Landry (pitcher, Louisiana), Ailana Agbayani (shortstop, BYU), Isabella Emerling (catcher, North Carolina), and Isabella Smith (pitcher, Campbell). She also managed to get the No. 1 pitcher in the 2025 class, Sophia Bordi, to reclassify and join the team early. The Sooners also had some returning players including Ella Parker, Kasidi Pickering, and senior Cydney Sanders who will also play big roles in the upcoming season. Oklahoma is ranked behind Florida and Texas, both teams they beat in the Women’s College World Series last season. They will have a tough schedule in their first SEC season going up against powerhouse teams like Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, and Missouri on the slate. Even with so many new faces, Oklahoma is still a serious contender for another championship.
With the college softball season just weeks away, the Preseason Top 25 sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting year. The battle for the Women’s College World Series is sure to bring unforgettable action.
Edited by Brittany Snow
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