'I Want to Be Remembered for More Than Numbers'—Perez's vision for Aggie softball

USA Today

5 hours ago

Texas A&M All-American Mya Perez has developed into one of the most complete hitters in the SEC, becoming a national household name in the softball ranks. From clutch at-bats to quiet leadership, Perez powered through a defining season. One that delivered accolades, exposed heartbreak, and cemented her role as a standard-bearer for the program's future.
To hear it in her own words, we sat down with Mya Perez to talk about her record-breaking run, the pressure behind the plate, and what comes next as she leaves her mark on Aggie softball. As the saying goes, records are meant to be broken, and Perez did just that, surpassing the four-decade-old RBI record, ending the season with 73.
This was a significant jump in production for her, and she discussed how her approach had evolved from her freshman year of trying to prove herself to becoming a consistent hitter that her team and coaches could rely on.
"I feel like my coaches just worked on me to stay consistent...... Swing, instead of trying to kill it all the time, it was more just, I was trying to get a base hit every at bat. I wasn't trying to hit a home run or anything or do anything extra. Just get my job done, be consistent, and win."
It wasn't always easy, and after being used to success, trying to work her way into an SEC lineup full of upperclassmen came with some pressure
'I was pressing because I wanted to do good—I just wanted to find my place.'
But she didn't go it alone. Veteran players like Trinity Cannon, Jazz Hill, and Rylan Wiggins helped ground her with encouragement and perspective.
'They helped me find who I am as a player and reminded me never to give up.'
Early in the 2025 Aggie softball season, they appeared to have all the tools to be a contender, and they were playing with a level of confidence that turned heads. Mya knew immediately they were in for a special season from the beginning.
"I feel like opening weekend was a big weekend for us. You know, we've got to show who we are. And our team was like so close. We were all sisters and family. So, it just made playing like so much fun. Our hitting was on, our pitching was on, our defense was on, everything couldn't be better."
The Aggies' early playoff exit hit harder than most imagined. Expectations were sky-high. The talent was undeniable. Yet, postseason heartbreak reshaped the narrative, and coach Ford knows they will hit the drawing board with the same goal of making it back to the postseason.
"I feel like it was never really processed, you know, we all know that we're going to come back and work harder and get to the World Series.... I just think our team is definitely going to put in the work and put in 110% just so we can get there.""I think we're all pretty upset about what happened. But we don't even need to hear a message to know that we just got to work. She's (Coach Ford) ready for next season. We're all ready. We're just ready to move on from that game last season."
With the 2025 season in the books and the off-season in full swing, Mya is back in the lab focusing on where she can improve, not just on the field but in the locker room.
"Fielding at first and maybe just, uh, continuing to be more consistent. So I'm just going to keep working on those two things. Also want to work on outside of, like physical ability is being a leader, and being somebody that the freshmen look up to and the underclassmen."
Mya Perez understands that early struggles can shake a player's confidence. Having walked through that uncertainty herself, she's now using her platform to uplift the next wave of Aggies. Her message to younger teammates is rooted in hard-earned wisdom.
"Just because you failed doesn't mean you're done yet. Obviously you gotta trust the process and keep working, keep your head down and just push, you know. Always have a goal and keep reaching it. Just remember like, this is a game of failure, it's gonna happen. So just keep working and don't give up on yourself and trust the process."
For Perez, legacy isn't just about numbers. It's about impact. She's grateful for the milestones and the records she's chasing, but she's more invested in the impression she leaves on teammates, the culture she helps shape, and the standard she sets for what it means to wear Maroon & White with pride.
"I want to be remembered as someone who's positive. I took that role on a little bit last year just to be positive. I want to be somebody that they could always talk to, somebody who's always smiling. I feel like that's always big for me. I'm always smiling. There's never a time where I'm not."
As Mya Perez gears up for another chapter in Aggieland, she's not just chasing another record; she's setting a tone. Her story is a blueprint for grit, growth, and quiet leadership. Whether it's a clutch RBI or a dugout smile, Perez leads with purpose. And as younger Aggies lace up and look her way, they won't just see a star, they'll see someone who showed up in every moment, ready to lift the program to new heights.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.