Womens' College World Series Players to Watch for all 8 teams
The Women's College World Series gets underway on Thursday with a talented group of players descending upon Oklahoma City. 17 of Softball America's first and second-team All-Americans will be in town to compete for the national title, led by Pitcher of the Year Karlyn Pickens and Freshman of the Year Taylor Shumaker.
While the Oklahoma Sooners are the top seed remaining in the tournament, any of the eight teams are good enough to win it all. Teams like Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas Tech, and Oregon have the pitching to keep the games low-scoring. The Sooners, Florida, Ole Miss, Texas, and Oregon have the lineups that can create some high-scoring affairs.
The week and a half of action in Oklahoma City is one of the best events in sports. The passion, energy, and excitement will be palpable as the stars of college softball take the field in the Women's College World Series.
To get to know the teams better, here's a look at the best players on all eight teams in the Women's College World Series.
More: Re-ranking the 8 teams to make the Women's College World Series
Oklahoma Sooners
Kasidi Pickering, OF: .413 batting average, 18 home runs, 14 doubles, 56 RBIs, .557 on-base percentage.
Gabbie Garcia, SS: .360 batting average, 20 home runs, 9 doubles, 58 RBIs, .420 on-base percentage.
Ella Parker, UT: .416 batting average, 13 home runs, 19 doubles, 49 RBIs, .520 on-base percentage.
Sam Landry, P: 23-4, 1.92 ERA, 170 strikeouts, .198 opponents batting average.
Oklahoma advanced to the Women's College World Series by beating Boston and Cal (twice) in the Norman Regional and then sweeping Alabama in the super regional. They've outscored their opponents 47-5 in the NCAA Tournament.
Florida Gators
Kendra Falby, OF: .433 batting average, 2 home runs, 9 doubles, 34 RBIs, .502 on-base percentage.
Taylor Shumaker, OF: .389 batting average, 22 home runs, 17 doubles, 86 RBIs, .490 on-base percentage.
Reagan Walsh, INF: .348 batting average, 14 home runs, 6 doubles, 60 RBIs, .421 on-base percentage.
Keagan Rothrock, P: 16-6, 3.21 ERA, 101 strikeouts, .241 opponents batting average.
The Florida Gators closed the regular season with a series win over Oklahoma and are hoping to exact some revenge over the Sooners after last year's WCWS semifinals. Florida swept through the Gainesville regional but had to battle SEC foe Georgia in the super regional round. They've outscored opponents 42-11 in the NCAA Tournament.
Texas Longhorns
Reese Atwood, C: .416 batting average, 21 home runs, 12 doubles, 85 RBIs, .532 on-base percentage.
Joley Mitchell, INF: .385 batting average, 14 home runs, 10 doubles, 60 RBIs, .497 on-base percentage.
Katie Stewart, C/INF: .370 batting average, 15 home runs, 13 doubles, 76 RBIs, .437 on-base percentage.
Teagan Kavan, P: 24-5, 2.56 ERA, 212 strikeouts, .223 opponents batting average.
The Texas Longhorns have the lineup to go toe-to-toe with anyone in the Women's College World Series. They battled a tough Clemson squad to game 2 and 3 wins in the super regional to advance.
Tennessee Volunteers
Taylor Pannell, OF: .384 batting average, 15 home runs, 11 doubles, 62 RBIs, .486 on-base percentage.
Sophia Nugent, C: .302 batting average, 17 home runs, 9 doubles, 59 RBIs, .369 on-base percentage.
Kinsey Fiedler, OF: .341 batting average, 2 home runs, 9 doubles, 8 triples, 36 RBIs, .458 on-base percentage.
Karlyn Pickens, P: 24-9, 1.00 ERA, 280 strikeouts, .168 opponents batting average
The Tennessee Volunteers had to win two elimination games against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. They did so on the arm of Karlyn Pickens, who threw two complete games, including a two-hit shutout in the decider to beat Jordy Bahl and the Cornhuskers.
UCLA Bruins
Jordan Woolery, INF: .415 batting average, 23 home runs, 16 doubles, 86 RBIs, .504 on-base percentage.
Megan Grant, UT: .384 batting average, 25 home runs, 12 doubles, 79 RBIs, .540 on-base percentage.
Savannah Pola, UT: .440 batting average, 9 home runs, 20 doubles, 48 RBIs, .488 on-base percentage.
Kaitlyn Terry, P: 19-5, 2.62 ERA, 159 strikeouts, .210 opponents batting average.
UCLA's offense is capable of putting up huge numbers at the plate. In the Los Angeles Regional, they outscored opponents 31-2 in their three-game sweep. The Bruins dropped game one of their super regional matchup with South Carolina and rallied in the seventh inning of game two to stave off elimination before a 5-0 win in game three.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
NiJaree Canady, P: 30-5, 0.89 ERA, 279 strikeouts, .153 opponents batting average. .312 batting average, 11 home runs, 5 doubles, 34 RBIs, .454 on-base percentage.
Mihiya Davis, OF: 386 batting average, 5 home runs, 10 doubles, 26 RBIs, .410 on-base percentage.
Lauren Allred, INF: .365 batting average, 9 home runs, 10 doubles, 53 RBIs, .454 on-base percentage.
Alexa Langeliers, INF: .333 batting average, 8 home runs, 6 doubles, 40 RBIs, .432 on-base percentage.
The Red Raiders haven't lost a game in the NCAA Tournament and are led by one of the top three players in all of college softball, NiJaree Canady. She's thrown 24 innings in five games, only running into trouble against Mississippi State in the Lubbock regional final.
Oregon Ducks
Rylee McCoy, INF: .399 batting average, 19 home runs, 12 doubles, 58 RBIs, .478 on-base percentage.
Kedre Luschar, OF: .444 batting average, 7 home runs, 17 doubles, 61 RBIs, .487 on-base percentage.
Stefini Ma'ake, UT: .314 batting average, 14 home runs, 8 doubles, 54 RBIs, .374 on-base percentage.
Lyndsey Grein, P: 29-2, 2.08 ERA, 222 strikeouts, .182 opponents batting average.
The Oregon Ducks are one of the more balanced teams remaining in the tournament. They're the only team left in the field that's top 10 in team batting average and team ERA.
Ole Miss Rebels
Lexie Brady, UT: .340 batting average, 17 home runs, 10 doubles, 50 RBIs, .477 on-base percentage.
Persy Llamas, UT: .355 batting average, 10 home runs, 10 doubles, 53 RBIs, .430 on-base percentage.
Aaliyah Binford, INF, P: .328 batting average, 12 home runs, 14 doubles, 55 RBIs, .375 on-base percentage. 11-3, 3.51 ERA, 80 strikeouts, .271 opponents batting average.
Ole Miss had to go on the road to beat Arizona in the regional round and then won two of three in Fayetteville to upset the Arkansas Razorbacks. They have an offense that can hang in the Women's College World Series, but they'll need to find some consistency in their pitching.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
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