OKLAHOMA CITY — USA Softball, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, announced the Top 25 Finalists for the 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, which is considered the most prestigious honor in Division I women’s collegiate softball, recognizes the outstanding athletic achievement by Division I female players across the country.

Click here for the list of the Top 25 Finalists for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.

Previous recipients of the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award are UCLA catcher Stacey Nuveman (2002), Texas pitcher Cat Osterman (2003, 2005 and 2006), Florida State pitcher Jessica Van der Linden (2004), Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott (2007), Virginia Tech pitcher Angela Tincher (2008), Washington pitcher Danielle Lawrie (2009 and 2010), Stanford shortstop Ashley Hansen (2011), Oklahoma’s Keilani Ricketts (2012 and 2013), Florida State’s Lacey Waldrop (2014), Florida’s Lauren Haeger (2015), Michigan’s Sierra Romero (2016) and Kelly Barnhill (2017).

Comprising this year’s list of finalists includes nine seniors, nine juniors, four sophomores and three freshmen. The student-athletes selected represent 17 NCAA Division I universities and eight athletic conferences. Reigning NCAA Women’s College World Series (WCWS) Champion Oklahoma is the most represented university among the finalists, having three athletes making the list while Florida, Georgia, Oregon, Tennessee, UCLA and Washington are each represented by two athletes.  Arizona State, Auburn, Baylor, Drake, Florida State, Kent State, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma State and Texas State each have one athlete in the Top 25 Finalists.

Prior to the start of post-season play, the Top 10 Finalists will be announced May 9 while the Top 3 will be announced May 23. The 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed May 29.

Courtesy of USA Softball