BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Tennessee softball’s McKenna Gibson and Karlyn Pickens have been named to the 2025 Preseason All-SEC Team, the league office announced Thursday. The 24-player team was released alongside the SEC preseason poll.
In the coaches’ poll, Tennessee was picked fourth in the SEC. Texas earned seven first-place votes and was selected first, while Florida and Oklahoma were picked second and third, respectively. Florida received six first-place votes, and Oklahoma garnered two.
Tennessee enters the 2025 season as back-to-back SEC regular-season champions for the first time in program history. The Lady Vols return 15 players from the 2024 championship team, including nine who helped capture both conference titles.
Over the past two seasons, Tennessee has dominated SEC play, winning nine consecutive conference series dating to 2023 and emerging victorious in 15 of the last 16.
A native of Weaverville, North Carolina, Pickens was a consensus first-team All-American following a standout sophomore season in 2024. She finished the year with a 22-7 record and a 1.12 ERA, earning SEC Pitcher of the Year honors. She joins Monica Abbott as the only Lady Vols to win the award.
Pickens made 38 appearances last season, including 27 starts, and threw 15 complete games with 12 shutouts and a save. Over 188.1 innings pitched, the right-hander struck out 225 batters and held opponents to a .156 batting average.
Gibson, a two-time All-SEC first-team selection and a 2023 NFCA Second Team All-American, enters her senior season in 2025. The Santa Clarita, California, native has a career slash line of .321/.584/.440 with 33 home runs and 131 RBIs. Her home run total ranks 10th all-time in program history.
Tennessee opens the 2025 season Thursday, Feb. 6, at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida.
2025 Tennessee Preseason Award Honors as of Jan. 30
In the coaches’ poll, Tennessee was picked fourth in the SEC. Texas earned seven first-place votes and was selected first, while Florida and Oklahoma were picked second and third, respectively. Florida received six first-place votes, and Oklahoma garnered two.
Tennessee enters the 2025 season as back-to-back SEC regular-season champions for the first time in program history. The Lady Vols return 15 players from the 2024 championship team, including nine who helped capture both conference titles.
Over the past two seasons, Tennessee has dominated SEC play, winning nine consecutive conference series dating to 2023 and emerging victorious in 15 of the last 16.
A native of Weaverville, North Carolina, Pickens was a consensus first-team All-American following a standout sophomore season in 2024. She finished the year with a 22-7 record and a 1.12 ERA, earning SEC Pitcher of the Year honors. She joins Monica Abbott as the only Lady Vols to win the award.
Pickens made 38 appearances last season, including 27 starts, and threw 15 complete games with 12 shutouts and a save. Over 188.1 innings pitched, the right-hander struck out 225 batters and held opponents to a .156 batting average.
Gibson, a two-time All-SEC first-team selection and a 2023 NFCA Second Team All-American, enters her senior season in 2025. The Santa Clarita, California, native has a career slash line of .321/.584/.440 with 33 home runs and 131 RBIs. Her home run total ranks 10th all-time in program history.
Tennessee opens the 2025 season Thursday, Feb. 6, at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida.
2025 Tennessee Preseason Award Honors as of Jan. 30
INF Emma Clarke
D1Softball D100 Freshman
Softball America Freshman Watchlist
INF Amayah Doyle
D1Softball D100 Freshman
Softball America Freshman Watchlist
INF McKenna Gibson
Preseason All-SEC
D1Softball Top 100 – No. 67
P Sage Mardjetko
Softball America Top 100 – No. 68
C Sophia Nugent
D1Softball Top 100 – No. 96
P Erin Nuwer
D1Softball D100 Freshman
Softball America Freshman Watchlist
INF/OF Taylor Pannell
D1Softball Top 100 – No. 80
Softball America Top 100 – No. 58
P Karlyn Pickens
Preseason All-SEC
USA Softball Top 53 Watch…
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