The 2025 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year race is heating up, and this year’s list is packed with elite hitters, dominant pitchers and powerful two-way talents. From power-hitting sluggers and dominant two-way players to record-breaking aces, the top-25 finalists include names who’ve delivered all season long. With conference tournaments around the corner, here’s a deeper look at six players who have made especially strong cases through the end of April.
*Stats below are through April 30, 2025.
2025 Player of the Year finalist stats
| PLAYER | TEAM | POSITION | AVG | HR | RBI | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reese Atwood | Texas | C | .413 | 16 | 65 | – | – |
| Taylor Shumaker | Florida | OF | .365 | 16 | 71 | – | – |
| Sam Landry | Oklahoma | P | – | – | – | 1.95 | 136 |
| NiJaree Canady | Texas Tech | P | .299 | 7 | 25 | 0.88 | 220 |
| Karlyn Pickens | Tennessee | P | – | – | – | 1.02 | 210 |
| Kasidi Pickering | Oklahoma | OF | .431 | 13 | 44 | – | – |
Reese Atwood, C – Texas
TEXAS WITH A WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM 😤
Reese Atwood goes DEEP 💥 @TexasSoftball pic.twitter.com/PBt4VaGEDo
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) April 18, 2025
Atwood might be the most feared hitter in the country. The junior catcher leads Texas with a .413 batting average, 16 home runs and 65 RBIs (the latter ranking among the national leaders) and continues to shine in big moments. Her most iconic swing of the season came on April 17 against LSU, when she crushed a walk-off grand slam to become the first player in Longhorn history to do so. A finalist for the award in 2024, Atwood is once again the centerpiece of a Texas offense that’s ranked among the nation’s best. Her consistency and ability to perform under pressure give her one of the most complete resumes in the country.
Taylor Shumaker, OF – Florida
If you’re looking for breakout star power, look no further than Taylor Shumaker. The freshman outfielder has taken the SEC by storm, hitting .365 with 15 home runs and her 71 RBIs are among the top marks in the SEC. Shumaker has already had multiple standout games, including a five-RBI performance in a comeback win over Alabama and a pair of multi-homer outings in February. She’s the engine of a Florida offense that entered the season 8-0 and transitioned into the final weeks of April ranked top-five nationally in scoring. While…
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