Coming off back-to-back-to-back Big Ten regular season titles, Northwestern softball has established itself as the team to beat in the conference. But with three new playoff-caliber squads joining the conference, 2025 will see the greatest threat to the Wildcats’ throne. Perhaps no sport takes a more dramatic shift from the Big Ten’s recent expansion than softball, with all three new teams immediately slotting in at or near the top of the conference power rankings. In the latest installment of Inside NU’s conference expansion series, let’s dive deep into these three new programs.
Note: USC does not have a softball program
Oregon Ducks (30-21, 13-10, lost in Norman Regional)
The Ducks took a small step back last season in terms of win percentage, although the team was still a force to be reckoned with under sixth-year coach Melyssa Lombardi.
Oregon has been a model of consistency in the twenty-first century. Between Lombardi, Kathy Arendsen (2002-2009) and current Texas coach Mike White (2010-2018), the Ducks have made the NCAA Tournament in 18 of the possible 22 years across the tenure of those three coaches. Those postseason appearances include 10 Super Regional appearances since 2010 (including all nine seasons when White was at the helm) and Women’s College World Series appearances in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018. Although the team has yet to reach the same highs since White departed for Texas after sporting a glistening 435-111-1 record in Eugene, the Ducks remain a consistent threat.
Last season, Oregon made the big dance for the fourth consecutive season, largely due to their explosive offense which averaged over 5.5 runs per contest. Kai Luschar finished fourth in the Pac-12 in batting average (.410) and first in stolen bases (27) while Ariel Carlson finished third in OPS (1.210) and fourth in home runs (16) and RBI (55). The pitching staff ultimately capped the ceiling of the team, finishing just sixth of nine Pac-12 teams in ERA.
Carlson graduated, but Luschar and her speed will return for the Ducks in 2025. Add in Pac-12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year and Gold Glove shortstop Paige Sinicki and freshman standout Katie Flannery, and there is still plenty to work with on offense. The pitching staff has a chance to take a major jump with another year of experience for pitchers Elise Sokolsky and Taylour Spencer and Virginia Tech transfer Lyndsey Grein joining the rotation. Look for the Ducks to be a major threat in 2025.
UCLA Bruins (43-12, 17-4, Lost in Women’s College World Series)
Perhaps the greatest softball program in the country, UCLA easily represents the biggest threat in the new Big Ten and is the team to chase from day one. The Bruins lead all schools in the country with 13 national championships, 36 World Series appearances and 187 tournament wins.
Remarkably, since 1975, the Bruins have only had three head coaches, going from Sharron Backus (1975-1996) to Sue Enquist (1989-2007) to Kelly Inouye-Perez (2007-present). Except for the canceled 2020 postseason, the Bruins have made the NCAA Tournament every year since 1999, including 18 trips to the World Series and five titles in that span (most recently in 2019). On an individual level, UCLA recruits like no other. In the last decade, UCLA has had three players (Ally Carda, Rachel Garcia and Maya Brady) who have won multiple Pac-12 Player of the Year Awards. Since the turn of the century, the Bruins are responsible for half of the winners of that honor.
With such a decorated history, a championship is always the goal in Los Angeles, but UCLA’s 2024 was a year most programs would be jealous of. Despite being sent packing by (former) Pac-12 rival Stanford in the World Series, UCLA captured the Pac-12 title in both the regular season and conference tournament. Maya Brady won her second straight Player of the Year after finishing second in the conference in average (.418), first in OPS (1.306), second in home runs (17) and first in RBI (68). She was one of six Bruins named to the conference first team, along with Megan Grant (.335 average), Sharlize Palacios (led the conference with 20 home runs), Jordan Woolery (.314 average), Kaitlyn Terry (21-3 record, Pac-12 Freshman of the Year) and Tinsley Taylor (1.90 ERA, 6.4 K/BB ratio).
The Bruins will lose their two best hitters in Brady and Palacios, but have a deep roster of top recruits who will help to replenish the lineup. A top-notch freshman class will certainly help as well, as Inouye-Perez’s 2024 signing class boasts three top ten players, including pitcher/utility Addisen Fisher (ranked No. 1), catcher Sofia Mujica (No. 3) and outfielder Rylee Slimp (No. 8). The young players in the lineup have a chance to contribute immediately for a team who should be the preseason favorite, even in a new conference.
Washington Huskies (32-15, 13-10, Lost in Columbia Regional)
The Huskies are another staple of the softball world. Since the program was established in 1993, they have made the NCAA Tournament every year except the inaugural season, including 15 appearances in the Women’s College World Series. The Huskies have made it to the championship series four times, winning it all in 2009. Much like UCLA, Washington has had remarkable longevity and consistency in the head coaching spot. After 11 seasons with Teresa Wilson, the Huskies were co-coached in 2004 by Scott Centala and Steve Dailey. Since 2005, Heather Tarr has been at the helm, accumulating over 800 wins.
Last season was frustrating for the Huskies, who, in a highly-competitive Pac-12, finished with their lowest win total in a complete season since 2008. Four canceled games did not help the cause, but the Huskies struggled against ranked teams and had a surprise early exit in the Columbia Regional after the offense couldn’t get it going against Omaha or Missouri.
Statistically, the Huskies had an excellent season. Eight Huskies had a batting average of .300 or higher, and four finished with an OPS over 1.000. Ruby Meylan put together a great season in the circle and was awarded conference first-team honors alongside two other Huskies, Brooke Nelson and Rylee Holtorf. In theory, this should give the Huskies a lot to build on going into 2025. But this offseason was a turbulent one in Seattle.
Pitcher Lindsay Lopez, and starters Jillian Celis (.313 batting average), Brooke Nelson (.323) and Avery Hobson (.281) have all graduated. Even more crushing is the eight (yes, eight!) Huskies who entered their name into the transfer portal: Kinsey Fielder (.336, transferring to Tennessee), Rylee Holtorf (.336, Florida), Alana Johnson (.336, Texas Tech), Olivia Johnson (.300, Texas A&M), Ruby Meylan (2.55 ERA, Oklahoma State), Sidne Peters (3.35 ERA, Texas A&M), Sydney Stewart (.321, Arizona) and Brooklyn Carter (.314, Baylor).
With all that, Washington is slated to lose its eight top players from 2024 in terms of plate appearances and four top pitchers in terms of innings pitched. This roster has been decimated. Coach Tarr has earned the benefit of the doubt, but there are still questions about the mass exodus that occurred this offseason and what it means for the program’s future. Florida State’s Madi Balk, Montana’s Riley Peschek and Mt. Hood’s Ava Carroll and a strong incoming crop of freshman will be crucial in recreating that production. With a wide range of outcomes and a completely new roster, Washington is a must-watch team in 2025.
