Five College Softball Players To Watch In 2023

Though the leaves are just starting to change colors around the country with midterms approaching at most schools, college softball season is just around the corner, and as a result, we are already thinking about the players we expect to shine brightest during the 2023 campaign.

From ballers who play for two-time defending national champion Oklahoma to big guns who compete for national contenders UCLA and Alabama, college softball is booming with superstars these days who are helping the sport grow to unprecedented heights.

See below for five players we expect to ball out in a big way on the diamond in 2023.

Tiare Jennings

Jennings has been on the country's radar ever since she stepped foot on Oklahoma’s campus. The junior was in the shadow of Jocelyn Alo for the past two years, but now that Alo has graduated, she will take center stage with the Sooners in 2023. Jennings already has two unbelievable seasons under her belt, as she is a two-time All-American and two-time national champion. And we believe the best is yet to come for this once-in-a-generation talent.

Jayda Coleman

Coleman is another two-time All-American and two-time national champion for Oklahoma. The junior is an all-around superstar and hype woman for her Sooners squad. She plays with so much passion for the game and it is obvious to all who watch her that she truly loves the sport of softball. She is the spark plug for the best team in the country, and she certainly backs up the bravado with her stellar play on the field.

Megan Faraimo

Faraimo has been a powerhouse pitcher for UCLA for the past few years. Earlier in her college softball career, she was in the shadow of two-way star Rachel Garcia, but now Faraimo is the undeniable ace and face of the Bruins. We expect the redshirt senior to be one of the top pitchers in college softball yet again this year. And with her fierce mentality in the circle, we expect her to carry UCLA deep into the postseason once again in 2023.

Montana Fouts

Fouts has been the talk of college softball for almost her entire college career. The graduate student has carried Alabama through several highs and lows throughout her time with the Crimson Tide. We expect 2023 to be a test for Alabama after a mass exodus via the transfer portal left the roster thinner than usual. But if anyone can help the Crimson Tide navigate that reality, it's Fouts, who is a proven leader and star.

Jordy Bahl

It is no surprise that there are three Sooners on this list, including Bahl, who proved to be a pitching sensation during her first season in the circle at Oklahoma last spring. The All-American and 2022 national champion has already shown that she is one of the best pitchers in the country. Her competitiveness is arguably unmatched and makes her stand out. We doubt that a sophomore slump will impact a generational talent like Bahl in 2023.

2023 NCAA Division I Preseason All-Americans

SA's 2023 NCAA Preseason All-Americans include the most elite Division I softball players at the start of the season.