WICHITA, Kan. - Sydney McKinney's resume added another accolade Wednesday after being named one of 25 finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.
The Norborne, Mo., native ranks second in the nation in hits, fifth in total bases and runs per game and sixth in batting average. Following an All-American campaign in 2021, McKinney has exceeded last year's record-setting numbers. She's hitting .477/.524/.864 with 4 triples, 10 doubles, 11 home runs, 29 RBI, 45 runs and 10 stolen bases. McKinney is on pace to shatter several single season records that she set just a season ago.
McKinney was named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List prior to the season before making the cut at 25. Considered the most distinguished individual honor in Division I college softball, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award recognizes outstanding athletic achievement by Division I female collegiate softball players from across the country.
The Top 25 Finalists represent 20 NCAA Division I universities and six athletic conferences with six member-schools from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with five, the Pac-12 with three and the Big 12, American Athletic Conference (AAC) and Big Ten each with two schools apiece. The University of Oklahoma leads the way with four athletes represented while UCLA and Arizona State are each highlighted by two athletes followed by Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, South Florida, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Washington, Wichita State and Wisconsin each represented by one athlete.
The Top 25 Finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be narrowed to 10 Finalists – released May 4 – before the Top 3 Finalists are revealed May 18. The 2022 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be announced prior to the NCAA Women's College World Series, which is slated for June 2-10 at the Softball Capital of the World®.
Along with recognizing the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, USA Softball also enters its 20thseason of presenting the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll which is released on Tuesdays during the regular season. Follow along with Division I NCAA Softball all season long at
USASoftball.com.
