l-r: Megan Grant, Kaitlyn Terry, Taylor Tinsley and Jordan Woolery
Four Bruins Named to USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List
January 22, 2025 | Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. โ Utility Megan Grant, infielder Jordan Woolery and pitchers Kaitlyn Terry and Taylor Tinsley on the No. 6-ranked UCLA softball team were named to the 2025 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List, it was announced Wednesday morning. The list is comprised of 53 student-athletes from 26 universities.
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UCLA's four selections are tied for third-most in terms of representation, trailing only Oklahoma and Florida with five apiece. UCLA is also one of two programs (Oklahoma) with multiple pitchers on the Watch List. This marks the second straight year Grant and Woolery have appeared on the Watch List. ย
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Recognized as the most distinguished individual honor in NCAA Division I Softball, two Bruins have received the honor a total of three times. Rachel Garcia was a back-to-back winner of the award following the 2018 and 2019 seasons and Stacey Nuveman won the award in 2002. Six UCLA student-athletes have been a Top 3 Finalist for the award a total of nine times, most recently accomplished by Maya Brady in 2023.
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Grant was named to the All-Pac-12 and NFCA West All-Region First Teams for a second consecutive year in 2024. The left-handed-hitting utility ranked third on the Bruins' squad and first among returners with a .335 batting average (56-for-167), 30 extra-base hits and 41 runs batted in. Grant enters her third season with 23 home runs and 99 RBI in her career.
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Terry and Tinsley proved to be one of the best pitching tandems in the country last year, helping guide UCLA back to the Women's College World Series for an NCAA-record 32nd time. In the Bruins' eight NCAA Tournament games, Terry and Tinsley pitched two shutouts, allowed just one run in four different contests and totaled a 1.71 earned run average over 49.0 innings. On the season, the two All-Pac-12 First Team selections pitched 329.1 of 355.0 total innings and recorded a combined 2.16 ERA with 327 strikeouts.
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Terry was awarded Pac-12 Freshman of the Year after leading the staff with a 21-3 record and 182.0 innings pitched and ranking second in the Pac-12 with six shutouts. Tinsley led the Bruins' arms with a 1.90 ERA and 166 strikeouts.
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Woolery earned All-Pac-12 First Team recognition for a second straight year in 2024 after totaling a .314 batting average (50-for-159), .400 on-base percentage, 36 RBI and 20 runs scored. The Walnut Creek, Calif. native was one of four Bruins to start all 55 games. She enters her junior campaign with a career .353 average, 20 home runs and 19 doubles.
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The Top 25 Finalists for the 2025 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced on Wednesday, April 30. While an athlete does not have to be on the Watch List to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 Finalists. The Top 10 Finalists will be revealed on Wednesday, May 14, and the Top 3 will be released on Monday, May 19. The 2025 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be announced prior to the NCAA Women's College World Series.
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UCLA's Preseason Recognition
Softball America Preseason All-Americans
Taylor Tinsley, Second Team
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D1Softball Preseason All-Americans
Megan Grant, Second Team
Kaitlyn Terry, Second Team
Taylor Tinsley, Second Team
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USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List
Megan Grant
Kaitlyn Terry
Taylor Tinsley
Jordan Woolery
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UCLA opens the 2025 season on Thursday, Feb. 6 versus Cal State Fullerton at 6 p.m. (PT) at Easton Stadium. Single-game tickets are now available for purchase at thisย link.
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UCLA's four selections are tied for third-most in terms of representation, trailing only Oklahoma and Florida with five apiece. UCLA is also one of two programs (Oklahoma) with multiple pitchers on the Watch List. This marks the second straight year Grant and Woolery have appeared on the Watch List. ย
ย
Recognized as the most distinguished individual honor in NCAA Division I Softball, two Bruins have received the honor a total of three times. Rachel Garcia was a back-to-back winner of the award following the 2018 and 2019 seasons and Stacey Nuveman won the award in 2002. Six UCLA student-athletes have been a Top 3 Finalist for the award a total of nine times, most recently accomplished by Maya Brady in 2023.
ย
Grant was named to the All-Pac-12 and NFCA West All-Region First Teams for a second consecutive year in 2024. The left-handed-hitting utility ranked third on the Bruins' squad and first among returners with a .335 batting average (56-for-167), 30 extra-base hits and 41 runs batted in. Grant enters her third season with 23 home runs and 99 RBI in her career.
ย
Terry and Tinsley proved to be one of the best pitching tandems in the country last year, helping guide UCLA back to the Women's College World Series for an NCAA-record 32nd time. In the Bruins' eight NCAA Tournament games, Terry and Tinsley pitched two shutouts, allowed just one run in four different contests and totaled a 1.71 earned run average over 49.0 innings. On the season, the two All-Pac-12 First Team selections pitched 329.1 of 355.0 total innings and recorded a combined 2.16 ERA with 327 strikeouts.
ย
Terry was awarded Pac-12 Freshman of the Year after leading the staff with a 21-3 record and 182.0 innings pitched and ranking second in the Pac-12 with six shutouts. Tinsley led the Bruins' arms with a 1.90 ERA and 166 strikeouts.
ย
Woolery earned All-Pac-12 First Team recognition for a second straight year in 2024 after totaling a .314 batting average (50-for-159), .400 on-base percentage, 36 RBI and 20 runs scored. The Walnut Creek, Calif. native was one of four Bruins to start all 55 games. She enters her junior campaign with a career .353 average, 20 home runs and 19 doubles.
ย
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2025 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced on Wednesday, April 30. While an athlete does not have to be on the Watch List to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 Finalists. The Top 10 Finalists will be revealed on Wednesday, May 14, and the Top 3 will be released on Monday, May 19. The 2025 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be announced prior to the NCAA Women's College World Series.
ย
UCLA's Preseason Recognition
Softball America Preseason All-Americans
Taylor Tinsley, Second Team
ย
D1Softball Preseason All-Americans
Megan Grant, Second Team
Kaitlyn Terry, Second Team
Taylor Tinsley, Second Team
ย
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List
Megan Grant
Kaitlyn Terry
Taylor Tinsley
Jordan Woolery
ย
UCLA opens the 2025 season on Thursday, Feb. 6 versus Cal State Fullerton at 6 p.m. (PT) at Easton Stadium. Single-game tickets are now available for purchase at thisย link.
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Players Mentioned
SS
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
P/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
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