The 2024 softball season was eventful for the Longhorns. The team found success, winning the Big 12 Conference championship, beating No. 1 Oklahoma and making a run to the Women’s College World Series Final as the No. 1 overall seed. However, the season ended in heartbreak, falling short with a 0-2 series loss to rival Oklahoma.
After a long offseason and fall campaign, the Texas Longhorns will take the field in early February. Here are the players to keep an eye on throughout the season once Texas returns to the diamond:
Reese Atwood, junior catcher/designated player:
Atwood has been exceptional for her first two seasons with the Longhorns, filling an award closet with a lot of hardware. Tallying up 34 home runs and 133 RBIs in just two seasons, Atwood earned the Big 12 Player of the Year award in 2024 paired with a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection. Poised for an even bigger junior season, Atwood enters as a preseason First Team All-American and is ranked third overall in the nation by Softball America.
Teagan Kavan, sophomore pitcher:
Kavan rose to prominence during her first year with Texas, becoming a key contributor in the circle for the Longhorns and ending the year with a pitching record of 20-3 and an ERA of 2.20. The pitcher earned the Big 12 Freshman of the Year award and an All-Big 12 First Team selection after her stellar freshman campaign. Kavan enters her sophomore season as a preseason All-American and is 12th in the country according to Softball America.
Joley Mitchell, graduate infielder:
Mitchell is entering her third year in the program after transferring from Notre Dame, where she picked up All-ACC honors. Mitchell’s transfer to Texas allows her to continue her path of success, batting an average of .360 and eight home runs in two seasons with the Longhorns. Mitchell ranks as the 83rd overall player, according to D1 softball’s preseason rankings entering the 2025 season.
Kaydee Bennett, junior transfer infielder:
Before arriving at Texas, Bennett spent time at Abilene Christian University and Texas A&M-Commerce. Bennett had relative success at both stops in her career, totaling a .377 batting average to go along with 61 runs. Bennett earned a First Team All-WAC selection at ACU and an All-Southland conference performer with her time at A&M-Commerce. Now a junior, Bennett will look to replicate her success with the Longhorns as she previously has with other programs.
Cambria Salmon, freshman pitcher:
Salmon comes into Texas as a highly touted recruit from Beaumont, California. The third-ranked pitcher in the country — according to Extra Inning Softball — Salmon is a part of the Freshman Watch Lists by D1 Softball and Softball America. Salmon concluded a stellar high school career with an ERA of .88, a combined record of 50–15 and 1,006 strikeouts. Salmon is also reliable at the plate, with a .388 batting average and 27 home runs.