Kenzie Brown Named to USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List, Continuing ASU’s Legacy of Elite Arms
In a nod to one of the most dominant pitching performances in college softball last season, Arizona State’s Kenzie Brown has earned a spot on the 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List. The announcement, made Wednesday afternoon, marks a major milestone for the Sun Devil ace - and a return to national prominence for ASU Softball.
Brown becomes the first Sun Devil to make the prestigious list since 2021, when Kindra Hackbarth earned the nod before her final season in Tempe. She now joins an elite group of ASU greats to be recognized by USA Softball, including Hackbarth, Amber Freeman, Cheyenne Coyle, Dallas Escobedo, Katelyn Boyd, Kaitlin Cochran and Katie Burkhart - names that still echo through Farrington Stadium.
Standing 5-foot-11 and throwing right-handed, Brown isn’t just on the list - she’s earned it the hard way. Last season, she didn’t just lead her team; she towered over most of Division I. Her 19 wins across 35 appearances anchored the Sun Devils’ pitching staff, but it was the strikeouts that turned heads.
Brown racked up 289 punchouts - the fourth-highest total in the country and second-best in the Big 12. That’s not just dominance, that’s a pitcher taking over games on a regular basis. Her 11.60 strikeouts per seven innings ranked second nationally and led the conference, a stat that speaks volumes about her ability to control every at-bat.
And when she was at her best? She was untouchable.
On March 6 against BYU, Brown tied the program’s single-game strikeout record with 18 Ks - a performance that belongs in any highlight reel. It was one of 13 games last year where she posted double-digit strikeouts, showing that her dominance wasn’t just a one-off, but a season-long statement.
By year’s end, the accolades followed. Brown was named a First Team All-American by the NFCA, and earned Second Team honors from both D1Softball and Softball America. Those honors didn’t just validate her numbers - they confirmed what anyone watching already knew: she’s one of the best in the game.
Brown is one of 10 Big 12 players to make the Top 50 Watch List, a strong showing for a conference that continues to produce elite-level talent. Only the SEC had more players recognized, with 24 selections. The Big Ten and ACC followed closely behind with nine apiece, while Coastal Carolina was the lone representative from the Sun Belt.
Looking ahead, the path to the Collegiate Player of the Year award will narrow over the next few months. The Top 25 finalists will be named on April 29, followed by the Top 10 on May 13 and the final three on May 18. The winner will be announced just before the Women’s College World Series kicks off.
For now, Brown has firmly planted her flag among the nation’s best. And if her 2025 campaign looks anything like last season, she won’t just stay on the list - she’ll be in the thick of the conversation when the award is handed out.