Texas Softball Lands Elite Arm in Former No. 1 Pitcher Sophia Bordi
The Texas Longhorns just added some serious firepower to their future pitching rotation. Head coach Mike White announced the addition of right-handed pitcher Sophia Bordi to the program on Friday-one of the most decorated young arms in the country and a name that’s been on the radar of college softball fans for years.
Bordi arrives in Austin with a résumé that reads like a highlight reel. She was ranked as the No. 1 pitcher in the 2026 recruiting class and is a two-time Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year. And it’s not just the accolades-her numbers and performances in big moments tell the story of a player built for the spotlight.
“We're excited to add Sophia to our program as she is an exceptional athlete as both a pitcher and hitter,” White said. “She won national championships at the club level for the Orange County Batbusters. Her drive and competitiveness will add to our already deep pitching staff.”
That "deep pitching staff" just got a whole lot deeper.
A native of Merchantville, New Jersey, Bordi originally reclassified and enrolled early at Oklahoma before the 2025 season, where she redshirted. Now, she’s made the move to Texas, though she won’t be eligible to compete until the 2027 season due to midyear transfer rules. That gives her time to settle into the program, get acclimated, and prepare to make an impact when she finally takes the field in burnt orange.
Texas pitching coach Pattie Ruth Taylor echoed the excitement, noting Bordi’s raw power and competitive mindset. “She will bring a lot of power from the right side, and we are excited to see her career unfold as a Longhorn,” Taylor said.
It’s easy to see why the Longhorns are thrilled. Bordi’s high school career at Haddon Heights was nothing short of dominant.
She led her team to back-to-back New Jersey state championships, earning MVP honors both times. In the 2023 title game, she threw a 16-strikeout perfect game-yes, perfect-retiring all 21 batters she faced in a 3-0 win.
The year before? A 20-strikeout no-hitter in the championship.
Across those two state finals, she didn’t allow a single hit and racked up 36 strikeouts in 14 innings.
Her postseason numbers are the stuff of legend: four perfect games as a sophomore, just three runs allowed in 94 postseason innings, and 195 strikeouts. That’s dominance on a different level.
Bordi’s success wasn’t limited to the high school scene. On the travel ball circuit, she played for the powerhouse OC Batbusters Stith and helped lead them to national titles, earning Co-MVP honors at the Alliance National Championship.
She was a three-time first-team all-state and all-conference selection, and her ability to deliver in high-pressure moments has already set her apart as a next-level competitor. For a Texas program that’s been building toward national contention, Bordi’s arrival adds another key piece to the puzzle.
And if the name sounds familiar to Longhorn fans, it should. Bordi has burnt orange in her blood.
Her mother, Danielle Strader-Bordi, was a 13-time NCAA All-American swimmer at Texas and won the 1997 Big 12 title in the 100 fly. Now, Sophia is set to carry on the family legacy-this time from the circle.
With a blend of power, poise, and pedigree, Bordi is shaping up to be a major force for Texas Softball. The only downside?
Fans will have to wait until 2027 to see her in action. But if her past is any indication, it’ll be well worth the wait.