Duke University's softball program is making headlines again, and it's not just about football or basketball season. Senior infielder Aminah Vega has been named a top 25 finalist for the 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award—marking her second consecutive nomination for the sport's highest individual honor in NCAA Division I.
Vega has been the offensive engine for the No. 11 ranked Blue Devils all season, leading the team in five major hitting categories. Her batting average sits at an impressive .469, a testament to her consistency and power at the plate. But she's not just having a great season—she's rewriting Duke's record books. The Florida native already holds the program's career doubles record with 66, and she ranks second all-time in hits (291) and home runs (52) over her four years in Durham.
A two-time ACC Player of the Week, Vega joins North Carolina's Emily LeGette and Florida State's Isa Torres as the only ACC representatives on the prestigious list. The award is voted on by past winners, coaches, and media who follow Division I softball closely.
The selection process will narrow to 10 finalists on May 13, then to three on May 18, with the winner announced just before the Women's College World Series kicks off May 28 in Oklahoma City. For now, Vega and the Blue Devils are focused on the ACC Softball Championship, running May 6-9 at the University of Virginia.
Whether you're a Duke fan or just love seeing elite softball talent rise, Aminah Vega is a name to watch as the postseason heats up.