Two Texas Longhorns softball stars are making a serious push for national hardware. Teagan Kavan and Katie Stewart have been named top 25 finalists for USA Softball's Collegiate Player of the Year—and both have built compelling cases to bring the trophy home to Austin.
On the mound, Kavan has been nothing short of dominant. The Iowa native has logged a team-high 141.1 innings this season, posting a sharp 2.87 ERA while striking out 169 batters. She ranks among the nation's top ten in wins (18) and complete games (12), and her resume includes a no-hitter against Incarnate Word on March 1. For Kavan, this is familiar territory—she was also a finalist for the award last year and has followed up with another brilliant stretch.
At the plate, Stewart has been a human highlight reel. The junior from Lincoln-Way East is batting an eye-popping .468 across 47 games, with 61 RBIs and 30 extra-base hits—including 24 home runs. She currently ranks in the top ten nationally in both slugging percentage and home runs per game, making her one of the most feared hitters in college softball.
Over the next few weeks, both players will look to finish the regular season strong and solidify their case with voters. If either Kavan or Stewart takes home the honor, they'll join an elite group that includes Longhorns legend Cat Osterman—the only three-time winner in college softball history.
Of course, winning a national title remains the ultimate goal for this Texas squad. But adding a Player of the Year award to the trophy case would be a pretty sweet bonus.