The race for MaxPreps National Player of the Year is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, fueled by a remarkable group of candidates putting together historic seasons across the country.
Stars on the nation's top teams, dominant two-way players and hitters delivering eye-popping power numbers headline our short list of high school softball's best.
Read on for a look at past winners as well as 10 leading candidates for the 2026 honor.
Past MaxPreps National Players of the Year2010 — Kasey Fagan,
Dunnellon (Fla.)2011 — Paige McDuffee,
The Woodlands (Texas)2012 — Kenzie Conrad,
Keystone (La Grange, Ohio)2013 — Casey Stangel,
Lake City (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho)2014 — Johanna Grauer,
Amador Valley (Pleasanton, Calif.)2015 — Tannon Snow,
Chino Hills (Calif.)2016 — Caroline Hedgecock,
Downers Grove South (Downers Grove, Ill.)2017 — Taylor Dockins,
Norco (Calif.)2018 — Montana Fouts,
East Carter (Grayson, Ky.)2019 — Sydney Supple,
Oshkosh North (Oshkosh, Wis.)2020 — No selection due to pandemic
2021 — Jordyn Bahl,
Papillion-LaVista (Papillion, Neb.) / Sophia Simpson,
Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas)2022 — Keagan Rothrock,
Roncalli (Indianapolis, Ind.)2023 — Ava Brown,
Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)2024 — Jordan Heavener,
Pace (Fla.)2025 — Hannah Wells,
Coahoma (Texas)
Listed alphabetically
Lydia Berent, Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)Berent is nearly unhittable in Florida with a 0.58 ERA and 19-1 record. The Stanford signee has also produced 26 RBI for the No. 22 team in the country.
Baylor Bockhaus, Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.)The No. 2 team in the country scores more than 10 runs per game and this sophomore is a big reason why. In 36 games, Bockhaus has 20 home runs, 68 RBI and a .490 batting average.
Macie Bryant, Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas)The junior LSU commit leads the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Top 25 with a 24-0 record, 274 strikeouts and a 0.31 ERA. She handed No. 3 Lake Creek its only loss of the season and threw a no-hitter against No. 17 Kingwood.
McLaine Hudson, South Warren (Bowling Green, Ky.)Helped orchestrate an upset of then-No. 1 Orange Beach by getting three hits with two doubles against one of the best Class of 2028 pitchers in the nation. The senior is headed to Florida State and has a .755 batting average with 20 bombs on the nation's No. 7-ranked team.
Taylor Johns, Palo Verde (Las Vegas, Nev.)Georgia signee has helped the Panthers to a 17-1 record heading into the postseason. She hits for power with 18 home runs and holds a .706 batting average for the top team in Nevada.
Katie King, Orange Beach (Ala.)The senior is looking to end her career with six straight state championships. Headed to Arkansas, King is batting .566 with 49 RBI and 14 home runs for the No. 5 team in the nation.
Ayla Tuua, Destiny Christian Academy (Sacramento, Calif.)Possibly the best two-way player in the nation, the senior LSU signee hits an astounding .672 with 59 RBI and 14 home runs despite teams pitching around her. In the circle, Tuua has a microscopic 0.29 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 48 innings for the No. 14-ranked team.
Sara Wiggins, Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)The future Wichita State Shocker delivers with the bat and her arm. In the circle the senior has a perfect 24-0 record and 163 strikeouts. Wiggins has power in the batter's box with five home runs and a .522 batting average on the No. 3 team in the nation.
Coral Williams, Norco (Calif.)A five-star junior, Williams has an 11-1 record with a 0.70 ERA. In 80 innings the UCLA commit has 108 strikeouts for the nation's No. 9-ranked team.
Finlee Williams, Melissa (Texas)Headed to Oklahoma, Williams bats .610 with 19 home runs for the No. 4 team in the nation. The junior is riding a 21-game hitting streak and has the Cardinals rolling in the postseason once again.
