BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2025 SWAC Softball Preseason selections and Predicted Order of Finish on Monday morning with Jackson State and Prairie View A&M tabbed as league favorites heading into the upcoming season. The preseason polls and team selections were voted upon by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
 
Jackson State was picked to finish in 1^st place in the SWAC’s Eastern Division. The Lady Tigers tallied 10 first place points and 108 total points. Florida A&M (2^nd), Bethune-Cookman (3^rd), Alabama State (4^th), Alabama A&M (5^th), and Mississippi Valley State (6^th) round out the list of SWAC East Preseason selections.
 
Prairie View A&M was tabbed to finish in 1^st place in the SWAC’s Western Division. The Lady Panthers amassed a league leading 14 first place votes and 107 total points. Texas Southern (2^nd), Southern (3^rd), Grambling State (4^th), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (5^th), and Alcorn State (6^th) highlight SWAC West Preseason selections.

Prairie View A&M’s Mia Nunez was tabbed Preseason Player of the Year while Florida A&M’s Zoryana Hughes was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

Nunez has been a key member of the Lady Panthers softball team. Last season she averaged .378 after playing in all 45 games of the season. She went to bat 135 times with 38 runs scored, 51 hits, 11 doubles, two triples, six home runs, and 42 RBIs to lead the team. Nunez also had a .951 fielding percentage during regular season play.

Hughes was the top pitcher for the Rattlers and the most winningest in the SWAC, as she had the most SWAC wins with 11. She only had three losses for the season and one loss in SWAC play. Hughes contributed a SWAC ERA of 0.94 and an opponent batting average of .219.

The 2025 SWAC Softball regular season is set to begin this week with league teams returning to action. The SWAC Softball Tournament will be held May 6-9 (*May 10 if necessary) at the Gulfport Sportsplex located in Gulfport, Miss.
 
A complete listing of preseason poll rankings and preseason team selections is listed below.

SWAC Softball Predicted Order of Finish

East Division

1. Jackson State- 108 points (10) 
2. Florida A&M- 88 points (5)
3. Bethune-Cookman- 85 points (3)
4. Alabama State- 81 points (3)
5. Alabama A&M- 44 points (3)
6. Mississippi Valley State- 28 points  

West Division

1. Prairie View A&M- 107 points (14)
2. Texas Southern- 86 points (2)
3. Southern- 72 points (2)
4. Grambling State- 70 points (4)
5. Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 45 points
6. Alcorn State- 39 points (2)

* First place votes listed in parenthesis ( )

Preseason All-SWAC Softball Team and Individual Awards
 
Preseason Player of the Year
Mia Nunez, Prairie View A&M
 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Zoryana Hughes, Florida A&M 
 
Preseason First Team
C – Karisma Garcia, Texas Southern
1B – Brianna Duggins, Florida A&M
2B – Alana Mark, Southern
SS – Julie Lopez, Jackson State
3B – Jace Jackson, Jackson State
OF – Mia Nunez, Prairie View A&M
OF – Paris Johnson, Texas Southern
OF – Mari Stephens, Jackson State
P – Zoryana Hughes, Florida A&M
P – Kayla Adams, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
P – Halyne Gonzalez, Bethune-Cookman
DP – Alana Mark, Southern

Preseason Second Team
C – Thais Uyema, Bethune-Cookman
1B – Meah Almaraz, Jackson State
2B – Jessica Alaan, Bethune-Cookman
SS – Briana Velazquez, Bethune-Cookman
3B – Aniya Canty, Florida A&M
OF – Dakota Daniel, Alabama A&M
OF – Kamryn Broussard, Grambling State
OF – Asia George, Southern
P – Samantha Smith, Florida A&M
P – Cailin Massey, Prairie View A&M
P – Erin Gibbs, Grambling State
DP – Brooke Ramsey, Alabama State

About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
 
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.