LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Florida outfielder Taylor Shumaker is the 2025 NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year, the Association revealed on Tuesday evening at the 2025 NCAA Women’s College World Series banquet in Oklahoma City. A unanimous selection, Shumaker is the second Gator to win the award, joining 2016 recipient Amanda Lorenz, and the fourth recipient from the Southeastern Conference.
Behind a stellar freshman campaign, Shumaker has been a key component in the Gator offense and helped UF reach the Women’s College World Series in 2025. A first-team NFCA All-Region and All-SEC selection, Shumaker is tied atop Division I with 86 RBI and tied for 10th with 22 home runs to go along with a .389 batting average, 17 doubles, 72 runs scored, an .818 slugging percentage, .490 on-base percentage and 18 stolen bases in 19 attempts. She has set Florida freshman records for home runs, RBI, doubles and runs scored. So far this NCAA postseason, Shumaker is batting .500 (7-for-14) with four long balls, 10 RBI, eight runs scored and a 1.357 slugging percentage.
Joining Shumaker as finalists were the University of Oregon’s Rylee McCoy and University of Alabama’s Audrey Vandagriff. The winner was voted by the Association’s Division I All-America Committee.
The NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created in 2014 to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes. In 2025, the NFCA will award Freshman of the Year plaudits to a student-athlete from NCAA DI, NCAA DII, NCAA DIII and NAIA. For more information about all NFCA Awards, visit nfca.org.
NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Winners
2025 – Taylor Shumaker, Florida; 2024 – Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State; 2023 – NiJaree Canady, Stanford; 2022 – Jordy Bahl, Oklahoma; 2021 – Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma; 2019 – Danielle Williams, Northwestern; 2018 – Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma; 2017 – Rachel Garcia, UCLA; 2016 – Amanda Lorenz, Florida; 2015 – Paige Parker, Oklahoma; 2014 – Annie Aldrete, Tennessee & Kasey Cooper, Auburn
NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded NFCA Freshman of the Year Awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to a comprehensive drills database, to in-person events and National Convention.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining over 7,000 coaches today!
