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Gallant, Runco and White Earn All-BIG EAST First Team Honors

Story Links NEW YORK – After earning the third seed and the program’s ninth straight berth in a BIG EAST Tournament with a sweep last weekend, Villanova softball picked up a trio of all-conference honors as Kat Gallant, Maranda Runco and Kelsey White were each named to the All-BIG EAST First Team. […]

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1 month ago

May 7, 2025

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NEW YORK – After earning the third seed and the program’s ninth straight berth in a BIG EAST Tournament with a sweep last weekend, Villanova softball picked up a trio of all-conference honors as Kat Gallant, Maranda Runco and Kelsey White were each named to the All-BIG EAST First Team.

White was unanimously selected to her first career all-conference list in the First Team’s utility/pitcher slot, earning the top dual-threat honor among league players.

The senior allowed the fewest hits and runs in conference games among qualified pitchers, and was the only eligible pitcher not to allow a home run in BIG EAST play. The Taunton, Mass., product is sixth in the league for opposing batting average and eighth in earned run average at 3.73.

At the plate, White notched career bests across the board with a .263 average, 35 hits, 28 runs scored, eight home runs and a team-high nine doubles. The everyday starting left fielder when not pitching, the senior accumulated a .979 fielding percentage with 75 putouts and 18 assists on the year in addition to a number of highlight reel catches.

Gallant received her second career All-BIG EAST accolade but her first nod on the conference’s top team after assuming the ace role of the Villanova pitching staff in her junior year.

The Connecticut native led the league with a 1.84 earned run average in conference games, coming in third for wins (eight) and fewest walks allowed (13) while striking out 52 batters in 76 innings against BIG EAST competition for the third highest mark in the league for both.

The junior led Villanova’s staff in nearly every category, tossing over 130 innings with a 1.32 WHIP, 15 complete games and a BAA below .290 with 13 total wins.

Runco burst onto the scene in her first season as a regular contributor for the ‘Cats, picking up her first career honor after placing on the All-BIG EAST First Team as the top designated player in the league. The sophomore paced the conference in slugging percentage (1.029, only BE player above 1.000) and home runs in BIG EAST play (12, set a conference single season record).

The Scranton area native led Villanova with a .370 average overall, totaling team bests in home runs (18, tied program single season record), runs batted in (44), walks (24) and total bases (24). Runco finished in the BIG EAST’s top five for on-base percentage (second), total bases (third) and batting average (fifth).

Gallant, Runco, White and the Wildcats begin postseason play on Wednesday afternoon, taking on the #6 seed Providence Friars at 3:00 p.m. from the Villanova Softball Complex.

2025 BIG EAST SOFTBALL AWARDS

Player of the Year: Grace Jenkins, Jr., C, UConn

Pitcher of the Year: Ana Serafinko, Jr., P, St. John’s

Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Ashten Pierson, So., SS, Creighton & London Jarrard, Sr., SS, St. John’s

Freshman of the Year: Cat Petteys, Fr., SS, UConn

Coaching Staff of the Year: St. John’s

All-BIG EAST First Team^

Sydney Carter, Sr., 2B, Butler

Cate Lehner, Jr., OF, Butler*

Kaitlyn Breslin, So., OF, UConn

Rosie Garcia, Sr., 3B, UConn*

Grace Jenkins, Jr., C, UConn*

Payton Kinney, Gr., P, UConn

Cat Petteys, Fr., SS, UConn

Sydney Potter, So.,1B, Creighton

Sydra Seville, Sr., OF, Creighton

Loreley Francia, Jr., P, St. John’s

Ana Serafinko, Jr., P, St. John’s

Kat Gallant, Jr., P, Villanova

Maranda Runco, So., DP, Villanova

Kelsey White, Sr., UT/P, Villanova*

All-BIG EAST Second Team^

Lexi Hastings, Sr., OF, UConn

Hope Jenkins, Jr., P, UConn

Kaelan Schultz, So., DP, Creighton

Lily West, Jr., C, Creighton

Baylee Cosgrove, Sr., 2B, DePaul

Victoria Grifone, Gr., P, Providence

Elisa Smith, Jr., OF, Providence

Jess Bianco, Jr., OF, St. John’s

London Jarrard, Sr., SS, St. John’s

Madison Konopka, Fr., 3B, St. John’s

Kelsey Carr, Gr., DP, Seton Hall

Olivia Gilbert, Sr., 1B, Seton Hall

Caroline Hobbes, Jr., 2B, Seton Hall

Kyra Kreuscher, Jr., P, Seton Hall

* Denotes a unanimous selection

^ Denotes a tie in voting

Keep up with the Villanova University softball program through social media by following on X formerly known as Twitter (@VUSoftball) and Instagram (@novasoftball) and ‘liking’ on Facebook (/VUSoftball).

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28 minutes ago

June 8, 2025

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6 Wisconsin Badgers who deserve NIL backpay from $2.8 billion NCAA settlement

The NCAA’s landmark settlement in the House case included a pool of roughly $2.8 billion to be set aside for former college athletes who weren’t allowed to be compensated for their name, image and likeness. The backpay is only for athletes who played between 2016 and 2024, dating back to a strong stretch for the […]

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54 minutes ago

June 8, 2025

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Wisconsin Badgers star running back Jonathan Taylor is powerful / RICK WOOD/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Wisconsin Badgers running back Corey Clement (6) finds an opening against Iowa — Wisconsin Badgers star running back Jonathan Taylor is powerful / RICK WOOD/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC

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Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady Inks Another Historic Seven-Figure NIL Deal

Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady has signed her second seven-figure name NIL deal, securing her place in Lubbock for the future. The agreement was confirmed Friday by ESPN via her manager, Derrick Shelby of Prestige Management. The new NIL arrangement comes through the Matador Club, Texas Tech’s donor-driven collective, and was finalized just hours before […]

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1 hour ago

June 8, 2025

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The new NIL arrangement comes through the Matador Club, Texas Tech’s donor-driven collective, and was finalized just hours before Canady was set to take the mound in Game 3 of the Women’s College World Series championship series against Texas.

The Red Raiders lost the decisive Game 3 to Texas 10-4 on Friday night.

Canady transferred from Stanford following the 2023 season is coming off her third consecutive WCWS appearance. She previously signed a landmark deal with Texas Tech in 2024 that included $1 million in direct payments and $50K for living expenses. This year’s agreement also surpasses the million-dollar mark, though specific terms have not been disclosed.

“She’s box office,” Shelby told ESPN. “This program has taken care of her. Tonight she’s playing for a national championship and making history.”

Canady’s presence on the mound has been key for the Red Raiders. She led the nation with 34 wins and a 0.97 ERA during the regular season, and has thrown every pitch for Texas Tech in the WCWS. In the series, she delivered a gutsy six-inning performance in Game 1’s 2-1 loss and followed it with a complete-game, seven-inning outing in Thursday’s 4-3 Game 2 win.

The Topeka, Kansas, native earned the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award in 2024 and is a multiple-time All-American. A national championship would be a fitting capstone to her storied collegiate career.

With her latest NIL deal, Canady becomes one of the highest-paid athletes in college softball history.

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Tom Izzo rejects narrative tied to his NIL, transfer portal views

Tom Izzo has been outspoken on his feelings toward the transfer portal and NIL in the past. His comments has seemingly earned the longtime Michigan State head coach a reputation that he may be against the way college athletics is headed. Izzo has pushed back on this notion in the past. On-hand for new Spartans […]

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1 hour ago

June 8, 2025

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Tom Izzo has been outspoken on his feelings toward the transfer portal and NIL in the past. His comments has seemingly earned the longtime Michigan State head coach a reputation that he may be against the way college athletics is headed.

Izzo has pushed back on this notion in the past. On-hand for new Spartans athletic director J Batt’s introductory press conference, Izzo cleared the air on his perspective about the current state of college athletics. If anything, it appears he’s more worried about what happens to his players after they leave his program.

“People act like I don’t accept it, or I’m old school, and that’s a crock,” Izzo said. “I understand where we are, but I also understand what I think is best for a student athlete. We have not yet seen these guys that are making money and all of a sudden go back to $50,000 jobs. What it’s going to do? … I get sick of people acting like I don’t want to embrace it. But I want to do what’s right for the student athlete.

“I’m all for it, but it’s also going to be right for the program. It’s going to be right for the university, and it’s got to be right for the future.”

Michigan State did dip its feet into the transfer portal this offseason. Trey Fort committed to Michigan State from Samford following Bucky McMillan’s departure for the Texas A&M job. And then Kaleb Glenn will play for the Spartans next year after previously being in Boca Raton at FAU. Divine Ugochukwu transferred in from Miami as well.

This may be out of necessity given the Spartans lost multiple players to the transfer portal this offseason. However, that’s the nature of college athletics in its current landscape. Izzo concluded with a parting message to his critics on the subject.

“And all the people that are saying that I don’t want to embrace it, they’re not relationship based,” Izzo continued. “I wouldn’t give up the relationships I have, from Magic Johnson to Charlie [Bell], you know, I’ve hired like, six of my former players.

“Is that going to happen if guys come for a year and then leave, it’s not good. So watch what we wish for. Let’s figure it out. Everything moves so fast. I want to embrace what’s right for everybody to be successful, not for one year or two years, but for a lifetime.”

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All-American Catcher Jazzy Burns Transfers to Texas Tech

Share Tweet Share Share Email When Texas Tech added star pitcher NiJaree Canady last offseason through the transfer portal, just about everyone could see the immediate impact she was set to have in Lubbock. After falling short of hoisting the National Championship trophy this year, the Red Raiders are reloading for another postseason run, this […]

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1 hour ago

June 8, 2025

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