NIL
Six Bulldogs Earn All-Conference USA Softball Honors
Story Links RUSTON – Six Louisiana Tech softball players earned All-Conference USA honors as announced by the league on Tuesday. A trio of Bulldogs were named to the All-CUSA First Team in Allie Floyd, Nicole Hammoude, and Reagan Marchant. Alexis Gilio earned second-team honors, while freshmen Elena Heng and […]

RUSTON – Six Louisiana Tech softball players earned All-Conference USA honors as announced by the league on Tuesday. A trio of Bulldogs were named to the All-CUSA First Team in Allie Floyd, Nicole Hammoude, and Reagan Marchant.
Alexis Gilio earned second-team honors, while freshmen Elena Heng and Allie Furr were named to the CUSA All-Freshman Team.
This marks the second straight season in which the Bulldogs have earned six all-conference selections, which is tied for the fourth most in program history, trailing seven selections in 2017 and 2022 and eight in 2019.
Floyd had one of the most dominating seasons by an LA Tech pitcher in recent years as she was named to the first team. The right-hander led CUSA in wins (21), complete games (17), innings pitched (195.1), and strikeouts (177). She recorded three shutouts and was the only pitcher in the league to record more than 145 strikeouts. The Texas native earned two wins over top 25 opponents after tossing a complete game against No. 4 Oklahoma State while allowing one run on seven hits with four strikeouts. She held No. 17 Auburn to one run on one hit while striking out nine in a 5-1 complete-game victory. Floyd has had 20 games with 5+ strikeouts and became the first LA Tech pitcher since 2011 to record 150+ strikeouts in a single season. She became the program’s all-time single-season record holder with 13 CUSA wins this season, while she became the 18th Bulldog to record 20+ wins in a single season.
Hammoude has had a career year this season, increasing her numbers in every offensive category. The redshirt senior started in all 53 games at shortstop and led the team with a .353 batting average. She collected 53 hits, 11 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 42 RBI and 28 runs. Her 42 RBI rank seventh in CUSA. The second-year Bulldog leads the team with 29 walks and in on base percentage (.456). Hammoude has recorded 12 multi-hit games including a four-hit performance against Kennesaw State in which she drove in a season-high five runs. She has tallied 13 multi-RBI games. She put together a 24-game reached-base streak and a 10-game hitting streak earlier in the season, both of which led the team. The shortstop has recorded 73 putouts, 104 assists, and nine errors.
Marchant earned first-team honors after posting some of the best offensive numbers among all players in CUSA such as home runs (17 – 3rd), RBI (49 – 2nd), hits (47 – 23rd), OPS (1.182 – 4th) and runs (30 – 17th). The South Carolina transfer started in 52 games in her first season as a Bulldog, including 51 at first base and one at DP. Marchant tied the program’s record for the most home runs in a single season with 17. She has registered 10 multi-hit games, including two three-hit performances, while leading the team with 16 multi-RBI contests. The redshirt sophomore drove in three runs five times. Marchant drilled two home runs against Western Kentucky while driving in three RBI. She recorded 314 putouts, seven assists and three errors at first base.
Gilio earned second-team honors after having a strong second half of the season. The Colorado native finished with the team lead in hits (55), while recording 33 runs scored, 24 RBI, seven doubles, two triples, two home runs, and 13 stolen bases. The second-year Bulldog finished with a .318 batting average and an OPS of .765. Gilio tallied 15 multi-hit games and five multi-RBI games. She drove in a season-high five runs in a win over Kennesaw. Gilio recorded 34 hits, 15 RBI, and 15 runs scored during CUSA play while batting .374. The center fielder starred in center fielder all season, recording three home run robberies. She recorded 93 putouts, three assists, and no errors for a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Furr was named to the all-freshman team after missing all last season due to injury. The redshirt freshman played in all 53 games with 45 starts. She recorded 40 starts at DP and five in right field. The Ruston native collected 39 hits, one double, one triple, 29 runs scored, and five RBI. She drew 14 walks and swiped seven bases. Furr recorded eight multi-hit games including three three-hit performances.
Heng produced right away at the top of head coach Josh Taylor‘s lineup and paced the team in hits much of the season. The true freshman from Bossier City finished second on the team with 54 hits, while leading the Bulldogs in runs scored (37), stolen bases (15), and multi-hit games (17). Heng recorded a .309 batting average and had a team-best four three-hit games. She tallied two doubles and two triples and drove in six runs. Heng started in all 53 games in left field and was perfect all season. She recorded 99 putouts, six assists and no errors.
2025 CUSA All-Conference Teams
First Team All-CUSA
C: Savannah Jessee, Liberty
C: Ansley Blevins, MTSU
DP/UT: Brynn McManus, Liberty
IF: Savanah Whatley, Liberty
IF: Nicole Hammoude, LA Tech
IF: Reagan Marchant, LA Tech
IF: Jana Want, MTSU
IF: Ajia Richard, UTEP
OF: Emma Elrod, Jax State
OF: KK Madrey, Liberty
OF: Rachel Roupe, Liberty
OF: Desirae Spearman, NM State
P: Allie Floyd, LA Tech
P: Elena Escobar, Liberty
P: Abigail Young, Sam Houston
Second Team All-CUSA
C: Macie Howes, Kennesaw State
C: Bella Perez, Sam Houston
DP/UT: Maci Masters, WKU
IF: Paige Miller, FIU
IF: Kailey Martin, Jax State
IF: Savannah Woodard, Liberty
IF: Kristiana Watson, NM State
IF: Elia Hebel, Sam Houston
OF: Kally Meredith, FIU
OF: Alexis Gilio, LA Tech
OF: Macie Harter, MTSU
OF: Jenny Robison, Sam Houston
P: Kat Carter, Jax State
P: Paige Bachman, Liberty
P: Kaylan Yoder, Liberty
CUSA All-Freshman Team
Haleigh Cushingberry, Jax State
Kailey Martin, Jax State
Jaci Underwood, Jax State
Allie Furr, LA Tech
Elena Heng, LA Tech
Leila Ammon, MTSU
Macie Harter, MTSU
Jana Want, MTSU
Tamara Carranza, NM State
Marissa Burchard, UTEP
Erica Houge, WKU
Player of the Year
Rachel Roupe, Liberty
Pitcher of the Year
Elena Escobar, Liberty
Defensive Player of the Year
Madi Mendoza, UTEP
Freshman of the Year
Jana Want, MTSU
Newcomer of the Year
Savanah Whatley, Liberty
Coach of the Year
Dot Richardson, Liberty
NIL
Texas A&M Baseball
Like all college sports, the loose transfer rules mean that athletes have the opportunity to move on to a new team in the hopes of finding a better fit for their career from year to year. Texas A&M baseball is not immune to this phenomenon, and on Friday, they saw their first public transfer announcement […]


Like all college sports, the loose transfer rules mean that athletes have the opportunity to move on to a new team in the hopes of finding a better fit for their career from year to year. Texas A&M baseball is not immune to this phenomenon, and on Friday, they saw their first public transfer announcement of a player leaving the program.
Talented junior RHP Kyrin LeBlanc announced via social media that he will be entering the 2025 transfer portal after his lone season in Aggieland. The transfer from Cisco College did not make any appearances during the season, despite an Aggie bullpen that struggled to find its footing for most of the season.
He has significant potential and has reached speeds of 100 mph with his fastball multiple times in his career. However, he has struggled with control, leading to 29 walks with 37 strikeouts before joining A&M. Below, you can see the official announcement from LeBlanc’s X account.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
NIL
Opinion
To read this story, please sign in with your email address and password. You’ve read all your free stories this month. Subscribe now for unlimited access to our stories, exclusive subscriber content, invitations to special events, and more. Sign inSubscribe Don’t have an account yet? Register here. OPINION| If you follow Division I college athletics […]


OPINION|
If you follow Division I college athletics and/or are interested in the Missouri State University Bears athletic teams, fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Are you familiar with the House v. NCAA lawsuit and the settlement agreement? House, as it is known, is one of four reasons NCAA Division I athletics is undergoing a profound shift of its organization and business model. The other three reasons are: conference realignment, the transfer portal for athletes, and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) income for athletes.
SPOILER ALERT: Navigating all of this is as complicated as it is important. Further, while each has significant challenges, it is the intersection of revenue-sharing, NIL, and the transfer portal that keeps university presidents and athletic directors up at night.
House v. NCAA lawsuit and settlement
This House lawsuit was brought in 2020 by former Arizona State swimmer Grant House and former Texas Christian University basketball player Sedona Prince against the NCAA and the power conferences: Big 10, SEC, Pac-12, ACC and Big 12. Other plaintiffs have been added along the way. Northern District of California Judge Claudia Wilken is waiting for one final element before she rules on a negotiated settlement. A good summary may be found here.
Here are some of the key elements of the proposed settlement:
Damages – $2.8 billion would be distributed to Division I athletes who couldn’t earn NIL money prior to the NCAA rule change in 2021. Some institutions have already begun taking steps in anticipation of this.
Revenue-sharing – For the first time, schools would be allowed to share a portion of their athletic department revenue with athletes over the next 10 years. The maximum distributed by any one school is set at $20.5 million, which will increase over time. Schools can participate in the revenue-sharing or not; share among all sports or some; and share among all athletes or just some. While the estimates assume sharing 22 percent of revenue, the exact percentage is voluntary — it is not a requirement, it is not a minimum, and it is not a maximum. Estimates of revenue-sharing are available here.
NIL Clearinghouse – The NCAA would establish a clearinghouse for NIL deals, with the NCAA having the ability to reject “pay for play” deals.
Roster Limits – The settlement would eliminate scholarship limits, but impose roster limits. This is the final piece before the judge rules on the settlement.
Conference realignment
The first major conference change came in 1996 when the Southwest Conference dissolved. Realignment has accelerated since then, creating a handful of super conferences. A good example is the Big 10 Conference. The last time it had 10 members was in 1989. Today, it has 18 members and should be called the “Sea To Shining Sea Conference” since it includes teams from Oregon, Washington and California to New Jersey and Maryland.
Transfer portal
The transfer portal was launched in 2018 as an organized way for athletes to move from one school to another. The portal picked up steam in 2023 when the NCAA ruled athletes could transfer and become immediately eligible, provided they met minimal academic requirements. Further, the new rule does not limit the number of times an athlete can transfer. It is the NCAA version of free agency.
Name, Image, Likeness (NIL)
NIL started in 2021, initially affecting football and men’s and women’s basketball, but since has expanded to most other sports. The NIL money is in addition to any scholarships athletes receive and it will be in addition to any revenue-sharing funds the athletes receive in the future. Supposedly, NIL is prohibited from being used for recruiting, However, not everyone buys that (pun intended). Former Auburn, NBA star and now sports commentator Charles Barkley has been quoted saying NIL has created a bidding war that is unsustainable and that not all schools can compete financially. Consider two examples:
- Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. He is expected to get a four-year deal worth $4.6 million. His NIL valuation was estimated at $6.5 million.
Rules, Laws, Accountability, Oversight, Enforcement – Barkley has reportedly called the NCAA’s handling of NIL “idiotic.” There are no national standards and no one group has oversight responsibility. In states with no oversight, the NCAA has universities write policies for their own athletes. Some state legislatures have started passing laws about NIL, but those laws are inconsistent. The federal government is now looking at NIL. There seems to be two overriding goals regarding NIL: it should not be used as a recruitment tool and schools should not compensate students directly.
Transparency, Limits and Fairness – many schools claim the details of NIL agreements are confidential, protected like other student records, causing some state legislatures to pass laws making the agreements public. So far, there are no limits on the amount of NIL money an athlete can receive, another topic for discussion.
Tax Implications – there are questions regarding taxes. What are the tax liabilities for the athletes, the individual donors, and the corporate donors?
Athletes are allowed to hire professionals to help them navigate NIL; many schools offer training and resources to athletes directly; and many have added NIL coordinators to their staffs. Most colleges have policies that require athletes to report the details of their deals to their schools, and some must get school approval before signing. Several schools reserve the right to keep their athletes from advertising certain products, like drugs and alcohol.
One thing the NCAA wants to avoid is for athletes to be categorized as employees, which could mean paying benefits and worker’s compensation as well as the potential for unions and collective bargaining.
At this point there are more questions than answers, both with revenue-sharing and NIL, which is probably why so many college administrators and coaches are hesitant to talk about it.
Next week, in Part Two that will be published June 7, I identify the additional challenges facing Missouri State University and compare the current situation to my own experiences 50 years ago.
NIL
Transfer Portal, NIL Increase Pressure on Black Coaches
The double-edged new normal in college athletics today is the transfer portal and NIL (name, image and likeness). Since it was introduced in 2019, the number of men’s and women’s basketball players in the portal has increased each year from hundreds in 2019 to thousands in 2025. College football transfers also are up. Credit: Courtesy […]

The double-edged new normal in college athletics today is the transfer portal and NIL (name, image and likeness). Since it was introduced in 2019, the number of men’s and women’s basketball players in the portal has increased each year from hundreds in 2019 to thousands in 2025. College football transfers also are up.

According to On3, which tracks portal comings and goings, over 40% of MBB players (5,607) and about 29% of WBB players (5,048) went into the 30-day portal window, which opened during March Madness and closed in late April.
In other words, the transfer portal along with NIL basically have become college sport’s free agency. Players come and go for various reasons and not always about playing time or lack thereof.
AD Advisors, a group of former college administrators, recently produced two “white papers” on the transfer portal by collecting quantitative data through interviews with coaches, administrators, athletic directors, and players for their first-hand experiences. The group also studied over 800 FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) football players dating back to 2020-21 and over 14,000 basketball players in the portal dating back to 2019.
The respective studies found that “a significant majority” of football student-athletes and basketball players who entered the portal transferred down from a Power 5 school to a non-Power 5 school, or transferred down from other conferences or did not get picked by a new school.
Furthermore, both the portal and NIL are strange bedfellows of sorts, putting more pressure on coaches to succeed. An April 16 article in Minnesota Sports Fan pointed out that NIL ultimately did in former Minnesota coach Ben Johnson, who was fired in March after four seasons.

“When Ben was hired back in 2021,” the article said, “the wide-open NCAA transfer portal was still a very new thing. So was NIL. Every year under Johnson, they ran into the same problem — not enough NIL money. Instead of improving the core of their team in the offseason, Ben and his coaches had to find underdeveloped talent in the transfer portal and use it to cobble together an underwhelming roster.
“They’d lose their best players. This is why Ben Johnson was fired,” the article said.
Kennedy D. Wells, the CEO of Achieving Coaching Excellence, told the MSR that coaches must become equally as adept at transfer portal and NIL matters as they are with the X’s and O’s.
“Black coaches specifically, and it’s not to say that they’re not,” stressed Wells, “but they need to fully embrace and immerse themselves in what is transpiring with intercollegiate athletics.
“It is important that these coaches…understand that becoming a CEO is no longer an option. It is a must when it comes to how you go about navigating your specific program. It’s important that you be proactive about asking questions of the administrators and make sure that they have dotted all the I’s and crossed all the T’s to give you the best possible opportunity to be successful.”
The last-hired-first-fired axiom that has existed for Black coaches seemingly forever is putting Black coaches on hot seats quicker than usual. “The standard now is that you should be able to improve drastically from season to season,” said Wells.
“For those that know a little bit about the coaching profession, it’s very difficult to build chemistry and things like that, which are so vital to the success of any entity let alone a women’s or men’s basketball program.
“I think it’s not a matter of [Black coaches] having to work twice as hard to be half as good,” concluded Wells. “I think everybody’s working hard, especially in the college basketball landscape. Everybody’s working hard.”
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.
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Scouting report, prediction for Texas Tech softball vs. UCLA in WCWS
Texas Tech softball practices ahead of 2025 Women’s College World Series Texas Tech softball practices ahead of 2025 Women’s College World Series OKLAHOMA CITY — Things are sure to ramp up a notch or two for the Texas Tech softball team the rest of their time in the Women’s College World Series. After besting Ole […]


Texas Tech softball practices ahead of 2025 Women’s College World Series
Texas Tech softball practices ahead of 2025 Women’s College World Series
OKLAHOMA CITY — Things are sure to ramp up a notch or two for the Texas Tech softball team the rest of their time in the Women’s College World Series.
After besting Ole Miss in a 1-0 pitcher’s duel in Thursday’s opener, the Red Raiders (51-12) now turn their attention to UCLA, the No. 9 overall seed in the 2025 NCAA softball tournament. The Bruins got a two-run walk-off home run from Jessica Clements to get by Oregon 4-2 in their first game at Devon Park.
“They’re really good,” Texas Tech head coach Gerry Glasco said of UCLA. “They’ve been here 33 times and that says a lot. This is an every-year event for them. They’re going to know how to handle the pressure. They’re going to know how to handle the moments and they’re enormously talent.”
The Red Raiders and Bruins are set to tangle at 6 p.m. Saturday on ESPN. Here are players to watch, a look at potential pitching matchups and a prediction for the winner’s bracket game.
Players to watch for Texas Tech softball vs. UCLA
UCLA: Jordan Woolery and Megan Grant
The Bruins feature a pair of heavy hitters in Jordan Woolery and Megan Grant, who are both Top 10 nationally in home runs and RBI. Entering the Women’s College World Series, Grant had mashed 25 home runs to Woolery’s 23, while Woolery, the unanimous first-team NFCA All-American at third base, was tied for the national lead with 86 RBI to Grant’s 79.
Marist is the only other team in the country to have two hitters ranked in the top 11 nationally in home runs and Texas is the only other squad to boast two of the top 10 RBI leaders in the country. The Bruins have the bats to make things interesting.
Texas Tech: NiJaree Canady and Alana Johnson
It shouldn’t be a shock that NiJaree Canady leads the Texas Tech players to watch. Now a three-time WCWS participant, Canady is plenty familiar with the pressures of Devon Park. She had no trouble in the opener against Ole Miss, striking out 10 batters in the 1-0 victory.
Alana Johnson is also familiar with the WCWS environment, though her first experience with Washington wasn’t much to write home about. She had one plate appearance as a pinch hitter and didn’t play in losses to Florida State and Stanford (Canady’s old team). She made the most of her return Thursday by delivering a double that resulted in the only run of the game.
Pitching matchup for Texas Tech softball vs. UCLA in WCWS
Canady (31-5) will get the ball again for Texas Tech, and the nation’s leader in ERA (now at 0.86) doesn’t need a ton of run support to get the Red Raiders to the victory.
Texas Tech, though, will have to get a few runs across against the UCLA pitching staff. The Bruins used Katilyn Terry all seven innings in the win over Oregon. They could turn to the sophomore again, but also have junior Taylor Tinsley (15-4, 2.42 ERA) and freshman Addisen Fisher (16-2, 2.59 ERA) to utilize as well.
Texas Tech softball vs. UCLA score prediction
Texas Tech 3, UCLA 2: The key for the Red Raiders will be to generate runs and get some fly balls, something they weren’t able to do against Ole Miss pitcher Aliyah Binford. Even if the UCLA offense does strike against Canady, the damage will likely be minimal, and the offense has shaken off the jitters of Game 1 and should be ready for whatever the Bruins throw their way.
NIL
Will NIL deals be better regulated in the future? 'We're all looking for a competitive advantage'
NIL
Transfer Portal, NIL Increase Pressure on Black Coaches
The double-edged new normal in college athletics today is the transfer portal and NIL (name, image and likeness). Since it was introduced in 2019, the number of men’s and women’s basketball players in the portal has increased each year from hundreds in 2019 to thousands in 2025. College football transfers also are up. Credit: Courtesy […]

The double-edged new normal in college athletics today is the transfer portal and NIL (name, image and likeness). Since it was introduced in 2019, the number of men’s and women’s basketball players in the portal has increased each year from hundreds in 2019 to thousands in 2025. College football transfers also are up.

According to On3, which tracks portal comings and goings, over 40% of MBB players (5,607) and about 29% of WBB players (5,048) went into the 30-day portal window, which opened during March Madness and closed in late April.
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In other words, the transfer portal along with NIL basically have become college sport’s free agency. Players come and go for various reasons and not always about playing time or lack thereof.@media ( min-width: 300px ).newspack_global_ad.scaip-1min-height: 100px;@media ( min-width: 320px ).newspack_global_ad.scaip-1min-height: 100px;@media ( min-width: 728px ).newspack_global_ad.scaip-1min-height: 90px;
AD Advisors, a group of former college administrators, recently produced two “white papers” on the transfer portal by collecting quantitative data through interviews with coaches, administrators, athletic directors, and players for their first-hand experiences. The group also studied over 800 FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) football players dating back to 2020-21 and over 14,000 basketball players in the portal dating back to 2019.The respective studies found that “a significant majority” of football student-athletes and basketball players who entered the portal transferred down from a Power 5 school to a non-Power 5 school, or transferred down from other conferences or did not get picked by a new school.Furthermore, both the portal and NIL are strange bedfellows of sorts, putting more pressure on coaches to succeed. An April 16 article in Minnesota Sports Fan pointed out that NIL ultimately did in former Minnesota coach Ben Johnson, who was fired in March after four seasons.@media ( min-width: 300px ).newspack_global_ad.scaip-2min-height: 100px;@media ( min-width: 320px ).newspack_global_ad.scaip-2min-height: 100px;@media ( min-width: 728px ).newspack_global_ad.scaip-2min-height: 90px;
Ben Johnson Credit: Charles Hallman“When Ben was hired back in 2021,” the article said, “the wide-open NCAA transfer portal was still a very new thing. So was NIL. Every year under Johnson, they ran into the same problem — not enough NIL money. Instead of improving the core of their team in the offseason, Ben and his coaches had to find underdeveloped talent in the transfer portal and use it to cobble together an underwhelming roster.“They’d lose their best players. This is why Ben Johnson was fired,” the article said.Kennedy D. Wells, the CEO of Achieving Coaching Excellence, told the MSR that coaches must become equally as adept at transfer portal and NIL matters as they are with the X’s and O’s. @media ( min-width: 300px ).newspack_global_ad.scaip-3min-height: 100px;@media ( min-width: 320px ).newspack_global_ad.scaip-3min-height: 100px;@media ( min-width: 728px ).newspack_global_ad.scaip-3min-height: 90px;
“Black coaches specifically, and it’s not to say that they’re not,” stressed Wells, “but they need to fully embrace and immerse themselves in what is transpiring with intercollegiate athletics. “It is important that these coaches…understand that becoming a CEO is no longer an option. It is a must when it comes to how you go about navigating your specific program. It’s important that you be proactive about asking questions of the administrators and make sure that they have dotted all the I’s and crossed all the T’s to give you the best possible opportunity to be successful.”The last-hired-first-fired axiom that has existed for Black coaches seemingly forever is putting Black coaches on hot seats quicker than usual. “The standard now is that you should be able to improve drastically from season to season,” said Wells. “For those that know a little bit about the coaching profession, it’s very difficult to build chemistry and things like that, which are so vital to the success of any entity let alone a women’s or men’s basketball program.“I think it’s not a matter of [Black coaches] having to work twice as hard to be half as good,” concluded Wells. “I think everybody’s working hard, especially in the college basketball landscape. Everybody’s working hard.”Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.
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