Back-to-back 40-win seasons. Back-to-back post season appearances.
The last two seasons of Indiana softball have been nothing short of impressive. Despite that, Indiana softball’s 2025 team is still hungry and ready to achieve more in the post season.
With eight incoming freshmen, a First Team All-Big Ten transfer from Ohio State, and 7 of its 9 starters from last season returning, the Hoosiers have the pieces to put together yet another successful season.
“We have the talent,” Indiana head coach Shonda Stanton said Wednesday. “We've got one of the most potent offenses that you're going to find around.”
Indiana is not short on talent, as many of the players on the roster have accumulated multiple pre-season accolades.
Within the last week, junior catcher Avery Parker, senior outfielder Taylor Minnick and senior pitcher/utility player Brianna Copeland were all added to the Big Ten 2025 Players to Watch list.
In January alone, Copeland was named to USA’s Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 53 Watchlist. Minnick, Parker, and sophomore utility player Aly VanBrandt were all ranked in the top 25 of their respective positions by D1Softball rankings.
Out of the eight incoming freshmen, half were named to the Softball America Freshman list. This list includes infielders Sydni Burko and Madalyn Strader, who were both ranked top 25 overall prospects by Extra Inning Softball, as well as two pitchers in Jenae Berry and Jasmine Reyes.
Despite the amount of talented incoming freshmen, the Hoosiers have a lot of returning experience and leadership that could lead to a battle for playing time on the field.
The past few seasons, infielder Brooke Benson started at shortstop for the Hoosiers, providing reliable defense on the field. Her graduation in 2024, leaves a gap in the lineup that could be filled by Strader, who is expected to start at shortstop for the Hoosiers.
As for the other freshmen on the team, patience is key. “We got a veteran squad, and these young kids just have to be ready when their time is called,” Stanton said.
As for the returning seniors, they appear to have unfinished business they wish to accomplish this season.
“For me personally, I think just getting back to postseason again and then not just getting there but going past Regionals, going to supers, and on from there,” Minnick said in the fall following a pre-season game against Indiana State. “So, I think for all of us seniors, we're looking for Regionals and then Super Regionals.”
A third consecutive year of making it to the NCAA Tournament would be history for the program.
“This group has lofty goals, lofty ambitions, both personally and individually, but also collectively as a team and we have the opportunity to do something that's never been done here,” Stanton said. “And that's going back–to-back-to-back postseasons. So, we're chasing history. It’s a good talented group and so we’re excited to get playing.”
The lofty goals and ambitions build pressure and create expectations surrounding the program. However, these high pressures don’t seem to create worry for Stanton or her team.
“That pressure is a privilege for them,” Stanton said. “I don't feel that they are overmatched in terms of pressure. We welcome it.”
The Hoosiers will take the field for their season opener this weekend in Miami in the Felsberg Invitational. Their first matchup is slated for 5:30 p.m. Thursday against Florida International University. The game will stream on ESPN+.
