KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Fresh off its second trip to the semifinals at the Women’s College World Series in three seasons, the Lady Vols have added All-Mountain West First Team members Makenzie Butt and Sophia Knight as they look to reload heading into 2026.
 
Teammates at Boise State in 2025, Butt and Knight hail from Garden Grove and Huntington Beach, California, respectively.
 
Knight, a rising junior, was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2024 and garnered All-MW First Team honors in back-to-back seasons. She also collected Softball America Freshman All-America recognition in her rookie season.
 
A career .445 hitter, she has played and started in 115 games with 114 runs scored, 188 hits with 16 doubles, seven triples, a home run and 43 RBIs. Knight has a career on-base percentage of .482 with 45 stolen bases over her first two seasons.
 
“Sophia is a fast and dynamic offensive threat,” head coach Karen Weekly said. “She will remind fans of the great speed players we’ve had over the years at Tennessee. More importantly, she is a really good person who shares our culture’s mission and values. I’m excited to welcome her to the Lady Vol softball family.”
 
Butt will have three years of eligibility left when she arrives on Rocky Top after a stellar freshman campaign with the Broncos. The 2025 Mountain West Freshman of the Year played and started in 55 games, slashing .363/.821/.495 with 11 doubles, 22 home runs and 77 RBIs.
 
The infielder picked up first-team All-Mountain West honors and was named a Softball America and D1Softball Freshman All-American.
 
“Makenzie is a fierce competitor with the ability to hit for power and average at this level,” Weekly said. “She has always played in winning programs and understands the mindset and commitment necessary to compete for championships. Her energy and infectious personality are a great fit for our culture.”