KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens has been named the 2025 Knoxville News Sentinel Sportsperson of the Year, honoring a historic junior season that helped propel the Lady Vols to the semifinals of the Women’s College World Series for the second time in her career.
One of the most overpowering arms in college softball, Pickens finished the 2025 season with a 25–11 record and a 1.17 ERA across 226.2 innings. She struck out 306 batters, limited opponents to just 4.45 hits per seven innings, and appeared in 44 games, including 34 starts. Her season included 25 complete games, seven shutouts and three saves.
Pickens led the SEC in ERA, games started, complete games, shutouts, innings pitched, strikeouts and opponent batting average, earning SEC Pitcher of the Year honors for the second consecutive season and a spot on the All-SEC First Team.
Her postseason performances were a continuation of her regular-season dominance. Pickens went a season-long nine innings against No. 9 UCLA at the WCWS, throwing 148 pitches to earn her 25th win and send Tennessee to the semifinals. She also allowed just one earned run over six innings against No. 6 Texas in the national semifinals. Earlier in the postseason, she forced a decisive Super Regional Game 3 against Nebraska with a complete-game effort that included a record-breaking 79.4 mph pitch.
Pickens made national headlines during the season by setting — and later breaking — the record for the fastest pitch in softball history. She first touched 78.2 mph on March 24 before eclipsing her own mark with a 79.4 mph pitch in postseason play on May 24.
Her dominance earned widespread weekly recognition, as Pickens was named SEC Pitcher of the Week and NFCA Pitcher of the Week three times each during the 2025 campaign.
Off the field, Pickens matched her athletic excellence with academic achievement. She was named a 2025 CSC Academic All-American and Academic All-District selection, continuing a résumé that also includes multiple SEC academic honors.
Already one of the most decorated players in program history, Pickens’ career accolades include 2025 and 2024 Consensus First Team All-America honors, two SEC Pitcher of the Year awards, and 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year recognition.
