Alabama Softball’s Jocelyn Briski Is Dominating the Nation, And Now She’s in the Player of the Year Race

(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

There are moments in a season where you stop and realize something special is happening.

Not just good.

Not just consistent.

Special.

That’s exactly what Jocelyn Briski has been for Alabama softball this year, and now the rest of the country is finally catching up.

On Wednesday, Briski was officially named one of 25 finalists for the 2026 USA Softball Player of the Year award. And if you’ve watched this team, if you’ve seen what she’s done in the circle, you know this isn’t just recognition…

It’s validation.

Because what Briski is doing right now? It’s elite. It’s dominant. And it’s exactly why Alabama is once again one of the most dangerous teams in the country.

Let’s talk about the numbers, because they jump off the page.

A 19-2 record.

A 1.50 ERA.

153 strikeouts in just 117 innings.

That’s not just production. That’s control. That’s power. That’s a pitcher who owns every moment she steps into.

And maybe the most telling stat of all? A 9.56 strikeout-to-walk ratio, one of the best in the entire nation and the best in the SEC.

Think about that for a second.

She’s not just striking hitters out. She’s doing it while barely giving them anything to work with. No free passes. No easy chances. Just pressure, pitch after pitch, inning after inning.

That’s what separates good pitchers from great ones.

And Briski has been great.

Actually, she’s been the definition of reliable dominance.

She’s one of the only pitchers in the SEC who ranks in the top five in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. That kind of all-around excellence is rare, especially in a conference as loaded as the SEC. Every single weekend is a battle. Every lineup is dangerous.

And she’s not just surviving in that environment, she’s controlling it.

Look at who she’s beaten.

Florida State.

Texas.

Tennessee.

Arkansas, twice.

Those aren’t just wins. Those are statements.

That’s Briski stepping into big moments against top-tier competition and saying, “Give me the ball.”

And delivering.

She’s already earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors twice this season, and honestly? It feels like she could’ve had even more.