KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee softball’s Sophia Nugent and Karlyn Pickens have been named 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic Second Team All-Americans, the organization announced Tuesday.
It marks the first career Academic All-America honor for both players and extends a milestone streak for the Lady Vols. Tennessee has now produced multiple CSC Academic All-Americans in four consecutive seasons—setting a new program record and surpassing previous three-year runs in 2022–24, 2012–14 and 2007–09.
Nugent, a senior catcher from Seal Beach, California, enjoyed a career-best season at the plate in 2025. She posted a .298 batting average with 51 hits, 25 runs scored, nine doubles, 18 home runs and 61 RBIs. Nugent graduated in May with a degree in sociology, concentrating in criminology and criminal justice.
Pickens continued to dominate in the circle during her junior campaign. The right-hander went 25-11 with a 1.17 ERA and totaled a career-high 306 strikeouts over 226.2 innings pitched. A consensus first-team All-American for the second straight year, she was also named SEC Pitcher of the Year and Softball America’s National Pitcher of the Year. Pickens is currently pursuing a degree in sport management with a minor in business administration.
2025 CSC Academic Honors
McKenna Gibson – All-District
Sage Mardjetko – All-District
Sophia Nugent – All-District + All-American
Taylor Pannell – All-District + All-American
Karlyn Pickens – All-District + All-American
