UNC Softball 2025-2026

[3397char]

I have updated this article to include all the recruiting: 2026 class already signed, and the 2027 commits

2025-26 Season Incoming Players:


The 2025 Freshman Class

• Will play this season

Softball Signs Eight On National Signing Day - University of North Carolina Athletics

Carolina softball head coach Megan Smith Lyon and her staff are excited to announce the addition of eight future Tar Heels with the signing of their National...

goheels.com

The 2025-26 Incoming Transfer class

• Will play this season (2025-26)
• #15 Transfer class
• List of all incoming and outgoing players

Emily LeGette

Previous School: Virginia Tech bio/stats​

High School: American Heritage Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL)​

On3 Player score: 89​

Position: CI​

MC Eaton

Previous School: UVA bio/stats​

High School: Charlotte Christian Hometown: Charlotte, NC)​

On3 Player score: 88​

Position: CI​

Raegan Jennings

Last School: Texas Tech bio/stats​

High School: Atascocita Hometown: (Atascocita, TX)​

On3 Player score: 89​

Position: CI​

Kendall Frost

Last School: ECU bio/stats​

High School: Pope Hometown: (Roswell, GA)​

On3 Player score: 88​

Position: RHP​

Carly Maxton

Last School: NCSU bio/stats​

High School: Saint Mark's Hometown: Townsend, DE)​

On3 Player score: 89​

Position: P​

Michele Tarpey

Last school: NCSU bio/stats​

High School: Fuquay-Varina Hometown: Fuquay Varina, NC)​

On3 Player score: 88​

Position: CI​

2026 North Carolina Tar Heels Softball Signees​

• Will arrive next year for the 2026-27 season
• In-state: 67%
• Blue Chips: 0%
• Commits: 6
• 50th ranked class

1. Ava Grace Pruitt
   High School: Rockingham County Hometown: (Reidsville, NC)
   On3 Player score: 84
   Position: P
   Committed Date 9/07/24
   https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ94qf-Eeow/
2. Taylor Smith
   High School: Apopka Hometown: (Apopka, FL)
   On3 Player Score: 84
   Position: C
   Committed Date 9/08/24
3. Kensley Davis
   High School: Alexander Central Hometown: (Taylorsville, NC)
   On3 Player Score 84
   Position: IF
   Committed Date9/15/24
   https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ94dr1kdkr/
4. Allison Ryan
   High School: Wakefield Hometown: (Wake Forest, NC)
   On3 Player Score: 82
   Position: IF
   Committed 9/12/24
5. Madalyn Davis
   High School: Lake Creek Hometown: (Montgomery, TX)
   On3 Player Score: 84
   Position: OF
   Committed 9/12/24
   https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ-NOINkVnS/
6. Mallory Reed
   High School: Eastern Wayne Hometown: (Goldsboro, NC)
   On3 Player Score: 85
   Position: P
   Committed 9/28/24

2027 North Carolina Tar Heels Softball Commits​

• will arrive in 3 years for the 2027-28 season
• In-state: 14%
• Blue Chips: 56%
• 19th ranked class

1. Molly Munson
   High School: Oak Grove Hometown: (Oak Grove, MO)
   Committed: 9/15/25
   Rating: 92 (4 star)
   Ranking: Natl 95 - Pos 30 - St 3
   Position: P
2. Mia Martinez
   High School: Langham Creek Hometown: (Houston, TX)
   Committed 9/14/25
   Rating: 96 (high 4 star)
   Ranking: Natl 27 - Pos 5 - St 8
   Position : MI
3. Bailey Barnett
   High School: South Harrison Hometown: (Bethany, MO)
   Committed 9/15/25
   Rating: 90 (4 star)
   Ranking: Natl 128 - Pos 34 - St 8
   Position: MI
4. Julia Harper
   High School: Lake Ridge Hometown: (Mansfield, TX)
   Committed 9/15
   On3 Rating: 87 (3 star)
   Ranking: UR
   Position: OF
5. Cienna McNamara
   High School: New Milford Hometown: (New Milford, CT)
   Committed: 9/17
   On3 Rating: 86 (3 star)
   Position: MI
6. Caycee Wilson
   High School Reagan Hometown: (Winston Salem, NC)
   Committed: 9/23
   On3 Rating: 86 (3 star)
   Position P
7. Izzy Lawrence
   High School: Barbers Hill Hometown: (Mont Belvieu, TX)
   Committed: 10/5
   On3 Rating: 93 (4 star)
   Ranking: Natl 87 Pos 14 St 25
   Position: C

https://www.on3.com/college/north-carolina-tar-heels/softball/2026/commits/

 

[mridunno]

thanks!

 

[Jriv23]

Thanks

 

[Carolina151]

I’d say Reagan Jennings is pretty clutch. 11-12 in PH last season at Texas Tech.

 

[bradarb08]

Yea - she has the potential to be a massive, massive pickup for us.

 

[3397char]

I’d say Reagan Jennings is pretty clutch. 11-12 in PH last season at Texas Tech.

 

[Jriv23]

Thanks for the information and for sharing.

 

[UNCAlum83]

Why UNC Softball’s Transfer Class Ranks No.15

After appearing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, North Carolina has stacked its 2026 roster with offensive production to replace graduates like Kat Rodriguez, Alex Coleman, Carlie Myrtle, and Grace Jackson.

Megan Smith Lyon is never shy when it comes to using the transfer portal, and the additions have yet to fail her. Rodriguez turned into an All-American under her direction, while Coleman took over the Power 4 school after leaving a mid-major.

After snagging six standouts, the Tar Heels landed No.15 on Softball America’s transfer class rankings.

Here’s a deep dive into the players who are joining Chapel Hill and what to expect in the coming season.

 

[Jriv23]

Way to go Megan and Staff. Keep on doing what yall are doing. Let's go softball and Go Heels!

 

[bradarb08]

No names yet but Coach has posted we’ve had 5 commits for 2027 in the last two days.

Thinking the first one is Molly Munson, a lefty pitcher from Missouri. Looks like she’s No. 95 in the class.

 

[Jriv23]

Thanks for sharing. I cannot wait to see who we were able to get. I hope one of them was Molly Munson. Go Megan, staff, softball team, and Heels!

 

[bradarb08]

I did a little bit of social media sleuthing... this is who I think it could be:

1. Molly Munson - LHP (No. 95 nationally, No. 3 Missouri)
2. Mia Martinez - IF (Can't find a ranking but has done some USA Softball high performance; from Texas)
3. Julia Harper - OF (No. 100 by LineDrive? from Texas)
4. Cienna McNamara - IF (Can't find a ranking; from Connecticut)

Not sure who the fifth was...

 

[BenSherman]

 

[unc80]

Harper is #29 overall in 2027 by one service. This recruiting cycle is going quite well. In fact it seems to be uncharted territory for UNC.

 

[Jriv23]

bradarb08 you called two of them right. You are at 50% as of today. A good call indeed. Hopefully we will find out if you are a 100% correct in the next day or two.​

 

[Carolina151]

3 4four-stars already for '27

 

[bradarb08]

Bailey Barnet and Molly Munson played together on Top Gun National - a top 10 travel ball org in the country. Also looks like Barnett was the one I couldn't track down the other night!

 

[Jriv23]

Thanks for posting. Megan and staff are doing with little to non-NIL money. Can yall imagine if she had just a little bit of NIL money? This is why I kept saying BC has to either give her and her staff a pay raise or he and the GM must find a way to help the softball team generate money some way and somehow.

 

[bradarb08]

Here’s the fifth commit

 

[bradarb08]

No idea if Line Drivr softball is accurate or not, but she was No. 46 on their list last summer

 

[bradarb08]

3 4four-stars already for '27

 

[Jriv23]

Thanks for sharing and posting. Go Heels!

 

[bradarb08]

Think it’s Caycee Wilson, an OF/P out of Winston-Salem. That’s six commits so far for 2027.

UPDATE:

 

[3397char]

2027 North Carolina Tar Heels Softball Commits​

Commits: 7​

1. 
   Molly Munson
   High School: Oak Grove Hometown: (Oak Grove, MO)
   Committed: 9/15/25
   Rating: 92 (4 star)
   Ranking: Natl 95 - Pos 30 - St 3
   Position: P
2. 
   Mia Martinez
   High School: Langham Creek Hometown: (Houston, TX)
   Committed 9/14/25
   Rating: 96 (high 4 star)
   Ranking: Natl 27 - Pos 5 - St 8
   Position : MI
3. 
   Bailey Barnett
   High School: South Harrison Hometown: (Bethany, MO)
   Committed 9/15/25
   Rating: 90 (4 star)
   Ranking: Natl 128 - Pos 34 - St 8
   Position: MI
4. 
   Julia Harper
   High School: Lake Ridge Hometown: (Mansfield, TX)
   Committed 9/15
   On3 Rating: 87 (3 star)
   Ranking: UR
   Position: OF
5. 
   Cienna McNamara
   High School: New Milford Hometown: (New Milford, CT)
   Committed: 9/17
   On3 Rating: 86 (3 star)
   Position: MI
6. 
   
   Caycee Wilson
   High School Reagan Hometown: (Winston Salem, NC)
   Committed: 9/23
   On3 Rating: 86 (3 star)
   Position P
7. 
   
   Izzy Lawrence
   High School: Barbers Hill Hometown: (Mont Belvieu, TX)
   Committed: 10/5
   On3 Rating: 93 (4 star)
   Ranking: Natl 87 Pos 14 St 25
   Position: C
   https://www.on3.com/college/north-carolina-tar-heels/softball/2026/commits/

2027 North Carolina Tar Heels Softball Commits

2027 North Carolina Tar Heels softball team commit list.

www.on3.com

 

[SherrillKB]

Awesome Let's go Heels

 

[Jriv23]

Megan and staff are killing it on the recruiting trail. Go Heels!

 

[bradarb08]

Thinking this is Isabelle (Izzy) Lawrence from Mont Belvieu, Texas. Extra Innings Softball and Line Drive Softball have her ranked pretty high.

 

[Jriv23]

Congrats to Megan and Staff. Welcome to the family young ladies. Go Heels!

 

[bradarb08]

 

[bradarb08]

Brady Vernon from Softball America, says she’s a four star recruit. That’s four of the seven 2027 recruits are four star.

 

[Jriv23]

Thanks for the updates and information.

 

[3397char]

2027 North Carolina Tar Heels Softball Commits​

Commits: 7​

1. 
   Molly Munson
   High School: Oak Grove Hometown: (Oak Grove, MO)
   Committed: 9/15/25
   Rating: 92 (4 star)
   Ranking: Natl 95 - Pos 30 - St 3
   Position: P
2. 
   Mia Martinez
   High School: Langham Creek Hometown: (Houston, TX)
   Committed 9/14/25
   Rating: 96 (high 4 star)
   Ranking: Natl 27 - Pos 5 - St 8
   Position : MI
3. 
   Bailey Barnett
   High School: South Harrison Hometown: (Bethany, MO)
   Committed 9/15/25
   Rating: 90 (4 star)
   Ranking: Natl 128 - Pos 34 - St 8
   Position: MI
4. 
   Julia Harper
   High School: Lake Ridge Hometown: (Mansfield, TX)
   Committed 9/15
   On3 Rating: 87 (3 star)
   Ranking: UR
   Position: OF
5. 
   Cienna McNamara
   High School: New Milford Hometown: (New Milford, CT)
   Committed: 9/17
   On3 Rating: 86 (3 star)
   Position: MI
6. 
   
   Caycee Wilson
   High School Reagan Hometown: (Winston Salem, NC)
   Committed: 9/23
   On3 Rating: 86 (3 star)
   Position P
7. 
   
   Izzy Lawrence
   High School: Barbers Hill Hometown: (Mont Belvieu, TX)
   Committed: 10/5
   On3 Rating: 93 (4 star)
   Ranking: Natl 87 Pos 14 St 25
   Position: C
   https://www.on3.com/college/north-carolina-tar-heels/softball/2026/commits/

2027 North Carolina Tar Heels Softball Commits

2027 North Carolina Tar Heels softball team commit list.

www.on3.com

I updated our Commit list above. It appears that we are mostly done.

and we currently have the #13 ranked recruiting class in the country! Only FSU has a better class in the ACC, and we are the only two ACC teams in the top 25.

Team rankings:

2027 Softball Team Recruiting Rankings

A list of the top 2027 Softball teams in order of recruiting rankings solely based off of the Rivals Player Rankings

www.on3.com

110 of the top 150 have committed, so we likely will move down a bit if we are done, but we will surely still have a top 20 class no matter what.

2027 Top Softball Recruits

A list of the top 2027 Softball recruits as determined by Rivals.

www.on3.com

This class also is really well distributed by position with a top 150 player at pitcher, catcher and two infielders. Maybe we can still add an outfield slugger through the portal.

 

[3397char]

Softball America lists MIF Nicole Knox as the most likely impact freshman on the team.

Article (all Softball America content is free with a IC subscription; they are a part of the On3/Rivals Network)

1 Incoming Freshman to Know for Every ACC Team

As the fall quickly approaches, we wanted to spotlight an incoming freshman for every ACC softball team to know before they officially join the 2026 roster.

www.on3.com

 

[3397char]

AS the 2027 HS recruit commits continue to roll in, UNC has dropped to the 15th ranked class nationally.

UNC has paired the 15th ranked 2025 portal class (for the upcoming 2026 season) with the 15th ranked 2027 HS recruiting class (for the 2027 season) in the last 3 months. Lyons is really bringing some heat to Chapel Hill. Fantastic job.

 

[tdcobb6]

Softball America lists MIF Nicole Knox as the most likely impact freshman on the team.

Article (all Softball America content is free with a IC subscription; they are a part of the On3/Rivals Network)

1 Incoming Freshman to Know for Every ACC Team

As the fall quickly approaches, we wanted to spotlight an incoming freshman for every ACC softball team to know before they officially join the 2026 roster.

www.on3.com

Sydney Horton should also be discussed in impact freshmen

 

[Jriv23]

How about Kina Davis. She was NC Gatorade player of the year? She could be an impact Freshman this year.

 

[3397char]

The 2026 Class that signed today:

2026 North Carolina Tar Heels Softball Commits​

• In-state:67%
• Blue Chips:0%
• Commits:6
• 37th ranked class

• 
  
  Ava Grace Pruitt
  High School: Rockingham County Hometown: (Reidsville, NC)
  On3 Player score: 84
  Position: P
  Committed Date 9/07/24
  https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ94qf-Eeow/
  
• 
  
  Taylor Smith
  High School: Apopka Hometown: (Apopka, FL)
  On3 Player Score: 84
  Position: C
  Committed Date 9/08/24
  
  
  
• 
  
  Kensley Davis
  High School: Alexander Central Hometown: (Taylorsville, NC)
  On3 Player Score 84
  Position: IF
  Committed Date9/15/24
  https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ94dr1kdkr/
  
• 
  
  Allison Ryan
  High School: Wakefield Hometown: (Wake Forest, NC)
  On3 Player Score: 82
  Position: IF
  Committed 9/12/24+
  
  
  
• 
  
  Madalyn Davis
  High School: Lake Creek Hometown: (Montgomery, TX)
  On3 Player Score: 84
  Position: OF
  Committed 9/12/24
  https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ-NOINkVnS/
  
• 
  
  Mallory Reed
  High School: Eastern Wayne Hometown: (Goldsboro, NC)
  On3 Player Score: 85
  Position: P
  Committed 9/28/24

 

[Jriv23]

Welcome to the family young ladies. Go Heels!

 

[3397char]

UNC does not make the On3/Softball America's preseason top 25.

Softball America Top 25 Rankings: 2026 Preseason

the first Softball America Top 25 Rankings of the year are here. The top two spots are occupied by Texas Tech and Texas.

www.on3.com

Not much of a surprise since we finished last season #38 in RPI

ACC Teams:

• FSU #6
• Clem #9
• Stan #18
• dook #20
• UVA #23
• VT #24

All were ranked to end last season except UVA who was close at #27 RPI last season and was receiving votes in the final polls.

 

[3397char]

Here is Softball America's 2026 Preview of UNC, a really good summary:

2026 Preview: North Carolina

North Carolina softball made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, but now head coach Megan Smith Lyon is aiming higher.

www.on3.com

Impact Losses

INF Kat Rodriguez
INF Carlie Myrtle
INF Grace Jackson
OF Alex Coleman

Transfer Additions

INF Raegan Jennings
INF Emily LeGette
INF Michele Tarpey
UTL MC Eaton
RHP Carly Maxton
RHP Kendall Frost

Freshman Class

RHP Carly Compton
RHP Jil Livengood
INF Kina Davis
INF Sydney Horton
INF Catie Boggs
INF Addie McCullers
INF Nicole Knox
OF Sahara Wilson

“[Recruiting transfer pitchers] was the biggest focus point at the end of the year. Kenna Raye is a super-talented pitcher. She gives her all every time she goes out in the circle. Although at the end of the day, she needs help,” Smith Lyon said. “We knew we needed more. The two transfers coming in are gamechangers. There’s not a pitcher on our roster we wouldn’t start.”

Projected Lineup​

C Rayna Blackwell
1B Emily LeGette/Michele Tarpey
2B TBD
SS TBD
3B Shelby Barbee
LF Lexie Roberts
CF Sanaa Thompson
RF MC Eaton/Sahara Wilson
DP Kiannah Pierce

And here is the article from July about our incoming transfer class:

North Carolina adds large, talented transfer class again

Megan Smith Lyon and North Carolina softball added six players via the transfer portal this offseason and this is how they fit.

www.on3.com

Again, great info here.