Duke has been voted the preseason favorite to win the 2025 ACC softball title by the league’s 15 head coaches, the conference announced Thursday.
Coming off their first Women’s College World Series appearance in 2024, the Blue Devils were chosen to top the league for the first time in program history following their second ACC Championship title last season. They received 11 first-place votes for a total of 193 points.
Florida State earned four first-place votes and came in second in the preseason poll with 183 points. Virginia Tech was tabbed third with 165 points, Stanford was fourth with 143 points and Virginia received 140 points to round out the top five.
Florida State and Duke lead the ACC with three representatives apiece on the Preseason All-ACC team, followed by Virginia and Virginia Tech each with two and California, Clemson, North Carolina and Stanford each with one.
Ten of the 14 members of the preseason squad were named to the 2024 All-ACC Softball team, headlined by 2024 ACC Defensive Player of the Year Aminah Vega of Duke and 2024 Freshman of the Year Jaysoni Beachum of Florida State. Eight members were selected 2024 First-Team All-ACC, while one was tabbed Second-Team and one was tabbed Third-Team. Stanford’s Emily Jones was named to the 2024 Pac-12 All-Conference First Team, while Cal’s Elon Butler was named to the 2024 Pac-12 All-Conference Second-Team.
The Preseason All-ACC Softball Team is voted on by the league’s head coaches and consists of 14 players. Each ballot was comprised of five infielders, four outfielders, three pitchers, a catcher and either a designated player or utility player.
Nine ACC softball players were named to the USA Softball Top 53 Watch List for the 2025 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, USA Softball announced on Wednesday, January 22. Among the list are Florida State’s Julia Apsel, Jasysoni Beachum, Michaela Edenfield and Isa Torres, Duke’s Aminah Vega, Cassidy Curd and D’Auna Jennings, and Virginia Tech’s Emma Lemley and Bre Peck.
The top-10 finalists will be announced on Wednesday, May 14, while the top-3 finalists will be released on Monday, May 19. The Player of the Year will then be announced by USA Softball prior to the 2025 WCWS.
Five ACC softball teams are ranked among the top 25 of the ESPN.com/USA Softball Preseason Poll. Duke leads the group at No. 8, followed by No. 12 Florida State, No. 18 Virginia Tech, No. 21 Cal and No. 22 Stanford.
Boston College will host the 2025 ACC Softball Championship from Wednesday, May 7, to Saturday, May 10, at Harrington Athletics Village in Brighton, Massachusetts.
The 2025 campaign begins Thursday, February 6, with six of the league’s teams in action, while the remaining nine ACC teams open the season on Friday, February 7.
2025 ACC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Duke – 193 points (11)
2. Florida State – 183 points (4)
3. Virginia Tech – 165 points
4. Stanford – 143 points
5. Virginia – 140 points
6. California – 130 points
7. Clemson – 126 points
8. Georgia Tech – 87 points
9. North Carolina – 85 points
10. Louisville – 73 points
11. Notre Dame – 72 points
12. Boston College – 66 points
13. NC State – 65 points
14. Syracuse – 31 points
15. Pitt – 16 points
(first-place votes)
The league now has 15 teams with the addition of Stanford and California, both of which made the NCAA Tournament last year.
2025 Softball Preseason All-ACC Team
Infield
Elon Butler, California
Maddie Moore, Clemson
Aminah Vega, Duke
Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State
Jade Hylton, Virginia
Outfield
D’Auna Jennings, Duke
Jahni Kerr, Florida State
Alex Coleman, North Carolina
Emily Jones, Stanford
Pitcher
Cassidy Curd, Duke
Eden Bigham, Virginia
Emma Lemley, Virginia Tech
Catcher
Michaela Edenfield, Florida State
Designated Player/Utility
Cori McMillan, Virginia Tech
ACC