In 2025, USA Softball awarded National Player of the Year honors to Arkansas Razorback senior infielder Bri Ellis. It’s hard to say they’re wrong—in 2025 Ellis ranked first in the nation in slugging percentage with a 1.090, first in the nation on base percentage with .639, third in the nation in home runs with 26, and ranked national in a host of several other offensive categories.
What if I told you that USA softball is dead wrong? Without question, the National Player of the Year is Nebraska’s Jordyn Bahl. And I can prove it!
I pulled the top 25 players nationally in each of the top hitting categories: Batting Average, Hits, Home Runs, RBI, Runs, Stolen Bases, On Base Percentage, and Slugging Percentage. Only one player ranked in the top 25 in 6 of these categories—Jordyn Ball. Bri Ellis only ranked in 5.
| Category | Bahl National Rankings | Ellis National Rankings |
| Batting Average | 6 (.462) | 17 (.440) |
| Hits | 25 (78) | — |
| Home Runs | — | 3 (26) |
| RBI | 25 (66) | — |
| Runs | 5 (72) | 14 (68) |
| Stolen Bases | — | — |
| On Base Percentage | 12 (.555) | 1 (.639) |
| Slugging Percentage | 6 (.988) | 1 (1.090) |
I agree that Bri Ellis hit more home runs, but a player that can produce at a top 25 in the nation level in more stat categories is a more dangerous hitter overall. Though lacking in home runs, Bahl still ranked #6 in the nation in slugging percentage, and her offensive production led to more RBI than Ellis.
And in case you are still not convinced that Jordyn Bahl deserves to be the national player of the year, consider this as well– Bahl is also an ace pitcher. Bahl closed 2025 with the following state line from the circle: 26-8 W/L, 1.56 ERA, 206.1 IP, 286 SO, and .156 opponent batting average.
Bri Ellis had an incredible season, but she is not the national collegiate player of the year. It’s Jordyn Bahl.
