Check out our watch list for 2023-24 USA TODAY HSSA Softball Player of the Year

The USA TODAY High School Sports Awards is pleased to announce its watch list for 2023-24 USA TODAY HSSA Softball Player of the Year!

This initial list includes 50 current student-athletes who meet the nomination criteria for this year’s national Softball Player of the Year award. These athletes were either nominees in last year’s national show, or athletes who were seriously considered based on season-wide performance, state championships and any other state, regional and/or national recognition.

Watch last year's full show: 2023 USA TODAY High School Sports Awards

Here's a little more about this year's program and how it works:

The official 2023-24 USA TODAY HSSA Softball Team will be announced later this spring. All 25 final team members will be honored as nominees for national Softball Player of the Year. The winner will be revealed during the fourth annual USA TODAY High School Sports Awards. Visit the event website for updates leading up to this summer's on-demand event, and to view all of the award winners from last year's show!

Note: The purpose of this watch list is to track eligible nominees for this year’s national show. Athletes could be removed from this list if they no longer play for their high school team (either by choice or injury), or if their high school no longer participates in a state-sanctioned championship tournament for this sport.

Who else should we be tracking for national Softball Player of the Year?

This watch list is only a starting point. All student-athletes who compete for state-sanctioned interscholastic championships are eligible for our program. Player of the Year suggestions can be submitted to both roleary@usatventures.com and BFontana@usatventures.com.

2023-24 USA TODAY HSSA Softball Watch List:

Leighton Arnold — JR, P/OF | White Plains High School | Anniston, Alabama

Kaylie Avvisato — SR, SS/P | Riverside High School | Leesburg, Virginia

Ansley Bennett — JR, P/INF | Summerville High School | Summerville, South Carolina

Lilly Bethune — JR, C/3B | West Limestone High School | Lester, Alabama

Sophia Bordi — JR, P/1B | Haddon Heights High School | Haddon Heights, New Jersey

Ava Bradshaw — SR, P | South Lyon High School | South Lyon, Michigan

Payton Burnham — SR, P | Sheldon High School | Eugene, Oregon

Ava Coffinger — SR, OF/2B | Gull Lake High School | Richland, Michigan

Gabi Comia — SR, C/SS/2B | Hanover Central High School | Cedar Lake, Indiana

Emi Connell — JR, DH | Liberty High School | Issaquah, Washington

Kennedy Diggs — SR, P | Sherwood High Schol | Creighton, Missouri

Amayah Doyle — SR, C/UTL | Carterville High School | Herrin, Illinois

Sofia Elliott — SR, P | Mission Viejo High School | Mission Viejo, California

Haley Ferguson — SR, P/2B | Beavercreek High School | Beavercreek, Ohio

Addisen Fisher — SR, P | Bend High School | Bend, Oregon

Jazzy Francik — SR, P | Melbourne High School | Melbourne, Florida

Taylor Gillispie — JR, P | Troup High School | Troup, Texas

Cameryn Harrison — SR, P | Katy High School | Katy, Texas

Berkley Hatten — JR, UTL | Lincoln East High School | Lincoln, Nebraska

Jolie Hays — SR, P/OF | Northwest Rankin High School | Brandon, Mississippi

Jayden Heavener — SR, P | Pace High School | Pace, Florida

Gianna Hillegonds — JR, P | Marist High School | Chicago, Illinois

Mya Holt — SR, P/OF | Wetumpka High School | Wetumpka, Alabama

Rylie Johnson — JR, OF/1B | Fredericksburg Christian School | Fredericksburg, Virginia

Sa'Mya Jones — SR, P/SS | Glenda Dawson High School | Pearland, Texas

Lacie Keck — JR, P/OF | Gibbs High School | Corryton, Tennessee

Layla Lamar — SR, 3B | Panther Creek High School | Cary, North Carolina

Samantha Lincoln — SR, P | Taunton High School | Taunton, Massachusetts

Audrey Lowry — SR, P | Tri-West High School | Lizton, Indiana

Hailey Maestretti — SR, P/1B | Lutheran High School | Parker, Colorado

Kennedy Marceaux — SR, C/UTL | Kaplan High School | Kaplan, Louisiana

Ella McDowell — SR, C/SS/2B | Foster High School | Richmond, Texas

Shelby McKenzie — SR, P/1B/3B | Pace High School | Pace, Florida

Karly Meredith — JR, P | Kaukauna High School | Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Elsa Morrison — JR, P | Farragut High School | Knoxville, Tennessee

Sofia Mujica — SR, C | Granite Hills High School | El Cajon, California

Brynne Nally — SR, P/OF | Pacifica High School | Garden Grove, California

Katelynn Oxley — SR, P/OF | Bartow High School | Bartow, Florida

Sara Phillips — SR, P | Hewitt-Trussville High School | Trussville, Alabama

Kailey Plumlee — JR, P | Gordonsville High School | Gordonsville, Tennessee

Zoe Prystajko — SR, P/1B | Huntington Beach High School | Huntington Beach, California

Ava Ratliff — JR, C | Bedford North Lawrence High School | Bedford, Indiana

Yanina Sherwood — SR, P/1B/SS | Jackson High School | Mill Creek, Washington

Phoenyx Silva — JR, 3B | La Salle Academy | Providence, Rhode Island

Peyton Tanner — SR, P | Brazoswood High School | Clute, Texas

Kate Vance — SR, SS/2B/OF | Hamilton High School | Chandler, Arizona

Anne Wallace — JR, UTL | Ridgeline High School | Millville, Utah

Sydnie Watts — JR, P/3B | Austintown-Fitch High School | Youngstown, Ohio

Brianne Weiss — SR, P | Orange Lutheran High School | Orange, California

Berkley Zache — JR, P/1B | Saint Joseph High School | South Bend, Indiana

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2023 USA TODAY High School Sports Awards Softball Watch List