UCF’s Sierra Humphreys was tabbed the Big 12’s best player last week, as Kansas’ Ella Boyer earned the league’s weekly award for freshmen and Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady was named the Conference’s top pitcher to round out the week nine’s awards.

Humphreys recorded seven hits in 10 at-bats during the series against Utah. The Corona, California native tallied back-to-back games with three hits apiece, which included a combined eight RBIs, five runs and two home runs as UCF run-ruled the Utes. After the three games, the junior either led or co-led in runs, hits, home runs, RBIs, total bases, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. This is the first Big 12 weekly honor for the 2025 All-Big 12 Second Team selection.

Boyer slashed .750/.833/1.875 as the Jayhawks captured a series win against then-No. 20 Arizona State in Lawrence. The freshman recorded a hit, totaling six out of eight at-bats, while hitting one long ball in each game of the series to set a KU program record for most home runs hit by a freshman with 17. She also scored six runs and drove in another six as the KU team picked up its first Conference series against a ranked team since 2024. Boyer, who earned her third Big 12 weekly honor this season, was also recognized as D1Softball’s and Softball America’s Freshman of the Week.

In 9.1 innings pitched, Canady held her opponents to three hits, two runs and one earned run. She opened her week as a reliever against Abilene Christian, shutting down three Wildcat batters consecutively to end the game in the fifth inning. The senior then threw 11 strikeouts in the series opener against BYU to surpass 1,000 career strikeouts, making her one of two active NCAA DI pitchers to reach the milestone. Canady finished her week with 17 strikeouts and a 0.75 ERA to pick up her third Conference weekly accolade this season and fifth overall.

 Big 12 Softball Players of the Week - April 8
Player: Sierra Humphreys, UCF
Pitcher: NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech
Freshman: Ella Boyer, Kansas