NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Maya Johnson added to her historic 2026 campaign Wednesday evening, earning NFCA/Portolite Pitcher of the Year honors and First Team All-America recognition as announced at the Women's College World Series press conference in Oklahoma City.
Earlier this week, Johnson was also named D1Softball Mid-Major Player of the Year and a D1Softball First Team All-American following one of the most dominant pitching seasons in mid-major history.
A first-team NFCA All-American, the redshirt senior finished the season leading NCAA Division I in six pitching categories: ERA (0.78), strikeouts (397), shutouts (15), strikeouts per seven innings (12.9), WHIP (0.68), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (11.03).
Johnson concluded the year with a 28-3 overall record, allowing just 110 hits and 24 earned runs while striking out 397 batters and issuing only 36 walks across 215.2 innings pitched. She also threw three no-hitters during the 2026 campaign, including a perfect game in her season debut.
Among her signature performances were complete-game road victories over SEC opponents University of Georgia and Mississippi State University. Against Georgia, Johnson allowed one run while striking out 12 batters, and she followed with a one-hit, 13-strikeout shutout performance at Mississippi State.
A Top 10 finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, Johnson surpassed 1,000 career strikeouts during the season and concluded her collegiate career with 1,186 strikeouts. She opened the year with nine consecutive outings recording at least 11 strikeouts and finished the season with 24 double-digit strikeout performances.
In her final collegiate season, Johnson produced career-best marks in ERA (0.78), shutouts (15), opponent batting average (.146), strikeouts (397), and earned runs allowed (24), while recording 31 complete games.
Johnson will continue her softball career with the Oklahoma Spark, after being the first mid-major player to receive an AUSL golden ticket.
Johnson's postseason honors also included Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year recognition, First Team All-MVC honors, MVC Tournament MVP, NFCA First Team All-Region accolades, and selection as the 2026 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Co-Female Amateur Athlete of the Year. She was also named Softball America Pitcher of the Year and a Softball America First Team All-American.
Prior to the season, Johnson earned D1Softball Second Team All-America recognition and was ranked the No. 1 Mid-Major Player, No. 23 overall player, and No. 8 pitcher nationally by the publication. She was also named a Softball America Preseason Second Team All-American and ranked No. 32 overall and No. 9 among pitchers entering the 2026 campaign.
