The UCLA Bruins softball season came to a close last week but it’s not unfeasible that UCLA can make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament again next season. The Bruins lineup will lose Jordan Woolery and Megan Grant but they’ll still have plenty of talent left at the plate.
Bri Alejandre and Aleena Garcia can lead the way for the next generation of UCLA softball. The Bruins will also be returning Kaniya Bragg, Alexis Ramirez and Jolyna Lamar. The group might not set new single-season home run records but it still should be plenty good enough to compete at the top of the Big Ten Conference.
It’s not just at the plate where UCLA will have to fill holes. The Bruins went as far as pitcher Taylor Tinsley could take them, pitching every inning of the Women’s College World Series this year for UCLA. On the season, Tinsley worked a career-high 235 innings with a 3.16 earned run average.
The Bruins will have pitcher Brynne Nally, who pitched 50 innings in her sophomore season this year with a 5.74 ERA. It’d make sense for UCLA to target some experienced pitching in the transfer portal this offseason to give the team more options in the pitcher’s circle once the postseason rolls around.
UCLA will have some additions to the 2027 roster, bringing in a strong crop of incoming freshmen. Pitcher Josephine Marsh and outfielder Aubrey McLaughlin highlight UCLA’s No. 19 recruiting class according to Softball America.
Despite the grand amount of talent on the roster in recent years, UCLA hasn’t won a national title since 2019, but the Bruins figure to have another crack at a championship again in 2027.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA should still be powerful in 2027 without their star seniors
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire | USA TODAY Network
