The 80 mph softball pitch — once an unthinkable milestone — is coming
When Karlyn Pickens was a young pitcher learning to perfect her craft, she got into the habit of comparing herself — and her velocity — to others who played her position. Her private pitching coach displayed a list of the record speeds achieved by other players she tutored. Pickens became obsessed with moving up the list.
She laughs at the memory now, because the two-time All-American didn’t just climb toward the top — she set a new standard. And she’s still thinking about how she can get faster. Pickens, who holds the record for throwing the fastest softball pitch, will lead seventh-seeded Tennessee into the Super Regionals this weekend against 10th-seeded Georgia as the Lady Vols seek a second consecutive appearance in the Women’s College World Series.
Her record-setting throw, which clocked in at 79. 4 mph, is comparable to a baseball pitcher throwing about 110 mph from 60 feet, 6 inches away (the softball rubber is 43 feet away). Now, she’s chasing 80 mph, a once-unthinkable milestone in softball.
What it's like to hit against Karyln Pickens. 😳 pic. twitter.
com/qstO7HjLh6 — Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) February 4, 2026 Stakeholders around the sport say the question isn’t if Pickens will throw 80, but when. The excitement around hitting that particular number won’t solely be about celebrating Pickens, though — it’ll be about opening the door for the next generation. “You don’t always believe you can do something until you see somebody else do it,” Tennessee coach Karen Weekly said.
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