USF’s glove-first game-changer and the nation’s premier defensive force at second
In the 2026 season, Kathy Garcia-Soto stayed elite for South Florida, winning her first NFCA/Rawlings Gold Glove and her third straight American Conference Defensive Player of the Year award while ranking second nationally with 164 assists. She’s the kind of infielder who changes a game with range, instincts, and steady hands, and USF’s coaches have leaned on her as the heartbeat of an athletic up-the-middle defense. Beyond the numbers, she’s praised for spectacular, high-energy play and big-moment poise, making her a fit for teams that value defense, intensity, and leadership.
