South Carolina Softball is building momentum in Columbia, and head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard just put another exclamation point on the program. The Gamecocks have officially locked down a national Top 10 signing class, bringing eight elite high school standouts into the garnet and black pipeline for the 2027 season. Both Softball America and D1Softball.com tabbed this group as the No. 9 class in the nation, marking a statement moment for a program hungry to break into the national spotlight.
This new class isn't just talented, it is diverse, battle-tested, and built to win. The group includes state champions, a Gatorade Player of the Year, and talented athletes from powerhouse programs from across the country. Here is the line up:
- Aspen Boulware (Columbia, S.C./Gray Collegiate)
- Kadyn Gabrels (Buford, Ga./Buford)
- Audrina “Boo” Herber (Dale, Okla./Dale)
- Olivia “Libby” Miller (Fort Mill, S.C./Indian Land)
- Jillian Ondrick (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth)
- Hayden Sujack (West Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East)
- Alex Williams (Ellenwood, Ga./Stockbridge)
- Hannah Wulf (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East)
These signees are no stranger to pressure or expectations. They have all played in championship atmospheres, delivered under bright lights, and arrived with hardware, as well as the hunger to win. And for Coach Chastain, that is by design.
“We expect this 2026 signing class to have an immediate impact on the program,” she said. “This is a group who have all played at a high level coming into our program, made up of high school state champions and a Gatorade Player of the Year.”
South Carolina fans should also take note of something rare and powerful. There is already a chemistry before campus. According to Chastain, this class is already acting like a team.
“I love how close knit the group already isas they have been on multiple visits together and communicate on a regular basis,” she said. “We know we are bringing in great people with great character who know how to win and who will wear the garnet and black with pride.”
That kind of connection is the backbone of a championship culture. It is the kind of intangible that separates the good programs from the great ones, and Woodard sees the writing on the wall.
“This group loves being Gamecocks and will be impactful here at Carolina to help us continue to move the program forward and ultimately compete for championships on the biggest stage.”
With the combination of talent, character, and early camaraderie, this isn't just a signing class, it's a foundation for the future of Gamecock Softball. A signal that the Gamecock program is accelerating, rising, and refusing to be overlooked on the national stage.