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Binford Tabbed to USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top-50 Watch List

1/22/2025 | Softball

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss softball's Aliyah Binford has earned yet another preseason honor, as the two-way star was tabbed to USA Softball's Collegiate Player of the Year Top-50 Watch List on Wednesday.
 
Binford becomes the first Rebel named to the prestigious, season-opening list since Kylan Becker in 2019.
 
Wednesday's honor marks yet another for Binford, who was recently ranked first on the list of the top-15 two-way players in the nation by D1Softball. Binford has also been named a preseason All-American by Softball America and as a top-50 player by both D1Softball and Softball America. Additionally, Binford was one of 23 athletes selected from the highly-competitive Southeastern Conference.
 
The New Braunfels, Texas native joins the Rebels this season after earning two NFCA All-Region and All-Big 12 honors, as well as D1Softball's Comeback Player of the Year award during her undergraduate career at Baylor.
 
Binford holds a record of 40-23 with a 3.12 ERA over 410.2 innings pitched in the circle, while also tallying a .297 batting average with 19 home runs, 96 RBI, 37 doubles and 21 stolen bases.
 
USA Softball will select their top-25 finalists for the award on April 30, before cutting the list down to 10 on May 14 and the top three on May 19, before announcing a winner prior to the Women's College World Series.
 
Binford and the Rebels will open their regular season on Thursday, February 6 with a pair of games, as they face Clemson at 10 a.m., and Florida Atlantic at 3:30 p.m., at the Paradise Classic, hosted by FAU in Boca Raton, Fla.
 
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
 
For all Ole Miss softball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball, on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball and on Instagram at @olemisssoftball. Also, follow head coach Jamie Trachsel on Twitter at @Jamie_Trachsel.
 
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