Dakota Kennedy

Dakota Kennedy is a professional softball outfielder from Sacramento, California, who was selected in the third round of the 2026 AUSL College Draft by the Carolina Blaze. 

Personal Life

Family: Daughter of Marvina and Erik Kennedy.

Professional Experience

2026 AUSL Regular Season

Kennedy enters her rookie season after being selected in the third round of the 2026 AUSL College Draft by the Carolina Blaze.

College Experience: Arizona & Arkansas (2023–2026)

Over 207 career collegiate games (203 starts), Kennedy authored a .392 batting average with 44 home runs and 148 RBIs. She totaled 240 career hits, including 39 doubles and seven triples. She played her first three seasons as a mainstay for Arizona before completing her career at Arkansas in 2026.

Senior Campaign (2026 - Arkansas): Led the Razorbacks with a .373 batting average and 51 runs scored. Ranked second on the team with 16 home runs while adding 60 hits, 13 doubles, and 54 RBIs. Went a perfect 7-for-7 in stolen base attempts. Highlighted her season by belting three home runs with five RBIs against Kansas (March 1) and slugging two home runs with seven RBIs at Alabama (March 14).

Junior Year (2025 - Arizona): Started 44 games, leading the Wildcats with a career-best .444 batting average and four triples. Posted 19 multi-hit games, reached base safely in 23 consecutive games (February 6–April 6), and hit a grand slam against Houston on May 2.

Sophomore Season (2024 - Arizona): Started all 56 games, registering a career-high 68 hits while batting .400 with 13 home runs and 34 RBIs. Paced the Wildcats with 42 walks and a .688 slugging percentage while maintaining a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

Freshman Year (2023 - Arizona): Started 49 of 53 games as a rookie, hitting .356 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs. Recorded 15 multi-hit games and launched two grand slams during her debut season.

Awards & Honors

All-America: Two-time NFCA Third-Team All-America selection during her tenure at Arizona.

All-Region: NFCA Second-Team All-Central Region (2026); two-time NFCA First-Team All-West Region (2024, 2025); NFCA Second-Team All-West Region (2023).

All-Conference: First-Team All-SEC (2026); All-Big 12 Conference designation (2025); two-time First-Team All-Pac-12 (2023, 2024).

Defensive Honors: 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner; SEC All-Defensive Team (2026); Big 12 All-Defensive Team (2025).