Karlyn Pickens is a 6-foot-1 professional softball pitcher from Weaverville, North Carolina. She was acquired with the first overall pick in the 2026 AUSL College Draft by the Carolina Blaze following a collegiate career at Tennessee.
Personal Life
Family: Daughter of Rebecca and Phillip Pickens. One of three children in her family.
Background: Three-sport standout in high school who also competed in basketball and volleyball.
Professional Experience
Athletes Unlimited Softball League (2026)
2026 AUSL Regular Season: Selected first overall in the 2026 AUSL College Draft by the Carolina Blaze. Became the sixth student-athlete in University of Tennessee history to be selected No. 1 overall in a professional sports league draft.
International Experience (2025–2026)
Team USA: Member of the 2026 United States Women’s National Team Athlete Pool. Authored a 2-0 record and a 0.00 ERA in 6.0 innings with Team USA during the 2025 Down Under Series.
College Experience: Tennessee (2023–2026)
Career Statistics: Four-year letter winner who appeared in 144 career games with 94 starts. Compiled a 71-33 career record with 13 saves. Authored a 1.53 ERA with 56 complete games, 26 shutouts, and 824 strikeouts over 650.1 innings. Owns four career no-hitters and is one of three pitchers in school history with multiple perfect games (joining Monica Abbott and Erin Gabriel).
Senior Year (2026): Composed a 15-8 record with a 1.70 ERA and 194 strikeouts over 148.0 innings. Ranked third in NCAA Division I with seven saves. Tossed her fourth career no-hitter against Kentucky on April 11, 2026, and matched a career high with 15 strikeouts against Appalachian State on March 1, 2026.
Junior Year (2025): Fashioned a 25-11 record over 44 appearances. Led the SEC in ERA (1.17), complete games (25), shutouts (7), innings pitched (226.2), strikeouts (306), and opponent batting average (.176). Set an NCAA record against Nebraska on May 24, 2025, by throwing a 79.4 mph pitch. Hurled a five-inning no-hitter with 11 strikeouts against UT Martin.
Sophomore Year (2024): Finished with a 22-7 record and a 1.12 ERA. Collected 225 strikeouts over 188.1 innings with 15 complete games and 12 shutouts. Limited opposing hitters to a .156 average. Tossed a perfect game against Loyola Marymount on February 23, 2024, with 12 strikeouts.
Freshman Year (2023): Accrued a 9-7 record with two saves, five complete games, and five shutouts. Posted her first career perfect game in an 8-0 victory over Appalachian State on March 4, 2023.
Awards & Honors
All-America: First-Team NFCA and D1Softball All-America choice as a sophomore and senior. Claimed Second-Team All-America honors from Softball America during her senior season after garnering First-Team status as a sophomore.
National Honors: Top-10 Finalist for the 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, and Top-25 Finalist for the 2026 award. 2020-21 Gatorade North Carolina High School Player of the Year.
Conference Honors: Two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year selection. Four-time All-SEC honoree, including First-Team recognition during each of her final three seasons. 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year.
