Despines and Pickens Named CSC Academic All-Americans
June 16, 2026 | Softball, Academic Services
This marks the first time since 2018 that Louisville has had multiple players selected to the CSC Academic All-America Teams.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Senior Bri Despines and sophomore Madison Pickens of the University of Louisville softball team were named College Sports Communicators Academic All-Americans, the outlet announced Tuesday.
Despines, a business administration major, was selected as the lone catcher on the CSC Academic All-America Second Team, sporting a 3.93 cumulative GPA. Pickens, a psychology major with a 3.98 cumulative GPA, was named one of three outfielders to the Third Team. This marks the first Academic All-America honor of either players' careers and the seventh and eighth all-time honors in program history.
Despines racked up the accolades this season, earning NFCA Third Team All-American honors, All-ACC First Team honors, and NFCA First Team All-Region honors. The Creve Coeur, Ill. native was one of the most complete hitters in the country this season, batting .402 with 66 hits and 70 RBIs. The catcher started all 58 games this year, ranking third in the ACC with a .552 on-base percentage, while also slugging .756.
Despines recorded 19 multi-hit games and 17 multi-RBI games, including six games with four or more RBIs. Defensively, she threw out 12 runners stealing (T-1st ACC). In addition to her production at the plate, she is 21-for-23 on stolen base attempts. The senior ended the year on a 33-game reached base streak, the longest active stretch on the team, reaching base in all but one game this season (57 of 58 games).
Pickens, an NFCA First Team All-Region selection, emerged as one of the top run producers in the country this season, totaling 74 RBI with 86 hits. Her team-high RBI total is first in program history for single-season RBIs, surpassing Maryssa Becker's 60 RBIs in 2016. The sophomore led the team in batting average, setting a new single season record with a .457 average. She also led the team in slugging percentage (.777), home runs (11), extra-base hits (34), and total bases (146) while adding 19 doubles and four triples.
The leftfielder was also named to the All-ACC First Team this season after leading the conference in batting average with a .494 clip in ACC play. She received ACC All-Tournament honors after hitting .500 with four RBI and a walk-off double in Louisville's win over NC State. The Flowery Branch, Ga. native was named a Softball America Second Team All-American for her performance in 2026.
Despines, a business administration major, was selected as the lone catcher on the CSC Academic All-America Second Team, sporting a 3.93 cumulative GPA. Pickens, a psychology major with a 3.98 cumulative GPA, was named one of three outfielders to the Third Team. This marks the first Academic All-America honor of either players' careers and the seventh and eighth all-time honors in program history.
Despines racked up the accolades this season, earning NFCA Third Team All-American honors, All-ACC First Team honors, and NFCA First Team All-Region honors. The Creve Coeur, Ill. native was one of the most complete hitters in the country this season, batting .402 with 66 hits and 70 RBIs. The catcher started all 58 games this year, ranking third in the ACC with a .552 on-base percentage, while also slugging .756.
Despines recorded 19 multi-hit games and 17 multi-RBI games, including six games with four or more RBIs. Defensively, she threw out 12 runners stealing (T-1st ACC). In addition to her production at the plate, she is 21-for-23 on stolen base attempts. The senior ended the year on a 33-game reached base streak, the longest active stretch on the team, reaching base in all but one game this season (57 of 58 games).
Pickens, an NFCA First Team All-Region selection, emerged as one of the top run producers in the country this season, totaling 74 RBI with 86 hits. Her team-high RBI total is first in program history for single-season RBIs, surpassing Maryssa Becker's 60 RBIs in 2016. The sophomore led the team in batting average, setting a new single season record with a .457 average. She also led the team in slugging percentage (.777), home runs (11), extra-base hits (34), and total bases (146) while adding 19 doubles and four triples.
The leftfielder was also named to the All-ACC First Team this season after leading the conference in batting average with a .494 clip in ACC play. She received ACC All-Tournament honors after hitting .500 with four RBI and a walk-off double in Louisville's win over NC State. The Flowery Branch, Ga. native was named a Softball America Second Team All-American for her performance in 2026.
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