Tech's transfer class ranked No. 1
July 28, 2025 | Softball
The Red Raiders softball team reloaded following WCWS National Runners-Up finish last year
LUBBOCK, Texas – Softball America released its rankings of the top transfer portal classes in the country on Monday which featured the Red Raiders at No. 1 for the second consecutive season. Texas Tech finished its historic 2025 season as the National Runners-Up after advancing to its first ever Women's College World Series.
Gerry Glasco and company added All-Americans Mia Williams, Taylor Pannell and Jasmyn Burns as well as Kaitlyn Terry, Jackie Lis, Desirae Spearman and Lagi Quiroga.
"We wanted to add depth and experience in as many places as possible as we try to win the National Championship this coming season," said Glasco. "Obviously it will be very difficult to improve upon our 2025 season, but as a staff we feel like we have made tremendous improvements as we enter our second season at Texas Tech."
The Red Raiders lost two key seniors in Demi Elder and Alexa Langeliers and had a focus on replacing their production as well as adding more depth in the circle and behind the plate.
"Pitching, catching and infield were our priorities as far as depth and experience," Glasco said. "We feel like we have added tremendous talents to our roster and gained more postseason experience through the new additions coming in."
Williams, Pannell and Terry all played in the WCWS last season while Burns and Quiroga played in the NCAA Regionals. Along with postseason experience, the newcomers add a lot of power to Glasco's lineup as the seven athletes combined to hit 105 home runs last season. The Red Raiders finished with 60 long balls last season and had only one player finish with double digits in that category.
"The other critical point of emphasis was power on the offensive side," Glasco said. "We have added seven athletes that hit 105 home runs in 2025 to our roster, a roster that returns just 45 home runs from last season. We felt that adding extra base hits, both doubles and home runs, was the most important aspect of our offense heading into next season."
Expectations for the Red Raiders were high going into last season, and they might just be even higher heading into the 2026 season.
The Newcomers:
Mia Williams finished the 2025 season with 19 home runs and was a 2025 NFCA Second Team All-American as well as All-SEC Second Team and NFCA All-Gulf Region First Team honoree. She hit .335 with 44 RBI, recording 18 multi-hit games and was in on 18 double plays from the second base position.
Taylor Pannell spent time at third base and outfield while in Knoxville, slashing .351/.632/.425 over 124 games. Her power took a big leap this past season, hitting 13 doubles and 16 home runs which doubled her total from her freshman campaign. She was also named to the NFCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region First Team and a 2025 CSC Academic All-American, NFCA Second Team All-American and All-SEC First Team honoree.
Jasmyn Burns slashed .455/1.006/.540 this past season with 25 home runs and 72 RBI on her way to being named an NFCA First Team All-American, NFCA All-Great Lakes Region First Team member and All-Big Ten First Team member. Burns was also named to the Big Ten All-Freshmen Team and the NFCA All-Midwest Region Third Team in her freshman year.
Kaitlyn Terry recorded her second straight 20-win season with the Bruins, going 20-5 with a 2.64 ERA and striking out 172 batters while walking just 34. The lefty helped UCLA to a 2025 WCWS appearance as she was named to the NFCA All-West Region Third Team. Her freshman season, Terry was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year as she posted a 21-3 record with a 2.38 ERA and 161 strikeouts.
Jackie Lis was a three-time All-MVC First Team selection and was named the MVC Player of the Year in 2024. The rising senior has played and started in 164 games and has hit .340 or better in all three seasons and post double-digit home runs in those years. For her career she is slashing an impressive .353/.690/.457 with 141 RBI and 95 walks to go along with her home run numbers. Lis was also a two-time NFCA All-Region selection and a two-time MVC Scholar-Athlete.
Desirae Spearman was named the 2024 CUSA Freshman and Player of the Year and is a two-time All-CUSA First Teamer and holds a 3.38 career ERA with 193 strikeouts while also slashing .398/.921/.540 with 38 home runs and 90 RBI for her career. Her .430 batting average this past season set a program record and her .606 on-base percentage and .977 slugging percentage were both ranked fifth in the country.
Lagi Quiroga slashed .346/.631/.443 with 12 home runs, 13 doubles and 44 RBI. She started all 58 games for the Golden Bears and collected 62 hits. Although she played catcher, Quiroga is a versatile defender able to play in several positions over the course of the season. She has amassed 109 hits, 20 doubles, 28 home runs and 75 RBI over her two-year career. Her freshman season she was named to the All-PAC 12 Freshmen Team, NFCA All-Pacific Region First Team and the Softball America Freshmen All-American team.
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Gerry Glasco and company added All-Americans Mia Williams, Taylor Pannell and Jasmyn Burns as well as Kaitlyn Terry, Jackie Lis, Desirae Spearman and Lagi Quiroga.
"We wanted to add depth and experience in as many places as possible as we try to win the National Championship this coming season," said Glasco. "Obviously it will be very difficult to improve upon our 2025 season, but as a staff we feel like we have made tremendous improvements as we enter our second season at Texas Tech."
The Red Raiders lost two key seniors in Demi Elder and Alexa Langeliers and had a focus on replacing their production as well as adding more depth in the circle and behind the plate.
"Pitching, catching and infield were our priorities as far as depth and experience," Glasco said. "We feel like we have added tremendous talents to our roster and gained more postseason experience through the new additions coming in."
Williams, Pannell and Terry all played in the WCWS last season while Burns and Quiroga played in the NCAA Regionals. Along with postseason experience, the newcomers add a lot of power to Glasco's lineup as the seven athletes combined to hit 105 home runs last season. The Red Raiders finished with 60 long balls last season and had only one player finish with double digits in that category.
"The other critical point of emphasis was power on the offensive side," Glasco said. "We have added seven athletes that hit 105 home runs in 2025 to our roster, a roster that returns just 45 home runs from last season. We felt that adding extra base hits, both doubles and home runs, was the most important aspect of our offense heading into next season."
Expectations for the Red Raiders were high going into last season, and they might just be even higher heading into the 2026 season.
The Newcomers:
Mia Williams finished the 2025 season with 19 home runs and was a 2025 NFCA Second Team All-American as well as All-SEC Second Team and NFCA All-Gulf Region First Team honoree. She hit .335 with 44 RBI, recording 18 multi-hit games and was in on 18 double plays from the second base position.
Taylor Pannell spent time at third base and outfield while in Knoxville, slashing .351/.632/.425 over 124 games. Her power took a big leap this past season, hitting 13 doubles and 16 home runs which doubled her total from her freshman campaign. She was also named to the NFCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region First Team and a 2025 CSC Academic All-American, NFCA Second Team All-American and All-SEC First Team honoree.
Jasmyn Burns slashed .455/1.006/.540 this past season with 25 home runs and 72 RBI on her way to being named an NFCA First Team All-American, NFCA All-Great Lakes Region First Team member and All-Big Ten First Team member. Burns was also named to the Big Ten All-Freshmen Team and the NFCA All-Midwest Region Third Team in her freshman year.
Kaitlyn Terry recorded her second straight 20-win season with the Bruins, going 20-5 with a 2.64 ERA and striking out 172 batters while walking just 34. The lefty helped UCLA to a 2025 WCWS appearance as she was named to the NFCA All-West Region Third Team. Her freshman season, Terry was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year as she posted a 21-3 record with a 2.38 ERA and 161 strikeouts.
Jackie Lis was a three-time All-MVC First Team selection and was named the MVC Player of the Year in 2024. The rising senior has played and started in 164 games and has hit .340 or better in all three seasons and post double-digit home runs in those years. For her career she is slashing an impressive .353/.690/.457 with 141 RBI and 95 walks to go along with her home run numbers. Lis was also a two-time NFCA All-Region selection and a two-time MVC Scholar-Athlete.
Desirae Spearman was named the 2024 CUSA Freshman and Player of the Year and is a two-time All-CUSA First Teamer and holds a 3.38 career ERA with 193 strikeouts while also slashing .398/.921/.540 with 38 home runs and 90 RBI for her career. Her .430 batting average this past season set a program record and her .606 on-base percentage and .977 slugging percentage were both ranked fifth in the country.
Lagi Quiroga slashed .346/.631/.443 with 12 home runs, 13 doubles and 44 RBI. She started all 58 games for the Golden Bears and collected 62 hits. Although she played catcher, Quiroga is a versatile defender able to play in several positions over the course of the season. She has amassed 109 hits, 20 doubles, 28 home runs and 75 RBI over her two-year career. Her freshman season she was named to the All-PAC 12 Freshmen Team, NFCA All-Pacific Region First Team and the Softball America Freshmen All-American team.
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