OKLAHOMA CITY — Three members of the 2025 U-18 Women’s National Team have been named Gatorade State Players of the Year: Aspen Boulware, Lilly “Goose” Goodwin, and McLaine Hudson. All three will represent Team USA this September at the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals in Oklahoma City.
About the Gatorade Player of the Year Award
The Gatorade Player of the Year program is one of the highest honors in high school sports, recognizing outstanding student-athletes for excellence in competition, academics, and character. Each year, one athlete is selected from every state and the District of Columbia across multiple sports, based on three pillars: athletic performance, academic achievement, and leadership within the community.
Over the years, the award has built a distinguished alumni list that includes numerous Olympians and international stars, reflecting its reputation for identifying athletes who excel both on the field and beyond it.
Aspen Boulware — South Carolina
A former U-15 National Team member, Aspen Boulware was named South Carolina’s 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year after posting a .573 batting average during her sophomore season at Gray Collegiate Academy in West Columbia. She helped lead the War Eagles to a 32–3 record and the Class 4A state championship.
Boulware hit 22 home runs, scored 67 runs, and added nine doubles and eight triples. She also drew 34 walks, stole 26 bases, and finished with a .696 on-base percentage. In the classroom, she maintains straight A’s and will begin her junior year this fall. She is part of her school’s student-athlete leadership team and volunteers with her church youth group.
Lilly “Goose” Goodwin — Arizona
Lilly “Goose” Goodwin earned Arizona’s Gatorade Player of the Year honors for the second straight season after a dominant junior campaign at Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale. The left-handed pitcher and first baseman led the Wolves to a 30-1-1 record and a third consecutive Conference 5A state championship.
In the circle, Goodwin went 20-0 with a 0.36 ERA, striking out 319 batters in 134.2 innings and posting a 0.48 WHIP. Offensively, she hit .552 with six home runs and a .897 slugging percentage. She carries a weighted 4.66 GPA and has verbally committed to play at Northwestern University beginning in fall 2026. Goodwin is active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, volunteers with her school’s ambassador program and National Honor Society, and also serves as a youth pitching instructor.
McLaine Hudson — Kentucky
Returning U-18 National Team player McLaine Hudson was named Kentucky’s 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year following an outstanding junior season at South Warren High School in Bowling Green. Hudson hit .618 with 20 home runs and scored 82 runs across 37 games.
The shortstop, who also earned 4th Region Player of the Year and Golden Glove honors, stole 28 bases without being caught and finished with a 2.006 OPS. She helped guide the Spartans to a 34–3 record, a regional championship, and a berth in the state tournament. Hudson maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA and has verbally committed to the University of Kentucky for fall 2026. She serves as a student council representative and volunteers with the South Warren Middle School softball program, while also supporting local events for the Down Syndrome of Southern Kentucky Buddy House.
Representing the U.S. on the World Stage
Selected through the High Performance Program pathway, Boulware, Goodwin, and Hudson will compete with Team USA at the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals from September 27 to October 2 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. The tournament will feature top programs from around the world, including Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, Japan, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.