3 Hawkeyes Named Big Ten Players to Watch

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Three University of Iowa softball student-athletes – junior Jalen Adams, sophomore Soo-Jin Berry, and sophomore Jena Young — have been named to the 2025 Big Ten Softball Players to Watch list, it was announced Tuesday by the conference.

Adams, a RHP from Fort Dodge, appeared in 30 games last season making 25 starts in the circle and leading the team with four shutouts. Adams led the team with a 2.59 ERA and held hitters to a .258 BA against, picking up nine wins in 159.2 innings pitched with 50 strikeouts. She also threw 17 complete games, the third most in the Big Ten, including her first career- no-hitter against Michigan State on March 29.

Berry, an infielder from Pittsburg, California, started 36 games last year in her freshman season, and finished third on the team with a .322 batting average with seven doubles, three triples, and one home run. Berry led the team with 26 RBIs, recorded 12 multi-hit games, including three three-hit games. She finished the season with a .916 fielding percentage with 35 put outs and 52 assists, and went 5-for-6 on stolen base attempts.

Young, an infielder from Winterset, started all 46 games last year as a freshman at shortstop or second base. Young finished second on the team with a .373 batting average, recording 53 hits including six doubles, three triples, and four home runs, leading the team in total bases (77), walks (19), stolen bases (6) and OBP (.445). She finished second on the team in Big Ten play hitting .382 in 23 games, led Big Ten freshman in batting average, was statistically was the toughest batter to strikeout in the Big Ten, ultimately earning first team all-Big Ten and all-freshman selection.

The Hawkeyes will open their season playing Kennesaw State on February 7, 2025, in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida. The game will start at 3 p.m. (CT) and be available to stream on Gamechanger.