McWhorter Named 2024-25 Gatorade Arkansas Softball Player of the Year
CHICAGO – Arkansas Softball incoming freshman Lillie-Faye McWhorter has been named the 2024-25 Gatorade Arkansas Softball Player of the Year, the organization announced Monday afternoon.
The Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the field in their respective sports, in the classroom and in the community.
The award distinguishes McWhorter as the best high school softball player in Arkansas. She joins an impressive group of alumni nationally that spans CEOs, coaches, and star athletes such as Cat Osterman (2000-01, Cypress Springs High School, Texas) and Rachel Garcia (2014-15 & 2012-13, Highland High School, Calif.).
McWhorter, a 5-foot-10 senior right-handed pitcher, led the Bears (32-5) to the semifinals of the 2A state tournament this past season. She went 22-1 in the circle and did not allow an earned run all season while striking out 285 against just 31 walks in 124 innings pitched. McWhorter fired five no-hitters and compiled a 0.44 WHIP.
“She was very dominant in the circle when we faced her—she commanded her pitches well and threw with very good velocity,” said Drake Snyder, head coach at Star City High School. “She was vital to her team’s success, especially when she was in the circle. She kept her team in every ball game just with her pitching.”
Offensively, she finished with a .483 batting average, 41 RBI and six home runs, recording an OPS of 1.445.
In addition to her success on the diamond, McWhorter is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America. She has volunteered locally as a youth softball and basketball coach. McWhorter has also donated her time to multiple community service initiatives through Beta Club. Academically she is a standout in the classroom with a 4.08 GPA.
McWhorter’s selection marks the fourth consecutive year a Razorback signee has received the honor. McWhorter joins Cam Harrison (Texas, 2024), Payton Burnham (Oregon, 2023), Nikki McGaffin (Colorado, 2022), and Atalyia Rijo (New York, 2022) as Razorback signees to earn the honor in the previous four years.
Each year, the Gatorade Player of the Year program recognizes top athletes in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 12 sports. One national winner is named in each sport. Winners are selected by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which includes coaches, scouts, and media representatives.
In addition to the individual honor, every Gatorade Player of the Year receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner, as part of Gatorade’s mission to remove barriers in youth sports. To date, the program has donated over $5.6 million to more than 2,000 organizations nationwide.
For more information on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com or follow the program on Instagram (@Gatorade), Facebook (@GatoradePOY), or X/Twitter (@Gatorade).
