High School: Ranked the No. 3 overall player and No. 1 infielder in the class of 2024 by Extra Inning Softball … Member of the United States 18-U National Team … Named the Most Outstanding Player of the WSBC U-18 World Cup Group C Stage after posting an impressive .733 batting average and .750 on-base percentage with 11 hits, two doubles, two home runs, eight RBI, and a walk while leading the Unites States to a first-place finish … Prepped at Foster High School in Richmond, Texas, where she was the Texas 20-5A District MVP all four years of her high school career … Earned first-team all-district and All-Greater Houston honors every year of her prep career … Batted .704 with a .789 on-base percentage, 1.544 slugging percentage, 22 home runs, 71 runs, 58 RBI and 31 stolen bases as a senior in 2024 … Was named VYPE Houston Softball Player of the Year and All-Greater Houston Hitter of the Year in 2024 … Made the Line Drive Media All-Summer Team after batting .609 with a 1.679 OPS, 15 HR, 60 RBI and 30 SB during the 2024 summer ball circuit … As a junior, McDowell slashed .678/.744/1.413 with a 2.158 OPS, 59 hits, 12 home runs, 12 doubles, eight triples and 59 RBI to guide Foster High School to a 2023 Area Championship while finishing the season on a 32-game hitting streak … Hit .452 with 12 home runs, 42 RBI and 52 hits in travel ball in 2023 … Was named All-Greater Houston Newcomer of the Year following an outstanding freshman season in 2021.
Why Ella chose Arkansas: “Arkansas has always felt like home to me. The coaches and players make you feel like you are a part of a family, and we have some of the best fans in the country. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
