The Washington Huskies received some shocking news on Wednesday as four members of coach Heather Tarr’s team, which appeared to be ready to make a run to the Women’s College World Series, in 2025, entered the transfer portal.
Tarr has a promising 2024 class signed, but now she will have to utilize the portal herself to round out her roster, especially with the accolades among some of the players looking for a new home.
Washington’s star shortstop continued her ascendance during her junior season, earning a spot on the All-Pac-12 and the NFCA All-Pacific region first teams thanks to her .336 batting average, 1.052 OPS, 11 home runs, and 25 runs batted in. Holtorf also impressed with her glove, recording a .942 fielding percentage with 8 errors on 138 chances.
The freshman pitcher dazzled in the circle for Tarr and is another shocking entrant to the portal, as the graduation of both Brooke Nelson and Lindsay Lopez opened up a key role for Peters, who earned a spot on the Pac-12 All-Freshman team. The Huskies turned to Peters in multiple key spots in the postseason thanks to her strong year, posting an 8-1 record with a 3.35 ERA and 70 strikeouts across 26 appearances.
The former top recruit had a breakout year at the plate while Washington’s coaching staff tried her at several different spots on defense. Fiedler started all 47 games and excelled, with a .336 batting average, 7 home runs, and 27 runs batted in.
Johnson, who was mainly utilized as the designated player this year, has seen her role at catcher decrease after the emergence of Sydney Stewart behind the dish. The big-time power threat blasted a walk-off grand slam early in the year and had a strong season at the plate with a .300 batting average, 4 home runs, and 21 runs batted in.
Softball America’s lead writer Brady Vernon hinted that they might not be the last players to enter the portal, and the reasons behind some of Tarr’s most important contributors deciding to look elsewhere are unknown.