What Karlyn Pickens’ Journey Teaches Us About Empowering Young Athletes

In Game 2 of the Super Regionals on May 24, Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens unleashed a 79.4 m.p.h. fastball — the fastest pitch ever recorded in NCAA softball history. To put that in perspective, the reaction time needed to hit a pitch at that speed from a softball mound is roughly equivalent to facing a 105 m.p.h. fastball in baseball. But Pickens didn’t stop there. She carried Tennessee on her back, fueling a gritty comeback and securing their spot in the Women’s College World Series.

Pickens' rise didn’t start under stadium lights. It began in her North Carolina backyard, playing catch with her dad. At 9 years old, her parents noticed her natural talent and sought formal pitching lessons. During one of those early sessions, Carolina Elite coach Dana Fusetti watched her throw and said to her dad, “You do realize that little girl is going to be one of the best softball players ever?”

From the start, her parents made sure the game stayed fun. Pickens didn’t specialize too early. She played basketball and volleyball through high school — a three-sport athlete who never lost the joy. That kind of balance didn’t just build physical strength and agility, it protected her love for the game and helped her avoid the burnout that sidelines so many promising players.

Pickens' success isn’t just about power — it’s about presence. Under Tennessee pitching coach Megan Rhodes Smith, who holds a master’s in sports psychology, Pickens learned to bring mindfulness into her routine. Visualization. Deep breaths. A pre-pitch reset. That mental work is now baked into her game. Watch her pitch, and you’ll see it: the composure, the grin, the calm in chaos.

At one point in Pickens' development, her coach noticed she wasn’t playing full out. Her arm was elite. Her drive was real. But something was pulling her back — and it wasn’t mechanics.

It was something deeper. Something many girls face.

Pickens admitted she sometimes downplayed her own success — didn’t celebrate too much, didn’t get too loud — because she didn’t want others to feel left out. She was trying to stay connected. To fit in. And in doing so, like so many girls, she was unintentionally shrinking her own space.

Her coach helped her reframe it. She didn’t need to dim her light to be a good teammate. She didn’t have to choose between being great and being loved. She could compete with everything she had and lift the people around her.

That shift changed everything.

As parents, we see this all the time — girls softening their edges to protect connection. But helping them understand that true leadership doesn’t come at the cost of friendship? That’s where growth happens.

Beyond the circle, Pickens is just as intentional. Her family values, her faith, and her humility show up in everything she does. Inspired by her brother’s military service, she and her mom have supported mental health efforts for soldiers. Her impact isn’t limited to box scores.

The bigger lesson for all of us

Most kids won’t light up a radar gun like Pickens. But watching her rise makes you think about the things that really shape a young athlete — and the role we play in helping them grow.

So yeah, Karlyn Pickens made history. But it’s the kind of person she is — not just the pitch she threw — that makes her unforgettable.

 Asia Mape is a four-time Emmy Award-winning sports journalist, the mother of three daughters, a former Division 1 basketball player and founder of Ilovetowatchyouplay.com, a digital platform that has served millions of parents and coaches as a guide and resource for raising healthy, happy, and successful athletes. Ilovetowatchyouplay.com has been featured in The Washington Post, USA Today, The Today Show, Bleacher Report, Inc., NFL.com, and Sports Illustrated.