LOUISVILLE, Ky.—UIndy softball student-athletes Cara Cooper and Brooklyn Willis earned inclusion on the 2025 NFCA DII Player of the Year Watchlist, released by the coaches association Thursday. The list was compiled by the elected members of the NFCA Division II All-American Committee, with one head coach representing each of the eight NCAA regions.
 
Both Greyhounds are off to impressive starts to the 2025 campaign. Both are hitting over .400 , with Cooper's .480 tops in the GLVC. Cooper currently leads the nation in doubles (16) while Willis ranks 13th in Division II in RBIs (39). UIndy joined Wayne State as the only Midwest Region teams with more than one student-athlete under consideration..
 
The inclusive list is broken down by region – Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast and West – with up to 15 student-athletes represented in each. Voted on by the aforementioned All-American Committee, the 2025 NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year will be announced on May 27. All student-athletes are eligible for the end-of-the-season award, and do not have to be on the initial list to be considered.