OKLAHOMA CITY – One of the greatest pitching careers in Tennessee softball history has come to an end.
Senior ace Karlyn Pickens (15-8) pitched her final innings for the Lady Vols in a 4-0 loss to No. 2 seed Texas at Devon Park on June 1. She threw six strikeouts with three walks, seven hits allowed and four earned runs in six innings for No. 7 seed Tennessee (49-12), which ended its season in the Women’s College World Series semifinals for the third time in Pickens’ career.
“My four years here have been nothing but just amazing,” Pickens said, getting emotional during the postgame press conference. “I’ve enjoyed my experience so much. I’ve been a part of four amazing group of girls, and I think that’s kind of the hardest part of walking away from it is just the bonds we have with this team and teams of past and stuff like that.
“I’m thankful to have been able to be a part of this program, to be able to put on this uniform and fight for the Lady Vols and my team.”
Before Pickens’ freshman season in 2023, Tennessee hadn’t been to the WCWS since 2015. She went three times in four years.
Pickens leaves as a two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year and a three-time first-team All-American. She ended her career with a 71-33 record, 824 strikeouts, 26 shutouts and four no-hitters.
The 6-foot-1 Pickens broke the record as a junior for the fastest softball pitch ever recorded, throwing 78.2 mph during a game last season and bettering it at 79.4 mph in the super regional.
Tennessee coach Karen Weekly said there’s “nobody else you want out there in that kind of win-or-go-home situation.”
“I thought Karlyn battled like the champ she is, and it was a great battle,” Weekly said. “As the game is going on and you’re thinking, OK, this could be the last game, I’m trying not to think about it. But you know the time with her was going to come to an end. Just such a privilege to coach somebody like Karlyn.”
Weekly praised Pickens’ loyalty in the era when “people jump ship and do it for the dollars” and Pickens had that opportunity. But she stayed all four years at Tennessee, “which meant so much to me and to everybody in our university,” Weekly said.
“Karlyn will have a legacy forever at Tennessee, forever,” Weekly said. “Her name is synonymous with some of the greats who have come through Tennessee. All you have to say is Karlyn. Everybody knows what you’re talking about. Just like you say Peyton (Manning) or Chamique (Holdsclaw) or Candace (Parker), everybody knows who you’re talking about. The fact that Tennessee means so much to Karlyn and the Lady Vols softball program means so much to her is what really makes my heart happy.”
Pickens’ softball career won’t end after the loss. She was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 AUSL Draft by the Carolina Blaze, which is based in Durham, North Carolina. She’s also in the talent pool for the U.S. national team, with a home Olympics on the horizon in 2028 that includes softball.
But it won’t be the same as playing for Tennessee, Pickens said.
“I’ve soaked in and loved every single moment of it, and I’m very excited that my playing days aren’t over, but it’s definitely the end of a chapter,” Pickens said. “It sucks that I won’t get to put on this uniform again, but I’m just so grateful for all the experience I’ve had.”
Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks:knoxnews.com/subscribe
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Karlyn Pickens, Karen Weekly on end of Tennessee softball star pitcher’s career
