Clemson Tigers softball joined theAtlantic Coast Conference as a Division I varsity program in 2020. In November 2017, former Stanford coachJohn Rittman was named as Clemson's first head softball coach. Rittman spent the previous two years as an assistant coach atKansas andUSA Softball.[2][3][4][5]
The Tigers' first season was impacted by theCOVID-19 pandemic. The Tigers had started 19–8 overall and 5–1 in ACC play before the season was cancelled by Clemson and the ACC.[6][7] The NCAA tournament was also canceled.[8] 2021 was Clemson's first full season as a program and they finished 44–8 overall, with a 29–5 record in ACC play. They won the regular season championship, and made the final of theACC tournament but fell short in the final, losing to Duke. They could not advance past the Regional in theNCAA Tournament. They were placed in a Regional with SEC championAlabama and lost both games against the Crimson Tide. The program's success would continue in 2022 as they would finish 14–10 in ACC play to finish in fifth place. Despite their lower seed, they again reached the final of theACC tournament, but could not overcome Florida State in the Final. They were selected to host a regional in theNCAA Tournament and won three games without allowing a run, to advance to the Super Regional. During the2023 season, Clemson had its first perfect game in program history.Valerie Cagle recorded the perfect game by retiring all fifteen batters she faced in an 18–0 (5 inning) win overMercer.[9] The2024 season, was a down season by Clemson's lofty standards. The team finished with its lowest overall win total in a full season. However, they did keep their streak of NCAA tournament appearances alive, but did not advance past the regional round.
National champion Postseason invitational champion Conference regular season champion Conference regular season and conference tournament champion Division regular season champion Division regular season and conference tournament champion Conference tournament champion
2025 Clemson Tigers softball team
