Bri Ellis is one of the most decorated offensive performers in recent college softball history. A first baseman who played at Auburn and Arkansas, Ellis closed out her college career in 2025 as the consensus national player of the year, winning the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award. She was selected No. 2 overall by the Utah Talons in the inaugural AUSL College Draft in May 2025.
Career Highlights
Ellis arrived at Auburn in 2022 and set the program’s freshman home run record with 20 home runs while batting .302 with 49 RBI, earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors. She transferred to Arkansas after two seasons at Auburn, and her 2025 senior season was historic: she batted .457 with 26 home runs and 72 RBI, led the nation in slugging percentage (1.142) and on-base percentage (.646), and earned unanimous First Team NFCA All-America recognition. She was named SEC Player of the Year and won the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, Softball America Player of the Year, and D1Softball Player of the Year awards.
AUSL Profile
Ellis joined the Utah Talons as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 AUSL College Draft. She started 21 of 24 regular-season games as a rookie and was part of the Talons’ inaugural AUSL championship-winning roster, earning a professional title in her first season of pro ball.
FAQ
Q: Where did Bri Ellis play college softball?
A: Ellis played two seasons at Auburn (2022-2023) before transferring to Arkansas, where she played in 2024 and 2025 and was named SEC Freshman of the Year at Auburn.
Q: What made Bri Ellis’s 2025 season historic?
A: Ellis hit .457 with 26 home runs, 72 RBI, a nation-leading 1.142 slugging percentage, and won the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year among multiple national player of the year awards.
Q: How was Bri Ellis acquired by the Utah Talons?
A: Ellis was selected No. 2 overall in the inaugural AUSL College Draft in May 2025.