Breaking News: Alabama Head coach Karen Weekly is Selected as the SEC Coach of the Year in 2024…see more

AUBURN, Alabama Head coach Karen Weekly and sophomore Karlyn Pickens received individual recognition in the Southeastern Conference’s post-season awards, which were revealed on Friday morning. All-SEC First Team awards went to McKenna Gibson, Payton Gottshall, Taylor Pannell, Pickens, and Rylie West; second-team honors went to Kiki Milloy, Sophia Nugent, and Zaida Puni.

SEC Coach of the Year in 2024, Weekly led Tennessee to a 40-9 record and its second consecutive SEC regular season championship. Weekly has been selected coach of the year for the past two years, and this is her fourth nomination for the honor.

Voted SEC Pitcher of the Year, sophomore Karlyn Pickens joined Monica Abbott as the only Lady to win after a dominant season in the circle.

With only conference stats considered, Pickens finished SEC play with a 9-3 record, six complete games, four shutouts and a save. The flamethrower notched 94 strikeouts over 86.2 innings of work and held opposing hitters to a .181 batting average.

The native of Weaverville, North Carolina, finished league play with an ERA of 1.70.

47 student-athletes have earned 85 All-SEC honors for UT since 1997.

 

The All-SEC Teams, which are chosen by the 13 head coaches in the league, are made up of nine players on the All-Defensive Team, 21 players on the First Team, and 21 players on the Second Team. During the selecting process, no ties were broken.

 

Santa Clarita, California native McKenna Gibson, a 3B, Jr.

Gibson has been a reliable player for Tennessee, earning a spot on the All-SEC First Team for two seasons running. In SEC play this season, the third baseman has five doubles, four home runs, and 19 RBIs while hitting.291 with a.506,.345 slugging, and on-base percentage.

 

Milan, IL – Taylor Pannell, OF, R-Fr.
This season, in conference play, the redshirt freshman led Tennessee with a batting average of.342, six home runs, and second-best total of 18 runs batted in. Pannell had an on-base percentage of.360 and slugged.589. Pannell is making his debut on the All-SEC squad with this appearance.

• P. Karlyn Pickens • Weaverville, N.C. • So.
Pickens, the other half of Tennessee’s formidable duo in the circle, won the SEC Pitcher of the Year award following an outstanding sophomore campaign. Pickens was named to the second team in 2023 and made the All-SEC First Team for the first time in 2024.

Rylie West, senior OF from Eastvale, California.
West, a senior outfielder, made her first appearance on the All-SEC First Team after slashing.308/.538/.356 in conference play.

 

Kiki Milloy Woodinville, Washington, OF, Gr.
All-SEC recognition has been awarded to Milloy for the fourth time in her career. The graduate, who played on the second team, hit.284 and drove in a team-high 20 runs, including three home runs and four doubles. In conference play, Milloy also stole a team-high seven bases.

Seal Beach, California; Sophia Nugent, Jr., C.
After hitting, Nugent, a first-year Lady Vol, was selected to the All-SEC Second Team.277 with four doubles, five home runs, 10 RBIs, and five runs scored. With 118 putouts and three assists, the junior proved reliable behind the plate.