The transfer portal has accelerated player movement across college athletics, and softball is certainly no exception. The portal window opened June 8, and over the last month, several Alabama natives playing Division I softball have made moves with their futures in mind.
Division I transfers are only scratching the surface of player movement, but many of you will remember seeing these athletes excel in our state at the high school level.
(If I’ve accidentally omitted one, send me an email at 4CornersSoftballPod@gmail.com).
Hannah Dorsett: Hewitt-Trussville product, transferring to Jacksonville State from UAB
Hannah Dorsett spent three seasons at UAB, starting 157 games and hitting .322 for her career. That was good enough to earn her All-Conference Second Team honors in 2026.
Dorsett was a leader on that UAB roster, but she’s far from the only one moving on due to the uncertainty within the program. She landed not much further from home, with Jacksonville State welcoming her into the program.
The choice wasn’t unfamiliar territory. Dorsett had visited the Gamecocks’ campus as a high school recruit, four years before she ended up walking it again as a transfer.
“I am very excited to have found Jacksonville State through this process,” Dorsett said. “When I came back four years later, I loved it even more.”
Three years in, she said the biggest lesson has been about preparation, one that started well before she ever set foot on a college campus.
“The work ethic you put in before even getting to college truly does put you in the right position,” she said. “I am blessed to have been taught by some of the greatest, Taylor Burt and Rocky Thompson, who made me very prepared and have made my college journey a lot easier. When it comes to being at college, you have so much freedom, so what you do with your free time — whether that’s athletics or academics — can set you up for success. Time management is important.”
Dorsett will play one final season with the Gamecocks, planning to graduate next spring and “hit the real world.”
Her goals reach beyond the stat sheet.
“I want to have zero regrets by the end of the season,” she said. “I want to know I did all I could on and off the field to give it my all for my team. Next, of course I want to go win a conference championship and not just make it to postseason, but go out there and win a regional with the Jax State family. With all of that, joining a new team I really do hope to leave with some great connections and memories along the way.”
Bella Foran: Hoover product, transferring to South Carolina from FAU
Bella Foran’s two seasons at Florida Atlantic have been productive. In 2026, she put forth a .342 batting average, 40 runs, a Gold Glove and earned NFCA All-Region honors for the second straight year.
Foran is making the leap to the SEC, heading to South Carolina to join the Gamecocks.
“I am super excited,” Foran said. “The opportunity to live out this six-year-old girl’s dream feels surreal. I am just grateful for God giving me the athletic ability and for my wonderful support system around me.”
That support system, she said, made all the difference during a stressful process.
“Making the decision wasn’t an easy one, but thankfully I have family and coaches that helped me and walked with me every step of the way,” Foran said. “Marla Townsend, who spent almost two hours on the phone with me talking it out before making a final decision, deserves a huge shoutout. She helped me out greatly, along with Justin Kaplan. Without him, going through this recruiting process would have been 10 times more stressful. That is why I put such a huge emphasis on having a solid support system around you.”
Two years in, Foran said she’s learned that talent alone doesn’t separate players at this level. Effort and identity do.
“You have to want it and continue to want it,” she said. “It’s also been a great reminder to just be myself. My mom got me a necklace before opening day my freshman year that says ‘Be You,’ a reminder to not try and be the player to the right or left of me but to be authentically myself.”
Foran believes she will have three seasons left to chase her goals in Columbia. Those goals include one very specific personal milestone.
“An individual goal of mine might sound sappy, but it’s to hit my first collegiate home run,” Foran said. “I am excited to develop my power game at South Carolina. And a team goal I want to accomplish before my college career ends is making a run to OKC [for the Women’s College World Series]. I want to be a part of playing at the highest stage you could possibly play at our level.”
The rest of the wave
Dorsett and Foran are far from alone. Here’s a look at the other Alabama-connected softball players who entered the portal this summer.
Ryley Harrison: Fairhope product, transferring to Arizona from South Alabama. Harrison went 18-14 with a 2.41 ERA and 204 strikeouts in 2026, leading the Jaguars to the Sun Belt Conference championship and earning tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.
Hannah Christian: Hoover product, transferring to Kentucky from Southern Miss. Like her former high school teammate Foran, Christian is also heading to the SEC. A .357 career hitter, Christian set the program’s freshman records for hits (55) and hitting streak (15) in 2025 en route to First Team All-Sun Belt honors, then earned a Preseason All-Sun Belt nod in 2026.
Caroline McLendon: St. Paul’s product, transferring to Louisiana Tech from UAB. The left-handed pitcher made 18 appearances with seven starts in 2026, going 2-4 as a grad transfer for the Blazers.
Sydney Carroll: Chelsea product, transferring to UT Martin from Mississippi State. Carroll redshirted last season, and arrives at UT Martin with four years of eligibility to play both infield and pitch.
Sara Phillips: Hewitt-Trussville product, transferring from Mississippi State, destination TBD. Phillips will have three years of eligibility at her next stop.
Brantlee Wortham: Randolph County product, transferring from UAB, destination TBD. Wortham appeared in 32 games over two seasons with the Blazers and is excelling this summer with the Bradenton Slice in the Florida Gulf Coast League while she weighs her next move.
KG Favors: Orange Beach product, transferring to Louisiana from South Carolina. A three-time AHSAA state champion and two-time state tournament MVP at Orange Beach, Favors made three starts as a true freshman for the Gamecocks in 2026, going 2-1 with a 4.12 ERA. She arrives at Louisiana with three years of eligibility remaining.
Dailynn Motes: Thompson product, transferring to Central Arkansas from Troy. Motes has played all over the infield in her two college seasons, showcasing her versatility.
Kendall Trimm: Moody product, transferring from UCF, destination TBD. Trimm made the D1Softball D100 Freshman Watch List in her lone season with the Knights and enters the portal with three years of eligibility remaining.
Olivia Cummings: Corner product, transferring to South Alabama from UAB, staying in-state as part of the Blazers’ portal exodus this spring.
Raegan Wall: Hazel Green product, transferring to Southern Miss from Georgia Tech. Wall began her career at James Madison before transferring to Georgia Tech, where she hit .304 with 35 hits and 32 runs as a sophomore in 2026.
Ansleigh Smith: Houston Academy product, transferring to Louisiana Tech from South Alabama. Started 78 games over two years at USA and has two years of eligibility remaining.