Dot Richardson Shares Early Thoughts on Liberty Softball’s Upcoming Season
Two-time Olympic gold-medalist and 13-year Liberty softball head coach, Dot Richardson, enthusiastically unpacked what lies ahead for the Flames this upcoming campaign in a video she posted to X, on Monday.
The two-minute clip also teased a new episode of The Dot Richardson Show podcast, set to launch next Wednesday.
Let's talk about the upcoming Liberty Flames Softball season!
— Dot Richardson (@CoachDot_LU) January 26, 2026
And look for a brand new podcast episode coming on Wednesday!#thedotrichardsonshow#lusoftball#GoFlames#GoGod pic.twitter.com/UU0b4wLr3E
Liberty, which went 50-15 overall last year and 20-3 in Conference USA (CUSA), is fresh off a historic postseason run when the team defeated the No. 1 ranked Texas A&M Aggies to advance to the program's first-ever Super Regional.
The Flames enter 2026, ranked No. 21 by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and No. 23 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Preseason Poll. From the jump, Liberty is slated to face several of the country's best as part of the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla., with the likes of Softball America's No. 4 Tennessee, No. 5 Oregon, and No. 9 Clemson.
“For the season, it is one of the toughest schedules that I’ve ever put together. And that’s saying a lot you guys," Richardson said in the video, "but I'm really excited about it.”
Later on, the Flames also have meetings with several other Power 4 schools such as Florida State, Alabama, Duke, and Virginia Tech.
“We have a great opportunity with the strength of our schedule to even move farther up and improve where we need to be and where we want to be," Richardson continued.
we are SO back 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qm6nV7HLC6
— Liberty Softball (@LibertySB) January 14, 2026
New to CUSA just three years ago, the small private school located in Lynchburg, Va., wasted no time in making a statement against its league counterparts. Liberty captured both the regular season and conference tournament titles in 2024 and 2025, earning the respect of CUSA head coaches and thus touted as 2026 CUSA Preseason Poll favorites.
"Those that have graduated have really left their mark on the players that are succeeding them. It’s going to be fun to see the combination of experience, youth, energy, speed and power, offensively," Richardson said in the video.
"Defensively we are getting stronger every day. In the pitching circle, it’s the most depth we’ve ever had.”
Liberty will be led by four returners named as CUSA preseason players to watch, Savanah Whatley, Savannah Jessee, Kaylan Yoder, and Paige Doerr, along with five newcomers including freshman Caitlyn Nesbitt and transfers Camden Anders, Ella Fox, Gabby Mike, and Savannah Nash.
“Keep your eyes on Liberty Softball. You’re going to have a blast watching us," Richardson concluded with.
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Maddy Lewis was a four-year starting infielder for UC San Diego Softball (2015–19), helping lead the Tritons to two conference championships, a West Region title, and a trip to the Division II National Championship in her senior season. She graduated from UC San Diego with a degree in Communication, where she also wrote for the student newspaper, The Guardian. After college, Maddy spent two years as a Sports Information Director, working closely with the softball, basketball and running programs, deepening her appreciation for the stories behind the stats. She has continued her playing career on the international stage as a member and captain of the Israeli Women’s National Softball Team for the past four years, facing top talent at European Championships, Canada Cups, and the Maccabi Games. Beyond competing, Maddy remains deeply committed to growing the game. She co-hosts the Jewish Softball: More Than A Game podcast, offers private instruction in the Bay Area and has coached teams at the Triple Crown Sports International Challenge and the JCC Maccabi Games. With a passion for storytelling and softball, she is dedicated to giving back to the sport that has shaped her both on and off the field and making an impact on the next generation in any way she can.
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