The Florida State softball team will open its 2026 season with a home game against Samford in the JoAnne Graf Classic. FSU, a perennial top 10 program that has made it to at least the Super Regionals in each of the past three seasons, has a different approach from an attitude and roster standpoint.
Sophomore pitcher Jazzy Francik spoke with the media on Wednesday about what she learned in his freshman season and how she plans to apply that knowledge in her second year:
The attitude shift translates to the fact that it doesn’t matter who they play this year; they want to run-rule every opponent. She mentioned Texas Tech and NiJaree Canady by name and said she’s glad they get to play the Red Raiders twice and hopes to see Canady in BOTH games.
Canady is arguably the best pitcher in college softball and beat FSU in the Super Regionals a year ago. They will face the Red Raiders in the Clearwater Invitational.
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They want to compete and face the best, and the early part of their season will be an eye-opening experience for the nine true freshmen and one redshirt freshman on the roster.
FSU head coach Lonni Alameda mentioned they strategically decided to go with high school players instead of the portal this year in a recent interview with Warchant. She believes it helps establish more of a bond and better culture as those players grow and develop, while getting mentored by the older players.
FSU has great experience in the circle, and three top players returning on offense. However, those freshmen will be key in how far FSU goes in 2026. It could be shaky for some of them in the early part of the season, but that early experience should pay dividends in the backhalf and in the postseason.