Williams Picked No. 8 Overall In Athletes Unlimited Draft

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State shortstop Sami Williams was the No. 8 overall selection in the 2021 Athletes Unlimited College Draft on Monday evening. Williams was one of 12 senior softball student-athletes selected in the league's first-ever college draft.

The Cyclone standout will have the opportunity to join the professional ranks when the league begins its second season in August in Rosemont, Illinois. Williams is the first Cyclone to be drafted by a professional league since Brittany Gomez joined the National Pro Fastpitch League in 2016.

Williams, who has established herself as one of the best players in the nation, is the NCAA's active career leader in three statistical categories (Hits - 323, Doubles - 77, Total bases - 613). Williams' 77 doubles rank No. 5 in NCAA DI softball history, and are the most ever by a player from the Big 12 Conference.

A finalist for the 2021 Senior CLASS Award, Williams holds ISU's all-time records for hits (323), doubles (77), home runs (65), RBI (178), runs scored (207), games played (250) and at-bats (824). In 2021, Williams is hitting .445 with a school-record 19 home runs, 13 doubles and 52 RBI. The native of Laguna Niguel, Calif., has led Iowa State to one of the best seasons in school history. The Cyclones enter postseason play with a record of 31-19 overall, and are No. 36 in the most recent RPI – the best RPI in program history.

Up next, Williams and the Cyclones head to Oklahoma City, Okla., for the 2021 Big 12 Softball Championship, May 14-15. Iowa State is the No. 5 seed, and will face No. 3 Texas (2 p.m. CT) and No. 2 Oklahoma State (5 p.m.) on day one of the tournament.