Williams Named NFCA First Team All-America

AMES, Iowa – Senior shortstop Sami Williams will close her historic Iowa State career as a NFCA First Team All-American, the organization announced Wednesday. Williams becomes the first-ever Cyclone to be named a First Team All-American following a historic season in which the native of Laguna Niguel, Calif., led Iowa State to unprecedented heights.

Williams capped off her career as one of the greatest players in Iowa State and Big 12 softball history. In 2021, she broke single-season program records for batting average (.446) and home runs (21) with 54 RBI and a staggering .902 slugging percentage on the year. She is Iowa State's all-time leader in hits (329), doubles (79), home runs (67), RBI (180), runs scored (212), at-bats (833) and games played (253).

Williams is the Big 12's all-time leader in career hits, doubles and total bases (627). Her 79 career doubles are tied for third-most in NCAA DI softball history. Her 627 total bases are fourth-most in NCAA history.

Statistics only tell part of the story of Williams' profound impact on the Iowa State softball program. She will leave Iowa State as the program's all-time winningest player, having appeared in 128 victories during her time in the Cardinal & Gold. In 2021, Williams helped Iowa State earn its first-ever top-25 ranking in the NFCA Coaches' poll on Feb. 23 following a 9-1 start to the season. She then led ISU to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1988, and first-ever NCAA Regional Final appearance in Columbia, Mo., to cap one of the greatest seasons in school history.

Off the field, Williams was a finalist for the 2021 Senior CLASS Award, and was one of five student-athletes nationally to be named a Senior CLASS Award Softball First Team All-American. She is also a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American – just the third student-athlete in the history of Iowa State Athletics to earn the honor three times.