Arianna Rodi broke USC softball records last year. Why she’s better prepared for 2026
South Carolina softball was one out away last summer from advancing to the program’s first Women’s College World Series since 1997. A walk-off home run, followed by a loss in the rubber match the next day resulted in a Super Regionals series loss to UCLA that capped off an otherwise historic season for the Gamecocks.
Some of head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard’s returning players have held on to the loss since May. Others, like star first baseman Arianna Rodi, tried their best to move on.
“I kind of erased it from my memory,” Rodi said .
It wasn’t until this fall that Rodi saw the replay of how South Carolina’s 44-17 season came to an end. South Carolina’s players held a softball camp and showed a new “miniseries” to the campers, Rodi said, likely referring to USC’s “Ascension” documentary that premieres Tuesday. When a video of South Carolina’s loss to UCLA was shown, Rodi was immediately brought to tears.
“It was the first time I’d seen it, and I was sitting right next to Lexi [Winters], and I was bawling my eyes out like a baby,” Rodi said. “...That was like the first time I really dug into what actually happened. But I think it was a great learning moment for me, letting it go, then that moment and just building from there.”
The biggest lesson Rodi took from the Super Regionals loss? The game isn’t over until it’s over. It’s a mindset she’s carrying into her senior season in 2026 as South Carolina looks to build on one of the best years in program history
“I know in my head when we had two outs I was thinking about holding the banner and celebrating with the team and all of our families,” Rodi said. “So for me, this year … we can celebrate in the locker room after the game. But until that last out is made, we are going all out.”
Rodi is one of the biggest pieces returning for the Gamecocks in 2026. Last year, she followed Chastain Woodard from Charlotte and felt she needed to prove she could perform in the SEC.
She followed that up by finishing third on the team with a .333 batting average. Rodi was the team’s best power hitter, posting a .718 slugging percentage, and setting a program-record with 17 home runs. She led the team with 55 RBIs and also set a program record with 49 walks last season.
The Rhode Island product also became the first player in program history to win the Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
“Last year was a big year, with the public saying that I almost had to prove myself that I was ready for SEC talent,” Rodi said. “(Chastain Woodard) knew that I was ready, and I was always capable of it. So now that last year has happened and it’s over, and you could say I proved myself, this year is just going out and playing for everyone else on the team and having fun.”
Coming into 2026, Chastain Woodard seems confident in Rodi’s ability to replicate her production from last season, if not improve on it.
“Ari is the best she’s ever looked to me, and I’ve had a lot of years with her, a lot of experience with her,” Chastain Woodard said . “She’s mature, just really eager to get the year going and very focused on the right things.”
A big reason for that optimism is Rodi’s comfort level. Rodi said this is the first season of her career where she feels she’s been in a “stable environment.”
“You come into college as a freshman, you have no idea what’s going to happen,” Rodi said. “Sophomore year was a different role for me going in. And then last year was my first year here. So this is the first year where everything’s a constant.”
Another reason for Rodi to be comfortable is the rest of South Carolina’s lineup around her. Rodi was the main source of the Gamecocks’ power last year, but in 2026 the lineup projects to have more power throughout thanks to such additions as N.C. State transfer Tori Ensley and Ole Miss transfers Tate Davis and Jamie Mackay, Chastain Woodard said.
“It’s really refreshing going in the box. … You get some relief knowing that you don’t have to be the only one to get the job done or hitting the ball over the fence,” Rodi said. “So it’s just allowing us to go out, go into the box and play a lot more free.”
South Carolina begins its season at home Feb. 5-8 with games against Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Binghamton and Winthrop.
