LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Freshman pitcher Kya Matter (Dalmatia, Pa.) was named one of twenty five student-athletes that are in the running for the 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award, the Association revealed on Thursday afternoon. The winner will be announced prior to the start of the 2022 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.

Matter is UMBC's second ever nominee, and first since Courtney Coppersmith (York, Pa.) in 2019. 

Oklahoma's Jordy Bahl is the ninth Sooner to make the list, leading all programs since the start of the award in 2014. Additionally, OU has had at least one student-athlete represented since 2015 with three of those – Paige Parker (2015), Jocelyn Alo (2018) and Tiare Jennings (2021) – winning the award. Behind the Sooners are Florida and UCLA each with their seventh honoree in Kendra Falby and Savannah Pola, respectively. 
 
Twelve programs – Charlotte, Dayton, Louisiana Tech, Northern Iowa, Radford, San Diego State, St. Thomas, Stony Brook, UC San Diego, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, UNC Greensboro and UNC Wilmington – are represented for the first time.
 
On May 12, the list will be trimmed down to the top 10 and the three finalists will be released on May 26. The 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year will be announced on June 1.

2022 NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25
Jordy Bahl - Oklahoma
Mac Barbara – San Diego State
Megan Bloodworth – Alabama
Jada Cecil, UC San Diego
Ella Chancey – Charlotte
Jessica Clements – Cal Poly
Alyssa Costello – Stony Brook
Mya Dodge - Northern Iowa
Michaela Edenfield - Florida State
Brooke Ellestad - St. Thomas
Bri Ellis - Auburn
Kendra Falby - Florida
Tatum Kresley - UMES
Jane Kronenberger - Notre Dame
Emma Lemley - Virginia Tech
Grace Loftin – UNCG
Jackie Masone - Drexel
Kya Matter - UMBC
Cori McMillan - Radford
Savannah Pola - UCLA
Sierra Sacco - Louisiana Tech
Cydney Sanders - Arizona State
Emma Schutter - Dayton
Emily Winstead – UNCW
Koko Wooley – Texas A&M