Lexi Winters, a standout catcher for the South Carolina Gamecocks softball team, has earned recognition for her achievements both on the field and in the classroom. Last season, Winters posted a .331 batting average with six home runs and 53 RBIs, which led to her being named to the Second Team All-Region. She is also known for her defensive skills behind the plate.
Off the field, Winters has maintained a record of academic excellence. “I never ended any class with a B since forever,” said Winters, who recently graduated with a degree in psychology and plans to pursue a master’s in counseling education with hopes of becoming a school guidance counselor. “I almost did one time, but I did extra work with a teacher to bump it up to a 90. I never had a B, and I don’t plan on having one either. My parents held me to high expectations to make sure I was always doing the right thing, but I always took a lot of pride in doing that.”
Winters spoke about her enjoyment of school and her strong faith. “I loved being in school all the time. I used to spend more time with the staff and teachers when I was in high school than I did with other people. My faith is important to me, too. A lot of faith stuff is centered around my family, and a lot of my family stuff is centered around my faith. Before games, I put my phone away. I’ll go sit in the training room because no one else will be in there and then I walk outside on the dirt track and I pray. Then we warm up.”
After starting her collegiate career at Charlotte, Winters transferred to South Carolina along with head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard last year. She adapted quickly to playing in the SEC and credits discussions with coaches and mental performance staff for helping her approach softball as both an offensive and defensive player.
“I talked a lot with the coaches and the mental performance team about not separating the game where it’s me offensively or me defensively,” Winters said. “It’s just me as a player and a competitor, and I bought into that. I worked a lot on the mental side of the game, situational hitting, balls and strikes, and some technical things. On the mental performance side, it was confidence, competitiveness, and buying into that. We talked a lot about keeping it simple because at the end of the day, it’s just a game.”
Winters played every game last season as catcher—a role she embraces fully: “I love receiving,” Winters said. “I love controlling the game. I love working with the pitchers. It’s the best because I’m included on every single play!”
Looking ahead to her final season at South Carolina after what she called an unforgettable 2025 campaign for herself and her team, Winters reflected on what this experience means.
“It’s becoming a little more real that this is the last time I’ll be doing all of this,” Winters said. “It’s a dream come true to be here. I just want everyone to know how grateful I was for everything. I didn’t take things for granted. I gave everything my all. I was filled with joy with everything I was doing and always had a smile.
“I truly enjoy talking to boys and girls who come to games because my cousins and I used to be those kids. It’s so full-circle. I adore it. I see kids and they come up to me and recognize me and want to take pictures. That’s what I used to do. I’m so grateful for all of it.”
