Clemson softball has produced more than 40 wins and a trip to the NCAA Tournament every season in the program's brief history. 

In 2024, the Tigers will bring one of the nation's strongest, veteran rosters back together to push for an ACC championship and a Women's College World Series title. 

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With Valerie Cagle and company, the Tigers have the firepower to claim hardware in the coming campaign. First, though, they have to make it through the gauntlet that is the 2024 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.

Here's everything you need to know about Clemson Tiger softball heading into the 2024 season.

How Did Clemson Softball Do In 2023?

The Tigers posted the most wins in the fledgling program's history in 2023, going 49-12. 

Clemson fell short of claiming its second ACC championship in just three full seasons of existence, however, finishing 18-6 and third in the league. 

The team advanced to its third NCAA Tournament in as many seasons, and its second straight Super Regional, where the Tigers ran up against the buzzsaw that is Oklahoma, as the Sooners stormed to a third consecutive national championship. 

By virtue of taking Oklahoma to extra innings in the second game of the Super Regional, however, the Tigers gave OU one of their stiffest tests during a dominant 2023. 

Who Coaches Clemson Softball? 

John Rittman is the coach of Clemson Tigers softball, and though new to South Carolina, Rittman was no novice when he accepted the position upon its launch. 

Rittman coached Stanford to a remarkable 16 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 1998-2013 and amassed 750 wins in his time on The Farm. 

Rittman found similar success immediately while building the Clemson softball program from the ground up. He is 154-45 in three and a half seasons, and he's sure to pour on dozens more victories in 2024. 

Has Clemson Ever Won The Women’s College World Series?

Clemson has fallen just shy of reaching the NCAA Women's College World Series the past two seasons. 

Rittman has WCWS experience, however, guiding Stanford teams to the championship round twice in his tenure there. 

Notable Returning Players 

Valerie Cagle, RHP & Utility

Valerie Cagle is not only the best returning player for the Clemson Tigers, but the multi-dimensional super-senior is the top returning player in the game.

Cagle is coming off a 2023 season in which she earned the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year with an excellent 25-8 record in the circle, 1.56 ERA and 188 strikeouts. 

She heads into the campaign with 718 strikeouts and a career 1.60 ERA over 660 innings pitched. 

She combines her dominant pitching with an equally fearsome presence at the plate. 

Cagle hit 19 home runs last year, marking her fourth season with a double-digit total of round-trippers. She also hit a staggering .469 in 177 at-bats. 

McKenzie Clark, OF

McKenzie Clark was second on the team in home runs (13), had the second-best batting average (.335) and slugging percentage (.626) and the second-most steals (11) of all Tigers in 2023. 

She probably would be the top offensive weapon on any other roster around the country, but Clemson is fortunate to have Clark solidifying its overall strong lineup. 

Notable Newcomers

Olivia Duncan, LHP

The 2023 Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year was ranked among the nation's top overall prospects in this year's freshman class. 

Olivia Duncan provides the Clemson pitching staff with a potentially dominant left-handed addition who, in her final high school season, had a 1.61 ERA. 

She can deliver at the plate, too, having hit eight home runs in her senior year. 

Julia Knowler, INF/RHP 

Julia Knowler arrives at Clemson coming off earning All-American designation as a senior at Fort Myers (Florida) High School. She hit a whopping .620 in 2023—after batting .616 the season prior—and drove in 33 runs. 

Clemson Softball Schedule 2024

All times Eastern

2024 Clemson Softball Roster

How To Watch the 2024 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge

Watch the 2024 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge on FloSoftball and the FloSports app.

FloSoftball will be streaming several NCAA Division I college softball tournaments, including the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, THE Spring Games and the Mark Campbell Collegiate Invitational. 

2024 Puerto Vallarta Challenge Tournament Schedule

Session 1 Schedule

All times Eastern

Feb. 8

• 11:30 a.m. – Utah Valley vs. Oklahoma
• 2 p.m. – Duke vs. Oklahoma
• 5 p.m. – Iowa State vs. Utah Valley
• 7:30 p.m. – Nebraska vs. Washington

Feb. 9

• 11 a.m. – Duke vs. Iowa State
• 1:30 p.m. – Duke vs. Nebraska
• 4 p.m. – Long Beach vs. Nebraska
• 7 p.m. – Utah Valley vs. Washington
• 9:30 p.m. – Oklahoma vs. Washington

Feb. 10

• 11:30 a.m. – Nebraska vs. Utah Valley
• 2 p.m. – Oklahoma vs. Long Beach
• 5 p.m. – Washington vs. Iowa State
• 7:30 p.m. – Duke vs. Long Beach

Feb. 11

• 10 a.m. – Iowa State vs. Long Beach

Session 2 Schedule

All times Eastern

Feb. 14

• 1 p.m. – Clemson vs. Wichita State

Feb. 15

• 11 a.m. – UC San Diego vs. Clemson
• 1:30 p.m. – UC Davis vs. Auburn
• 4 p.m. – Utah vs. Auburn
• 7 p.m. – Wichita State vs. South Carolina
• 9:30 p.m. – Utah vs. South Carolina

Feb. 16

• 11 a.m. – Mississippi State vs. UC Davis
• 1:30 p.m. – South Carolina vs. UC Davis
• 4 p.m. – UC San Diego vs. Mississippi State
• 7 p.m. – Clemson vs. Utah
• 9:30 p.m. – Auburn vs. Wichita State

Feb. 17

• 11 a.m. – South Carolina vs. UC San Diego
• 1:30 p.m. – UC Davis vs. Wichita State
• 4 p.m. – Clemson vs. Auburn
• 7 p.m. – Mississippi State vs. Utah
• 9:30 p.m. – Mississippi State vs. Clemson

Feb. 18

• 11 a.m. – UC San Diego vs. Utah

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