Sami Williams

Classroom

Williams has epitomized what it means to be a true student-athlete during her time at Iowa State University. She is just the fifth softball student-athlete in Big 12 history to be a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, and is the first Cyclone ever to do so. Williams was one of just three softball student-athletes in the entire country to earn her third career CoSIDA Academic All-America nod in 2020, when she was named to the first team.

She completed her degree in software engineering in the Spring of 2020, graduating summa cum laude and ranking in the highest two percent in Iowa State’s prestigious engineering college. Williams currently carries a 3.91 GPA in ISU’s Information Systems master’s program, which she is on track to complete in just one year.

Her consistent excellence in the classroom is unmatched. Williams is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 recipient and has been a member of the Dean’s List in all eight terms that she has been at Iowa State. The native of Laguna Niguel, Calif., has also been named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll all four years at Iowa State.

In 2019, Williams was honored by the Big 12 Conference as the league’s Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming just the second player in program history to earn the award.

Character

Williams’ leadership as a competitor and teammate has been integral to changing the culture of Iowa State softball, having led the program to its best stretch in 30 years during her career. “I have been coaching collegiate softball for 27 years and Williams is a generational talent, both on the field and in terms of character,” said head coach Jamie Pinkerton. “She is the leader, heart and soul of our program. She truly lives up to all the coaching clichés.”

Williams has shown elite work ethic, character, and leadership since arriving at Iowa State. She has raised the standard of what is expected of a Cyclone softball player - leaving a legacy that will last long after she is done competing.

“She is a servant leader,” Pinkerton said. “She always makes sure the needs of her teammates are taken care of before herself. Her work ethic is second to none and she has helped teammates raise the standard both academically and athletically. Williams has promoted teamwork and integrity within our program since day one.”

From arriving first to practice every day, being the last to leave, and everything she does in between, Williams’ character is of the highest order - something that has been on display for teammates, coaches, and fans over the past four years.

Community

Williams has been a shining example of the impact that a student-athlete can make, not only in their community, but across the globe.

In the Spring of 2019, she helped coordinate a shoe collection for the Soles4Souls charity organization that provides shoes and other clothing to people in need. She then went on a week-long Soles4Souls trip to Ecuador in August of 2019 with a small group from Iowa State to distribute shoes and other health resources to children and people in need throughout the country.

Her time working with Soles4Souls is just one example of Williams’ commitment to helping others. She has dedicated countless hours to collecting food with CyCans and participating in CROP Walks for Hunger, in efforts to eliminate hunger and food insecurity in central Iowa. She has stayed with multiple community initiatives throughout the course of her career at ISU. Adopt-a-Family, which provides gifts to local children and families during the month of December, and a local wellness initiative called ExerCYse Time, are just a few of the charities Williams has been committed to over the past four years.

Her efforts have been noticed by her peers, as Williams was given Iowa State’s Female Student-Athlete Letterwinners All-Around Award for her outstanding work in the community. An active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Williams has always used her talents and opportunities to help others.

Competition

With one season of eligibility still remaining, Williams enters 2021 as perhaps the most accomplished softball player in Iowa State history. She is already the program’s all-time leader in home runs (46) and doubles (64), while ranking second in career batting average (.379), hits (250), and runs scored (148). Williams’ 64 career doubles are the most ever by a Big 12 player and rank first among active NCAA DI players. She enters 2021 just one double shy of joining the NCAA’s all-time top-25.

Williams was an honorable mention All-American by Softball America (2019) and is a two-time All-Big 12 First Team honoree (2017, 2019). She also has NFCA DI All-Midwest Region First Team honors under her belt, as well as being a finalist for the NFCA National Freshman of the Year award in 2017.

In Williams’ last full season, she was the NCAA DI leader in doubles (25) and broke single-season school record for hits (82), runs (59), doubles (25), and home runs (17). Her historic campaign culminated in the second-winningest season in Iowa State history (37-25) and a runner-up finish in the National Invitational Softball Championship.

Williams has appeared in and started all 200 games of her Cyclone career since arriving at ISU in 2017.