DALLAS – Conference USA revealed its 2025 Softball All-Academic Team in a Friday release. The league recognized 11 student-athletes that excelled both on the field and in the classroom. Nine institutions received at least one member on the list, with NM State represented by Kristiana Watson. The redshirt junior was exceptional in her pursuit of a Communication Studies degree, amassing a 4.00 grade point average.
 
Watson has been one of the biggest bats for the NM State offense this season as an incoming transfer. The former Duke and Arizona State product is the only Aggie to play and start in every game in 2025, making 46 appearances at first base. Watson has the most at-bats (158), hits (56), doubles (14) and RBIs (45) on the team, while also posting 13 home runs en route to a 1.083 OPS. 
 
Watson was one of just two individuals with a perfect GPA, matching the 4.00 of Liberty's Paige Doerr. This weekend, Watson will face off against Kennesaw State's Ava Gukowski, who holds a 3.93 mark in Accounting. 
 
In 2024, Riley Carley represented NM State on the same list with a 3.91 GPA in Counseling & Community Psychology. The pair of Tucson, Ariz., natives are the first two Aggies to earn academic distinctions from CUSA's nomination and voting process, as each of the league's 10 institutions' academic advisors select the most outstanding student-athletes to grace the 11-person team. 
 
Head Coach Kathy Rodolph, on Kristiana Watson and her contributions to the program: "We are so blessed to have Kristiana join us this year. Not only is she a fantastic athlete, but she is an even better student. I'm incredibly grateful she chose to be an Aggie this year."
 
This weekend, Watson will lead the Aggies into their regular-season finale. NM State is set to take on Kennesaw State with first pitch scheduled for later this evening, at 4:00 p.m. MT (6:00 p.m. local). The three-game series is the first of its kind, as NM State and Kennesaw State have never met prior to 2025. The Crimson & White have the CUSA Championship in their sights, needing a solid showing against the Owls to secure a spot. All the action will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available to follow via nmstatesports.com.
 
For complete coverage of NM State Softball during the 2025 season, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of the Aggies – and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Softball), Twitter (@NMStateSoftball) and Instagram (@NMStateSoftball).