Kelsey Stewart Selected to 2026 UF Athletic Hall of Fame Class
Monday, May 4, 2026 | Softball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – From record-breaking hits to hoisting championship trophies, Kelsey Stewart has long cemented her place among the greats, and now, she's getting the ultimate recognition. The two-time NCAA champion and University of Florida softball's all-time hits leader will be inducted into the UF Athletic Hall of Fame this fall as part of the 2026 class.
Eligible just 10 years after completing her Gator career, Stewart earns the rare distinction of a first-ballot selection, a testament to her immediate and lasting impact on Florida athletics.
"The best decision I ever made was to be a Gator," Stewart said.
"I bought into the university and Coach Walton. Coach Walton was the main reason I chose Florida and from there I became a two-time National Champion, an SEC Champion, an Olympian and a professional softball player. To be selected to the Hall of Fame is just the cherry on top that really solidified that the best decision I've ever made was to attend the University of Florida. I'm honored and so blessed to have been selected."
Kelsey Stewart and fellow first-ballot selection Bridget Sloan are the first two members announced for the 2026 Gator Athletics Hall of Fame class. They will be joined by six additional honorees as Gator Greats at the Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, October 9, 2026, ahead of the South Carolina home football game.
Gator Greats are Letter winners who brought recognition and prominence to the University of Florida and themselves by their athletic accomplishments as a student-athlete.
Stewart is the ninth softball player to be named a Gator Great, joining Chelsey Sakizzie, Jenny Gladding, Stacey Nelson, Michelle Moultrie, Kelsey Bruder, Francesca Enea, Hannah Rogers and Lauren Haeger.
Kelsey Stewart | Softball 2013-2016
A two-time NCAA champion and two-time NFCA All-American, Kelsey Stewart left her mark as one of the fastest and most proficient offensive players in the history of Florida softball.
Stewart is Florida's program career hits (357), triples (29), runs scored (259) and total bases (509) leader and also holds the Gators' single-season records for hits (102) and triples (29). In program history, she also ranks in the top-10 in career batting average (.391), doubles (49), stolen bases (113) and stolen base percentage (.911).
She helped lead the Gators to back-to-back NCAA titles in 2014 & 2015, earning Women's College World Series All-Tournament honors both seasons.
The Wichita, Kansas, native was the fifth player in Florida softball history to be named the SEC Player of the Year as she earned the honor in 2015 along with being named NFCA First Team All-American for the second-straight season.
Stewart graduated as a three-time All-SEC selection (2013, 2014 & 2015), a three-time SEC Champion (2013, 2015 & 2016) and a 2013 SEC Tournament champion. She also earned SEC All-Defensive Team honors at second base in 2014 and 2015.
Eligible just 10 years after completing her Gator career, Stewart earns the rare distinction of a first-ballot selection, a testament to her immediate and lasting impact on Florida athletics.
"The best decision I ever made was to be a Gator," Stewart said.
"I bought into the university and Coach Walton. Coach Walton was the main reason I chose Florida and from there I became a two-time National Champion, an SEC Champion, an Olympian and a professional softball player. To be selected to the Hall of Fame is just the cherry on top that really solidified that the best decision I've ever made was to attend the University of Florida. I'm honored and so blessed to have been selected."
Kelsey Stewart and fellow first-ballot selection Bridget Sloan are the first two members announced for the 2026 Gator Athletics Hall of Fame class. They will be joined by six additional honorees as Gator Greats at the Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, October 9, 2026, ahead of the South Carolina home football game.
Gator Greats are Letter winners who brought recognition and prominence to the University of Florida and themselves by their athletic accomplishments as a student-athlete.
Stewart is the ninth softball player to be named a Gator Great, joining Chelsey Sakizzie, Jenny Gladding, Stacey Nelson, Michelle Moultrie, Kelsey Bruder, Francesca Enea, Hannah Rogers and Lauren Haeger.
Kelsey Stewart | Softball 2013-2016
A two-time NCAA champion and two-time NFCA All-American, Kelsey Stewart left her mark as one of the fastest and most proficient offensive players in the history of Florida softball.
Stewart is Florida's program career hits (357), triples (29), runs scored (259) and total bases (509) leader and also holds the Gators' single-season records for hits (102) and triples (29). In program history, she also ranks in the top-10 in career batting average (.391), doubles (49), stolen bases (113) and stolen base percentage (.911).
She helped lead the Gators to back-to-back NCAA titles in 2014 & 2015, earning Women's College World Series All-Tournament honors both seasons.
The Wichita, Kansas, native was the fifth player in Florida softball history to be named the SEC Player of the Year as she earned the honor in 2015 along with being named NFCA First Team All-American for the second-straight season.
Stewart graduated as a three-time All-SEC selection (2013, 2014 & 2015), a three-time SEC Champion (2013, 2015 & 2016) and a 2013 SEC Tournament champion. She also earned SEC All-Defensive Team honors at second base in 2014 and 2015.
Players Mentioned
OF
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RHP/DP
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RHP/1B
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CF
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RHP
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RHP
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P
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