As Washington, Stanford and Utah are set to compete in the Women’s College World Series this week, the Pac-12 will also be bidding farewell to a handful of stars who will end their collegiate careers in Oklahoma City.

It's a fitting ending for these student-athletes who have had an immeasurable impact on their respective programs.

Baylee Klingler, INF — Washington

It’s hard not to start with Baylee Klingler. The 2022 Pac-12 Player of the Year, only the second Washington player to win the award, did not start her career in Seattle but it’s hard to imagine her in anything other than purple and gold. That’s another eye-popping part of Klingler’s success is that she’s essentially put herself in the Washington record book in only three and a half seasons. Klingler ranks top 10 in program history in batting average, doubles, home runs, RBIs and grand slams. Of course, she’s cemented in Pac-12 history with her Triple Crown season in 2022, joining Jenny Dalton (Arizona – 1996) and Stacey Nuveman (UCLA – 1999).

Klingler has also been a staple of the Washington defense, which has the nation’s fourth-best fielding percentage (.982) entering the WCWS. She has spent time at every infield position, even a few appearances behind the plate. And Klingler has done it well as she is an All-Conference defender. 

For the sake of marvelous stats, here is this nugget from D1Softball’s Graham Hays: There are more than 700 Division I players who have struck out more times this season than Klinger has in four seasons at Washington (24).

Sami Reynolds, OF / Madison Huskey, OF / SilentRain Espinoza, INF — Washington

Life comes full circle at times. Reynolds, Huskey and Espinoza were all freshman starters on the Washington team that last made the WCWS back in 2019.

Reynolds, who was on the all-tournament team that season, will finish her career near the top 15 of Huskies in games played. Even with the additional year of eligibility, it's very hard for current players to reach that point with the fewer number of games teams play compared to the past. In that time Reynolds has been a foundational piece in Seattle, making an All-Pac-12 team every season. For the girl from Snohomish, Washington that always wanted to be a Husky, she did well for Heather Tarr. 

Huskey has been at her best the past two seasons, developing into a full-time starter and the program's first-ever Gold Glover. Over the past two seasons, she has 26 home runs and 93 RBIs. That led her to earning First and Second Team All-Conference accolades. Huskey’s success at the plate has presented more opportunities for Klingler and Reynolds, who she typically follows in the lineup. 

Espinoza has been a glue player. During her time at Washington, she has spent time both as a starter and role player but that was a testament to who she is as Tarr has said many times. She has always put the team first and has given the Huskies a stable presence at third base this season, allowing Tarr to mix and match the infield when needed. 

Taylor Gindlesperger, OF / Emily Young, INF / Emily Schultz, INF — Stanford

Similar to the trio above, it feels right to group these three together. Why? Gindlesperger, Young and Schultz have been the foundation in Stanford’s turnaround under Jessica Allister. Those three were a part of Allister’s first recruiting class after taking the job in 2017. All three were relied on from the very beginning, starting as freshmen. Each has played in 235-plus games and will be in the top 15 in games played in program history, a stat led by Allister.

Gindlesperger has her name etched all around the record book. The speedy outfielder took over the program’s lead in career triples (24) this season. Her 52 career stolen bases also rank in the top six ever among Stanford players. Stanford’s ability to play small ball on offense has a lot to do with Gindlesperger. She’s been a very good tablesetter for the Cardinal and left her mark. 

Young has started every game at shortstop for the Cardinal in her career. The All-Defensive team player has been an integral part of Stanford’s great defense through the years. Young will move into second all-time for all Cardinal defenders in assists and likely finish her career behind only Michelle Schneider (616). 

Schultz has been on the receiving end of most of those assists from Young. The first baseman as you can guess is in the top 10 for career putouts. She is one of six Cardinal players, that includes Allister, to have over 1,000 career putouts. She was also a NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete in 2019. 

Stanford was 4-68 in Pac-12 play the previous three seasons before Allister took over. To start a rebuild, you’ll need the building blocks, which Gindlesperger, Young and Schultz have been. 

Ellessa Bonstrom, UTL — Utah

Bonstrom has finally got the national spotlight she’s deserved for a while now as the Utes run into Oklahoma City. She is the fourth Utah player to be a multi-time All-American, the latest since Hannah Flippen. Bonstrom has made the All-Conference team for the past three seasons as well. 

She has quickly risen in the record books. Bonstrom is Utah's career leader in RBI (178) and her 46 career home runs rank third all-time in program history. Much like Klingler, she’s played multiple positions as well spending time at essentially every spot aside from pitcher and catcher. She’s been a core piece for the Utes. 

Haley Denning, UTL, Utah

Denning has been and is a valuable bat for Utah. Had her 2020 season not been wiped away, the slapper had a decent chance of challenging Flippen’s all-time program hit record of 263 as Denning sits 29 behind her. Denning has always been a threat on the base paths. She leads the team in stolen bases (33) and one of only three Utes to have 100 steals in their careers. Denning's 155 runs scored are top five in program history.