The optimist in me says the sport will flourish because:

- Softball is one of the most popular college sports.
- The money pouring in to and out of athletic departments due to the proposed House settlement and Title IX should benefit the sport.

The pessimist in me says the sport may stagnate because:

- If schools divest fully/partially their football and basketball programs, they may not need to abide by Title IX. (I think this is a distinct possibility; private equity is already circling.)
- The sport has demonstrated - over and over again - its inability to sustain a viable pro league. While this doesn’t directly impact college, it speaks to a lack of effective leadership in the sport.

Regardless of whether you are optimistic or pessimistic, I think the floor has been permanently raised. The energy and resources at the club level have never been better. The reality of NIL means that any coach, program or fan base can now raise funds independently, no matter what trickles down from football. And it’s proven to be a very good television product.

Maybe one day we’ll see semi-pro leagues that are comprised of students and non-students, playing in college stadiums, using college names, providing a great television product and a great earning opportunities for athletes.

Whatever the form, my wish would be for a future reality that allows girls and women to continue playing the game as long as they can compete at the highest level.