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Devyn Netz throws perfect game, hits home run in Arizona softball’s run-rule defeat of BYU

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Devyn Netz throws perfect game, hits home run in Arizona softball’s run-rule defeat of BYU


Devyn Netz can do it all. She proved it against BYU on Thursday afternoon, throwing a perfect game and hitting a home run in a five-inning run-rule victory. The No. 11 Arizona Wildcats defeated the Cougars 8-0 at Gail Miller Field in Provo, Utah.

Netz commanded the zone and got some strong play from her defense behind her. Freshman third baseman Jenna Sniffen was a machine all game, starting the 5-3 putout time and again.

The best play was the final one, and it came from second baseman Kiki Escobar. BYU pinch hitter Keila Kamoku hit a hard ball toward Escobar, who knocked it down. The question was whether she could get it and throw to Miranda Stoddard at first in time. Escobar kept her cool and made the play just in time.

Netz was the star of the show, though. Arizona had a combined perfect game thrown by Brooke Mannon and Ali Blanchard last season, but the last time a pitcher threw a solo perfect game was in 2017. Michelle Floyd performed the feat against Hartford that year. The last to do it in conference play was Kenzie Fowler against Oregon State in 2010.

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Netz became just the sixth Arizona pitcher to throw a solo perfect game in program history. Eight pitchers have achieved it either solo or combined. Thirty-one Wildcat pitchers have now thrown a no-hitter, either solo or combined.

Netz is a complete player. It didn’t stop at her pitching performance. She also made strong plays on defense and showed her prowess in the batter’s box.

Arizona came into the top of the fifth with a 6-0 lead. They needed two runs to be in position to close the game out in five innings in the bottom of the inning. The redshirt senior provided the RBI to reach the eight-run plateau.

Kaiah Altmeyer walked on four straight pitches to lead off. Netz took one ball then smacked the next pitch over the fence.

Arizona’s all-around dominance took a little while to get going. While Netz was locked in as a pitcher from the beginning, the offense took a few at-bats to take over.

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The middle of the order had a tough time in their last game at Arizona State on Sunday. That wasn’t the case in Provo.

While Netz struck out to end the first and had a foul-out in a prime scoring opportunity in the third, the four through seven hitters did a ton of damage overall. Five-hole hitter Sydney Stewart walked to lead off the second inning. No. 6 hitter Stoddard took two strikes before knocking the ball out of the park to give Arizona a 2-0 lead in the second.

The scoring in the third inning was a prime example of scoring runs any way you can, which head coach Caitlin Lowe talked about before the team left for BYU.

It started with a single by Dakota Kennedy. Regan Shockey put two on with no outs with an error on the shortstop that could have been ruled a hit. Kaiah Altmeyer moved both into scoring position with a flyout to centerfield.

That brought Netz up just needing to repeat Altemeyer’s at-bat to get another run across. The foul-out made it more difficult for Arizona to tack on some runs.

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Stewart’s infield single pushed Kennedy across and moved Shockey to third. Stoddard walked to load the bases with two outs.

It was on freshman Anyssa Wild to make something happen. It was a big occasion for Arizona’s designated player. She was once committed to play for BYU but took the field for her hometown Wildcats.

Wild grounded out in her first at-bat. This time, she knocked a ball all the way to the wall, driving in three runs with her first career double. It put the Wildcats up 6-0 and set up the fifth-inning heroics of Netz.

Netz threw just 45 pitches to 15 batters in five innings. She struck out two.

The Wildcats’ offense had six hits, including a double and two home runs. They also took advantage of five walks and one BYU error.

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All eight RBI came from the four through seven hitters as did five of the six hits. Stewart was 2 for 3 with one RBI at the plate. Stoddard was 1 for 2 with a walk and a home run. She had two RBI. Wild led the team with three RBI while going 1 for 2 and drawing a walk.

Arizona improved to 30-5 on the season and 7-3 in Big 12 play. BYU is now 20-7 overall and 4-3 in league play.

Lead photo courtesy of Arizona Athletics



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Arizona State Adds Mid-Season Game Changer: Euro Juniors Champion Albane Cachot

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Arizona State Adds Mid-Season Game Changer: Euro Juniors Champion Albane Cachot


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18-year-old Albane Cachot from Toulouse, France, has joined the Arizona State University women’s swimming and diving team mid-season. The Dauphins Toulouse OEC (the same club that produced Léon Marchand) product wasted no time adapting to short-course yards, winning the 50/100/200 free events in her first meet at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.

Cachot made a name for herself in 2024, when she won the 50 free (25.45), 100 free (54.65), 200 free (1:59.18), and 50 fly (26.57) at the French Junior Championships in April. Two months later, she finaled in all four events at the French Elite Championships, placing 10th in the 50 free (25.43), 5th in the 100 free (54.61), 4th in the 200 free (2:00.34), and 7th in the 50 fly (26.95).

In 2025, she represented France at both the European Junior Championships in Šamorín, Slovakia, and the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. At Euro Juniors, she won gold in the women’s 100 free, clocking a lifetime-best 54.17. She also finished 7th in the 50 free (25.48) and 7th in the 200 free (2:00.46), and 5th in the 50 fly (26.51, a PB). Cachot swam on 3 of France’s relays at World Championships (women’s 4×100 free, mixed 4×100 free, and mixed 4×100 medley). She earned a bronze medal for her prelims role in France’s mixed 400 medley relay, and she joined Beryl Gastaldello, Marina Jehl, and Marie Wattel in the women’s 400 free relay final that placed 5th with a national record-breaking time of 3:34.62.

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In her short-course yards debut on January 3 at the dual meet with Grand Canyon, Cachot put up a team-leading time in the 50 free (22.43). She ranks 3rd in the 200 free (1:46.38) behind Jordan Greber (1:45.14) and Grace Lindberg (1:45.43) and 4th in the 100 free (49.11) behind Greber (48.81), Shane Golland (48.98), and Gerda Szilagyi (49.05). Greber, Lindberg, and Golland achieved their times during the CSCAA Dual Challenges.

The CSCAA challenge meets was also where ASU notched their fastest relay times of the season so far. Without speculating as to what her flying start times might be, it is clear that even her flat start SCY times would have lowered the Sun Devils’ free relay times by a couple of tenths in the 4×50 and 4×100 and by 3 seconds in the 4×200. And her converted LCM times would have been of even greater value.

Best SCY times:

  • 50 free – 22.43
  • 100 free – 49.11
  • 200 free – 1:46.38

Best LCM times (converted):

  • 50 free – 25.31 (22.08)
  • 100 free – 54.17 (47.36)
  • 200 free – 1:59.18 (1:44.48)
  • 50 fly – 26.51 (23.25)

Cachot is joining Arizona State’s class of 2029 with Alexia Sotomayor, Bella Scopel Tramontana, Cali Watts, Eleaunah Phillips, Jessie Carlson, Marley Lovick, and Ursula Ott. Avery Spade was also new this season, transferring in from Indiana.

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Predicting Where Former Arizona State Star Lands

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Predicting Where Former Arizona State Star Lands


TEMPE — The Sam Leavitt saga has been one that has split the Arizona State fanbase.

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While some have been steadfast in bringing up the contributions that the two-year star poured into the program, others have been emphatic in pointing out the optics of the exit appearing less-than-ideal in a point of critique.

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Regardless, the Sun Devils have moved on – with Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley and Michigan transfer Mikey Keense being the two exterior options that were brought in to signify a new era.

Now, Leavitt continues to seek a new college home for what might be his last season of collegiate football – Arizona State on SI makes sense of it all below.

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Confirmed Visits – LSU, Tennessee, Miami

Leavitt’s first visit came with Boley’s former school in Kentucky, but the Wildcats have seemingly moved on by signing Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey.

LSU has made sense as a destination in recent weeks, with the presence of Lane Kiffin and the ironic twist of Jayden Daniels going from Arizona State to winning a Heisman Trophy with the Tigers as points of focus. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Leavitt heavily consider the SEC power.

Tennessee reportedly attempted to pry Leavitt away from the Sun Devils last spring and failed. This time, they loom as a relative “sleeper” – the redshirt sophomore even spent two days in Knoxville. This is a situation that is “wait-and-see”, as the Volunteers are still waiting to see what comes of QB Joey Aguilar’s pitch to receive more eligibility.

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Sep 26, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) celebrates win with wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (0) against the TCU Horned Frogs at Mountain America Stadium, Home of the ASU Sun Devils. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Reiner-Imagn Images | Jacob Reiner-Imagn Images

Miami is another spot that has made sense, as senior Carson Beck will be playing his final game of his collegiate career on January 19. No state income tax, the allure of joining Cam Ward and Beck as potential major risers on NFL draft boards, and playing for a storied program are all major drawing points.

Expected Visit – Oregon

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Oregon is the complicated potential landing spot.

There is still a bit of uncertainty surrounding what Oregon’s Dante Moore decided to do pertaining to entering the 2026 draft, so the Ducks must stand pat until a firm decision is made.

It’s simple to see why an Oregon native would be drawn to play for what has become a storied franchise that now has a phenomenal track record of developing quarterbacks.

Verdict: Leavitt Lands With Oregon

There’s absolutely nothing firm about this prediction, but Oregon makes the most sense – with the caveat that Moore decides to go pro.

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Read more on why the Arizona State men’s basketball team will exceed expectations in the 2025-26 season here, and on why the bright future of the football program isn’t dimmed by the loss to Arizona here.

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Please follow us on X when you click right here, as well as @khicks_21 for nonstop Arizona State coverage!



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Arizona’s Burries Shares Secret to Latest Scoring Outburst

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Arizona’s Burries Shares Secret to Latest Scoring Outburst


The Arizona Wildcats dominated once again to push their record to 15-0 on the season, cruising to an easy 101-76 victory over Kansas State in their Big 12 home opener. 

The Wildcats scored 100 points in a game for the third time this season, led by freshman guard Brayden Burries’ 28 points, and Motiejus Krivas’ 25 points. Burries is now up to 15.1 points per game on the season, which leads the #1-ranked Wildcats. 

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Dec 20, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) against the San Diego State Aztecs during the Hall of Fame Series at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Secret to points production

Burries has been on a tear scoring the ball of late. After scoring in double-digits in just one of his first five games this season, Burries has scored in double-figures in each of his last 10 games, including five 20-point performances. His 28 points against Kansas State tied his highest point total of the season so far. After the game, Burries was asked about his recent flurry of scoring. 

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  • “I don’t think anything changed,” Burries said. “I think just getting used to the speed out there, the first few games, and I didn’t play guard as much like on the ball, and guarding point guards, so it’s all new to me. But, more games, more experience, I feel like I’m getting better with more experience honestly.” 

  • “Honestly just going out there, and just hooping,” he added. “Trusting my teammates, and trusting the coaches and their gameplan, and they’re just helping me out.”

Jan 7, 2026; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) high fives fans during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at McKale Memorial Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images | Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

Tommy Lloyd on Burries

Head coach Tommy Lloyd also spoke about his leading scorer’s recent performances, and how Burries is one of the more coachable players on the roster. 

  • “Brayden’s a great player,” Lloyd said. “We’re fortunate to have him in our program. I mean, he’s a winner, he’s always won. He does just about everything in his life the right way, it’s a joy to coach him everyday, and it’s really fun to help him on his journey.”

  • “You can be pretty direct with him”, Lloyd added. “I told him, he’s a guy that I don’t want to coach by being confrontational with him, I think he’s too good of a kid and he’s really motivated. He doesn’t need that when I’m very direct with him. He’s got enough experience now, I think he’s really learning.” 

Burries and the rest of the Wildcats will look to continue what has been a special season up to this point. The Wildcats have all the makings of a true National Championship contender, and their first two performances in Big 12 play show just that. 

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