Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Courtney Closes Stellar Collegiate Career by Crossing the Graduation Stage
8/11/2026 11:28:00 AM | Softball, Academics
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Autumn Courtney, of the Florida Atlantic softball team, wrapped up a decorated collegiate career that saw her name etched into the university record books ahead of her Summer 2026 graduation.
In just two seasons with the Owls, she became a two-time All-Conference first team recipient, a unanimous Conference Pitcher of the Year, a winning pitcher in the NCAA Regionals, and a national All-American. Courtney finished her four-year collegiate career at two schools with 743 strikeouts and 77 victories, ranking No. 9 and No. 6 among all Division I pitchers during that time.
Courtney made an impact not just on Joan Joyce Field at FAU Softball Stadium, but also as a proud Florida Atlantic student. She was named the Female Student-Athlete of the Year for the 2025-26 academic year as well as the Female Athlete of the Year and was the American Conference's softball Scholar Athlete of the Year. She was recognized in 2026 by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission as the 2025 Female Amateur Athlete of the Year.
Her road to collegiate success began in her hometown of Tappahannock, Virginia. Courtney played for a small high school team, where she was the sole pitcher for all four years. Despite the challenges of being the only pitcher, she thrived, quickly gaining the experience she needed to become great.
"I have always loved the game, and when I got the chance to play at a higher level, I knew I wanted to continue," Courtney said.
Her early experiences laid the foundation for her decision to pursue Division I softball. After high school, Courtney was eager to keep playing but was drawn to a smaller environment due to her desire to develop as a player before stepping into the spotlight. She chose Queens University, where she recorded 448 strikeouts over two years. While she gained valuable experience, Courtney soon felt ready for a new challenge --- one where she could challenge herself versus stronger opponents and achieve bigger victories.
Despite receiving offers from programs across the country, Courtney felt confident in choosing Florida Atlantic. She was drawn to the school's unique culture, which made her feel at home and unafraid of the big stage.
"I just knew this was the place for me," she said. "The beach, the coaches and the team culture felt like family right away."
Her achievements at FAU hold a special meaning for Courtney.
"It's amazing to hit such big milestones here," she said. "The culture at FAU softball, the coaches and my teammates really celebrate every milestone. They make you feel special and accomplished. It's where I truly found my confidence, and it's an honor to achieve it as part of this team."
Courtney's biggest challenge was learning to believe in herself, and these milestones were a testament to how she has overcome that hurdle. The achievements represent her perseverance and growing confidence as a player. It is also a reflection of the hard work she has put in day in and day out to get to this point.
Thanks to the unwavering support of her teammates, coaches and parents, she was able to push through. Now, she can proudly say that she is much more confident in her abilities, which made her a better player and developed skills that can help her for her future beyond Florida Atlantic.
"It's a big deal to me because I didn't always think I was good enough for this level of softball," Courtney said. "But now I've proven to myself that I can do it, and that's the most rewarding part. I never thought I'd get here, but here I am."
FULL LIST OF SUMMER GRADUATES
Alina Ruzzano, Cheer
Camilla Nicholas, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
Kylie Hammonds, Softball
Jaden Martinez, Softball
Autumn Courtney, Softball
Jesiana Mora, Softball
Trevor Kuhn, Men's Swimming and Diving
Dalton Robinson, Baseball
Ethan Shumaker, Men's Soccer
Jozo Cancar, Men's Soccer
Terez Reid, Football
Michael Kirch, Football
Walker Adkinson, Football
Vivian Onugha, Women's Basketball
Jess Moors, Women's Basketball
Grace Powell, Women's Swimming and Diving
Elyssa Toal, Cross Country/Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
Richelle Williams, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
PHOTO GALLERYGallery: (8-11-2026) Summer 2026 Graduation
In just two seasons with the Owls, she became a two-time All-Conference first team recipient, a unanimous Conference Pitcher of the Year, a winning pitcher in the NCAA Regionals, and a national All-American. Courtney finished her four-year collegiate career at two schools with 743 strikeouts and 77 victories, ranking No. 9 and No. 6 among all Division I pitchers during that time.
Courtney made an impact not just on Joan Joyce Field at FAU Softball Stadium, but also as a proud Florida Atlantic student. She was named the Female Student-Athlete of the Year for the 2025-26 academic year as well as the Female Athlete of the Year and was the American Conference's softball Scholar Athlete of the Year. She was recognized in 2026 by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission as the 2025 Female Amateur Athlete of the Year.
Her road to collegiate success began in her hometown of Tappahannock, Virginia. Courtney played for a small high school team, where she was the sole pitcher for all four years. Despite the challenges of being the only pitcher, she thrived, quickly gaining the experience she needed to become great.
"I have always loved the game, and when I got the chance to play at a higher level, I knew I wanted to continue," Courtney said.
Her early experiences laid the foundation for her decision to pursue Division I softball. After high school, Courtney was eager to keep playing but was drawn to a smaller environment due to her desire to develop as a player before stepping into the spotlight. She chose Queens University, where she recorded 448 strikeouts over two years. While she gained valuable experience, Courtney soon felt ready for a new challenge --- one where she could challenge herself versus stronger opponents and achieve bigger victories.
Despite receiving offers from programs across the country, Courtney felt confident in choosing Florida Atlantic. She was drawn to the school's unique culture, which made her feel at home and unafraid of the big stage.
"I just knew this was the place for me," she said. "The beach, the coaches and the team culture felt like family right away."
Her achievements at FAU hold a special meaning for Courtney.
"It's amazing to hit such big milestones here," she said. "The culture at FAU softball, the coaches and my teammates really celebrate every milestone. They make you feel special and accomplished. It's where I truly found my confidence, and it's an honor to achieve it as part of this team."
Courtney's biggest challenge was learning to believe in herself, and these milestones were a testament to how she has overcome that hurdle. The achievements represent her perseverance and growing confidence as a player. It is also a reflection of the hard work she has put in day in and day out to get to this point.
Thanks to the unwavering support of her teammates, coaches and parents, she was able to push through. Now, she can proudly say that she is much more confident in her abilities, which made her a better player and developed skills that can help her for her future beyond Florida Atlantic.
"It's a big deal to me because I didn't always think I was good enough for this level of softball," Courtney said. "But now I've proven to myself that I can do it, and that's the most rewarding part. I never thought I'd get here, but here I am."
FULL LIST OF SUMMER GRADUATES
Alina Ruzzano, Cheer
Camilla Nicholas, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
Kylie Hammonds, Softball
Jaden Martinez, Softball
Autumn Courtney, Softball
Jesiana Mora, Softball
Trevor Kuhn, Men's Swimming and Diving
Dalton Robinson, Baseball
Ethan Shumaker, Men's Soccer
Jozo Cancar, Men's Soccer
Terez Reid, Football
Michael Kirch, Football
Walker Adkinson, Football
Vivian Onugha, Women's Basketball
Jess Moors, Women's Basketball
Grace Powell, Women's Swimming and Diving
Elyssa Toal, Cross Country/Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
Richelle Williams, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
PHOTO GALLERY
Players Mentioned
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