College of Coastal Georgia junior Rylee Mills has been named a Third-Team All-American by the NAIA, the association announced following the 2026 Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga. The honor caps a remarkable junior season for one of the most versatile players in the NAIA, and adds to a growing list of accolades for the Brunswick native.
Mills was one of the most impactful two-way contributors in college softball this spring. At the plate, she led the Mariners with a .399 average, 55 hits, 15 doubles, and 36 RBI while slugging .543 with a .482 on-base percentage. In the circle, she posted a 19-6 record with a 2.06 ERA across 143 innings, making 30 appearances and 27 starts with 16 complete games. She also set a school record with 16 doubles in a single season.
The All-America nod is the latest in a string of national recognition for Mills this postseason. She was previously named to the NFCA NAIA All-Region First Team, making her one of 147 student-athletes from 63 schools across the country to earn All-Region recognition — an honor that advanced her to the All-America ballot.
Mills' season included some of the program's most memorable moments. In the NAIA National Tournament opening round, she threw all 12 innings of a marathon win over Columbia (Mo.), allowing just two unearned runs on ten hits while issuing only one walk, navigating out of jam after jam to keep the Mariners alive.
The 2026 NAIA Softball All-Americans were announced following the World Series, held last week in Columbus, Ga., with Player of the Year honors going to Analise Rayburn of Oklahoma City and Pitcher of the Year to Aubree Ferguson of Science & Arts (Okla.).
The All-America selection is also a reflection of Mills' character beyond the diamond. A 4.0 GPA student in the Education program at CCGA, Mills is a two-time First Team All-Sun Conference selection and former Freshman of the Year, a Daktronics Scholar-Athlete, and a Sun Conference nominee for the A.O. Duer Scholarship Award — the NAIA's highest honor for student-athletes who exemplify excellence in athletics, academics, and community service.
