The first woman to play NCAA Division I baseball has found a new home for the next chapter of her athletic career.
Olivia Pichardo, who made history at Brown University as the first woman to appear in an NCAA Division I baseball game, is transferring to the University of California to begin her collegiate softball career, the Golden Bears announced Monday.
?BREAKING NEWS?
Cal Signs Trailblazer Olivia Pichardo?️https://t.co/IKTqH57wpT#GoBears? pic.twitter.com/giBx8ioOfe
— Cal Softball (@CalSB) June 15, 2026
Pichardo, a right-handed pitcher and hitter from Queens, New York, spent four seasons at Brown, where she appeared in six games for the Bears baseball program. She played one game as a pitcher and made five appearances as a pinch hitter. She finished her collegiate baseball career 0-for-4 at the plate with a hit-by-pitch and a run scored. On the mound, she retired the only batter she faced on two pitches.
The move marks a new challenge for Pichardo, who will be stepping onto an organized softball field for the first time after spending her entire competitive career in baseball.
In addition to her collegiate accomplishments, Pichardo represented the United States on the U.S. Women’s National Baseball Team for four years. Her groundbreaking career earned national recognition, with the helmet she wore during her historic first NCAA appearance now displayed at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.
Cal coach Steve Singleton said Pichardo’s baseball background and athletic ability make her a unique addition to the Golden Bears program.
“We are really excited to welcome Olivia to our program,” Singleton said. “She is an elite athlete for our game who brings a great combination of speed, strength, arm strength and bat speed to a new sport. Her experience playing baseball her entire life will bring some intangibles to our team that will be helpful for the group. Her story is one that is fun to be a part of and we see her ability translating on the field this year.”
Pichardo graduated from Brown with a bachelor’s degree in business economics before entering the transfer portal.
“I’m super excited to start my softball career playing in the ACC at Cal,” Pichardo said. “I’m excited to have the Bay Area as my new home and help bring some wins to a brand new ballpark with a great group of girls.”
Pichardo’s arrival adds one of the most recognizable names in women’s baseball to a Cal program eager to benefit from the athleticism, experience and trailblazing mindset she developed during her historic baseball career.
Photo: The first woman to appear in an NCAA Division I baseball game is going to play organized softball for the first time in her life. (Courtesy of Brown Athletics)
