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So you can imagine how daunting it was to create the All-Quarter Century UA Softball Team.

You don’t have to imagine how awesome that team is. You can check it out below in the latest edition of our summer series honoring the best athletes of the 2000s.

We had to leave out some incredibly accomplished Wildcats — players who earned All-American accolades and won national titles — to keep the roster at a tidy 22. A team pulled from our honorable-mention list could compete against any other program’s all-time greats.

As with our All-Quarter Century UA Baseball Team, we excluded one-year players. We also dinged players who started their careers as Wildcats before transferring or entering the portal.

Here’s our 22-woman squad, featuring 15 position players and seven pitchers:

LINEUP

Catcher: Dejah Mulipola (2017-21)

Among the four catchers on our team, Mulipola has the highest batting average (.333), the second-highest OPS (1.170) and the third-most home runs (68). What separates her from the rest? Defense. Mulipola made just five errors in four seasons and had the best caught-stealing rate (34.2%) among the backstops in our subset. Two All-American nods and two WCWS appearances cinch her case.

First base: Jessie Harper (2017-21)

Harper spent most of her UA career at shortstop. But we had to find a place for the slugger from California in our starting nine, so we moved her to first base — where she played as a freshman. Harper earned first-team All-American honors that year, 2017, and never stopped raking. She’s tied for first in UA annals in home runs (92), tops all 21st-century Wildcats in total bases (618) and ranks third in that group in RBIs (255).

Second base: Allie Skaggs (2021-24)

This was a tough call between Skaggs and Mo Mercado, who excelled at both middle infield spots from 2014-17. We gave Skaggs the edge for two main reasons: (1) she was part of two WCWS teams; and (2) she won a Gold Glove and was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 following an error-less campaign. Her 57 home runs, 181 RBIs and 1.125 OPS are nothing to scoff at either.

Shortstop: Lovie Jung (2002-03)

Jung played only two seasons at Arizona after transferring from Fresno State, but they were spectacular. She ranks first among 21st-century Wildcats in on-base percentage (.531), slugging percentage (.839; best in program history) and OPS (1.370). In 2003, she became the first (and only) Wildcat to hit 25-plus home runs and bat over .450 in the same season, leading the country in homers (25) and RBIs (79).

Third base: Katiyana Mauga (2014-17)

Mauga never hit fewer than 20 home runs in a season and finished her career with a program-record 92 (subsequently matched by Harper). Among Wildcats of the 2000s, she ranks second in RBIs (257), slugging percentage (.829) and OPS (1.303). She’s also tied for first in walks drawn (158) and ranks fifth in total bases (530). Mauga was a two-time All-American and a three-time All-Pac-12 selection.

Outfield: Caitlin Lowe (2004-07)

No one caused more havoc when she got on base than Arizona’s current head coach. Lowe is Arizona’s all-time leader with 156 stolen bases — 80 more than the next-closest Wildcat since 2000 (Lauren Bauer). Lowe was caught stealing only nine times. She also batted .446 (best among 21st-century Wildcats) with a .501 on-base percentage while earning four first-team All-American nods and winning two WCWS titles. Many consider her the greatest center fielder of all time.

Outfield: Brittany Lastrapes (2008-11)

If Lowe is Arizona’s No. 1 outfielder of the 21st century, Lastrapes is 1A. A four-time All-American — including three first-team nods — Lastrapes ranks second among Wildcats of the 2000s in hits (337), batting average (.417), on-base percentage (.508) and total bases (566). She ranks first in that group and third in program history in runs scored (253). Lastrapes also hit 51 home runs, stole 23 bases and played on three WCWS squads.

Outfield: Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza (2016-21)

Palomino-Cardoza edged Autumn Champion for the third outfield spot because of her well-rounded offensive profile and her ability to play first base if needed. After missing her freshman season because of a knee injury, Palomino-Cardoza went on to smash 69 home runs (fifth-most among 21st-century Wildcats), accumulate 224 RBIs (eighth) and compile 533 total bases (fourth) while posting a .346/.445/.717 slash line.

Designated player: Stacie Chambers (2008-11)

Chambers has the third-most home runs (87) in program history. She has the most RBIs (293) of any 21st-century Wildcat. She did all that while primarily playing the most difficult defensive position — catcher. The only thing missing from the two-time All-American’s résumé is a national title; she played in three World Series from 2008-10.

RESERVES

C Chelsea Goodacre (2012-15)

That Goodacre isn’t in our starting lineup illustrates just how deep this roster is — especially behind the plate. Goodacre ranks in the top five among Wildcats of the 2000s in home runs (71) and RBIs (240) while placing seventh in total bases (461). Her 86 RBIs in 2015 led the nation and are the second-most among 21st-century Wildcats (Chambers, 96, 2009).

C Mackenzie Vandergeest (2001-04)

Vandergeest somehow never received All-American recognition despite catching some of the best pitchers of all time and providing plenty of offense. She’s tied for eighth among Wildcats of the 2000s in home runs (59) and ranks fourth in RBIs (248). She also rarely took a day off, starting 252 of 260 games for teams that made three World Series and won one national title.

SS Kristie Fox (2004-07)

We gave Kristie the nod over younger sister Kellie (2014-15) because of her longevity and contributions to championship clubs. Kristie Fox was the starting shortstop for two WCWS winners and three overall participants. A two-time first-team All-American, Fox hit 48 home runs, drove in 230, stole 23 bases and recorded a .352/.435/.612 slash line.

3B Toni Mascarenas (2000-01)

Multiple Wildcats whose careers bridged the 20th and 21st centuries merited consideration for our squad. Mascarenas stood out in multiple ways for teams that compiled a two-year record of 124-13. Mascarenas slashed .389/.465/.716 while hitting 32 home runs and driving in 135. She stole 29 bases in 32 attempts. Mascarenas was a three-time All-American, earning second-team recognition in 2000 and first-team honors in ‘01.

3B Jenae Leles (2006-09)

Among the players we seriously considered for the 22-woman roster, only two had the combination of four WCWS appearances and two championships: Leles and pitcher Taryne Mowatt. Leles’ individual résumé includes 57 home runs (tied for 10th with Skaggs among 21st-century Wildcats), 132 walks drawn (fifth) and 437 defensive assists (second behind Brigette Del Ponte’s 466).

OF Autumn Champion (2003-06)

It couldn’t have been fun for opposing pitchers to deal with Lowe and Champion atop Arizona’s lineup. Champion’s career batting average of .416 is the fifth-best in program history. She has the third-most hits (314) and stolen bases (70) among 21st-century Wildcats, as well as the seventh-most runs scored (193). Champion twice earned first-team All-American accolades while playing for three WCWS participants and one winner.

ROTATION

RHP Jennie Finch (2000-02)

The most well-known UA softball player has the résumé to support her Q rating. Her 0.79 ERA is the lowest among Wildcats of the 2000s (minimum 100 innings). Her 87 complete games — in 92 starts — rank third. So do her 95 victories, which include an NCAA-record 60 consecutive victories. Finch’s 95-8 win-loss record and .922 winning percentage from 2000-02 are just mind-boggling. Arizona made the WCWS in all three of those seasons and won it all in ‘01.

RHP Alicia Hollowell (2003-06)

As dominant as Finch was, a case could be made that Hollowell was even better. While her 0.87 ERA ranks slightly behind Finch’s, Hollowell leads the Wildcats of the 2000s in wins (144), complete games (146), shutouts (81) and strikeouts per seven innings (11.03). Her career total of 1,768 strikeouts is almost incomprehensible; it’s the most in UA history and the sixth most in NCAA Division I. The four-time All-American matched Finch with three WCWS appearances and one championship.

RHP Taryne Mowatt (2005-08)

As mentioned above, Mowatt was a member of four WCWS squads and two national champs. She went 100-33 with a 1.54 ERA and 109 complete games in 126 starts. Mowatt trails only Hollowell among 21st-century Wildcats in wins, starts, complete games, innings pitched (877²�³), strikeouts (1,267) and K/7 rate (10.11). She was named MVP of the ‘07 WCWS after setting multiple records, including eight complete games. She set program marks that year with 370 innings and 522 strikeouts.

RHP Becky Lemke (2000-01)

Lemke formed a devastating 1-2 punch with Finch in 2000 and was part of a formidable three-woman rotation in ‘01. Lemke finished those two seasons with a 1.10 ERA (third best among 21st-century Wildcats), a .150 batting average against (also third) and a 9.37 K/7 rate (fourth). Lemke, who began her UA career in 1998, went 49-9 across the ‘00 and ‘01 seasons.

RHP Kenzie Fowler (2010-14)

Fowler was a workhorse for the Wildcats before injuries derailed her career. Fowler earned All-American accolades as a freshman and sophomore, going 64-18 with a 1.67 ERA. Despite back and shoulder ailments, Fowler ranks second among 21st-century UA pitchers in appearances (152), third in innings pitched (718²�³), fourth in wins (87) and fifth in complete games (74).

LHP Taylor McQuillin (2016-19)

McQuillin’s stellar four-year career culminated with first-team All-American recognition and a WCWS berth in 2019. She ranks fourth among UA pitchers of the 2000s in innings pitched (697²�³), starts (106), complete games (77) and shutouts (33). McQuillin ranks fifth in wins (80) and strikeouts (815), seventh in batting average against (.195) and eighth in ERA (1.95).

LHP Danielle O’Toole (2016-17)

O’Toole played two seasons at Arizona after transferring from San Diego State; in her second and final year, she was named a first-team All-American and Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year after going 30-5 with a 1.56 ERA. O’Toole’s 1.69 ERA across two seasons ranks sixth among 21st-century Wildcats; her 1.43 walks per seven innings rank third. O’Toole notched 18 shutouts in 72 starts.

HEAD COACH

Mike Candrea (1986-2021)

The GOAT of college softball coaches won eight WCWS championships in all, three this century. The Wildcats made the World Series 11 times under Candrea between 2000 and ‘21, including each of the last two chances he had to go (2019 and 2021). His 1,674 overall wins are the second most in NCAA Division I history.