Softball Highlights My Cause Weekend

March 10, 2026 | Softball, Student-Athlete Development

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Carolina softball hosted My Cause Weekend for its series against Virginia, a player-led initiative where players, coaches and staff dedicated the series to spotlighting the causes and nonprofits they care most about.

Each member of the softball team wore a color that represented their cause. The causes ranged from cancer and disease awareness to hurricane relief and more.

Freshmen Sahara Wilson and Sydney Horton chose mental health awareness, Kina Davis highlighted Type 1 diabetes awareness, Catie Boggs honored breast cancer awareness, Addie McCullers sported epilepsy awareness, Jil Livengood recognized Morgan's Message, Nicole Knox spotlighted Lyme disease awareness and Carly Compton recognized leukemia awareness.

"The color that I will be wearing is orange," Compton said. "I have chosen to wear it because whenever I was younger, my mom got diagnosed with leukemia. When I was in kindergarten, it was really hard on me, but especially my family. My grandmother had to take over for my mom and it really changed how we lived our lives. It made me super appreciative of our family, trusting God throughout the entire journey and being thankful for everything that we have."

Sophomores Reece Outlaw honored leukemia awareness, Bryten Burns represented chronic myeloid leukemia awareness, Lilly Parrish and Skylar Young recognized breast cancer awareness and Kendall Frost chose dementia awareness.

"This year I am playing for bone cancer awareness because I lost my grandfather in October from it," Pierce said. "He had been in hospice for over a year battling it. I really wanted to dedicate this season to him and remember him when I play."

Juniors Nikki Harris represented the Wounded Warrior Project, Raegan Jennings honored the military, Rayna Blackwell supported kidney cancer awareness, Lindsay Lumsden honored brain cancer awareness, Emily LeGette represented Morgan's Message, Sanaa Thompson recognized hurricane relief and Carly Maxton supported Alzheimer's awareness.

"I think My Cause weekend is a really important time for us all to show a part of ourselves and be able to share something that is beyond the game," Young said. "There are so many different things that people go through. We are so grateful to use our platform and share our stories."

Seniors MC Eaton supported food allergy awareness, Lexie Roberts honored dementia awareness and Kenna Raye Dark represented pancreatic cancer awareness. Graduate students Shelby Barbee represented breast cancer awareness, Kiannah Pierce honored bone cancer awareness and Michele Tarpey supported heart disease awareness.

Head coach Megan Smith Lyon supported kidney cancer awareness, while assistant coaches Corey Lyon represented dementia awareness, Maddie Holub honored heart disease awareness and Aquilla Mateen James honored spinal cord injury awareness.

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