CLEMSON — When JoJo Hyatt and Ariella Oda first arrived at Clemson, there was no stadium. There was no players’ facility. There was just a promise of what the softball program could be.

That was five years ago.

Since then, Clemson has built a state-of-the-art softball stadium, called McWhorter Stadium. It has built a state-of-the-art players’ facility, and it has built one of the top softball programs in the country.

In four short years, Clemson has gone to the NCAA Tournament three times, won an ACC Regular season title, played for the ACC Tournament Championship twice and advanced to two Super Regionals.

“They have seen this program really just grow up,” Clemson head coach John Rittman said about Hyatt and Oda. “When they got here, there was not a stadium and they had to sit for a year and not even play. They have a lot invested in this program and they both came back for their sixth year, which is huge.”

Hyatt and Oda are just two veterans on a team that enters the season ranked No. 5 in the country. The Tigers also welcome back National Player of the Year Valerie Cagle, All-American candidate McKenzie Clark and All-ACC Candidate Alia Logoleo.

“It says a lot about our team when a player wants to come back to school for a sixth year,” Rittman said. “Both are working on multiple degrees and a master’s degree. That says a lot about our upper classmen.”

Clemson will also get back catcher Aby Viera, who is coming back from off-season surgery. She and Hyatt are expected to share time behind the plate.

“We have a lot of leadership. The biggest thing about our team is that we know we cannot live in the past,” Rittman said. “Certainly, we have some high expectations on us this year.”

Joining Cagle in the circle are experienced pitchers in Millie Thompson, Brooke McCubbin and Regan Spencer.

“The biggest thing is all of these players understand that we have accomplished nothing this year,” Rittman said. “Everybody is 0-0 right now and we have to create our own path. We definitely have some goals in mind and all of those players are helping us lead in accomplishing those goals.”

The 2024 campaign begins on Feb. 8 in Clearwater, Fla. at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Clemson’s first 11 games will be on the road with the Tigers returning for their home opener on Friday, Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. against Ole Miss to kick off the Clemson Classic.