If there's one school who has earned its spot as a national softball powerhouse in the past two years, it's the University of Texas. Back-to-back NCAA national championship titles, 109 wins and an SEC Tournament Championship are just a few accomplishments that cemented that legacy.
And their chances to add to that résumé just got a whole lot higher.
On Friday, Sept. 18, Waxahachie (TX) High Schoolmiddle infielder Michaela Landers, the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2028, announced her commitment to the Longhorns — the first of this commitment cycle.
I’m so excited to announce that I have committed to continue my academic and athletic career at The University of Texas!!🤘🧡 @TexasSoftball pic.twitter.com/I8zxmTbO16
— Michaela Landers (@MichaelaAkera) September 18, 2026
"I was really looking for a home
in somewhere that I knew I wanted to wake up every day and be there," Landers told USA TODAY Sports. "I love Austin. I love the coaching staff. I love all the girls. It was just a community, and I liked the structure of it all and how they do things."
Landers is fresh off of a historical sophomore season where she broke the single-season RBI state record with 105 and hit 25 home runs to break the previous Dallas-area record of 24. She finished the season batting .639 with 52 extra-base hits.
"Whenever you have a good season like that, it’s easy to have a big head and feel like you have to do all these things," Landers said. "But I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing and stick to my plan.”
I’m so excited to announce that I have committed to continue my academic and athletic career at The University of Texas!!🤘🧡 @TexasSoftball pic.twitter.com/I8zxmTbO16
— Michaela Landers (@MichaelaAkera) September 18, 2026
Landers is confident that Texas head coach Mike White and the rest of the coaching staff will not only help her perform when it comes time, but also welcome her right in.
“On my official visit I really got to see (Coach White's) personality," Landers said. "It was so cool to see that personality and see the way he talks and interacts with the girls. I was just like, ‘He’s awesome.’”
A Texas-native, Landers will be just 2 1/2 hours away from home once she joins the Longhorns. As someone who takes pride in spending time with family and friends, being able to see them often while also playing for one of the nation's top softball programs was a no-brainer.
"I think the part of it being close to home was a big thing," Landers said. "My family can be there, the people that support me can be there.”
Landers, who expects her parents to be in Austin quite often, said they have played a tremendous role in helping her become the player she is. While neither of her parents have a softball background, they know just what it takes to be an athlete.
Landers' parents both have extensive basketball coaching careers. Her dad, Michael, was the head coach at Trinity Valley Community College for nine years before her mom, Kenya, joined him as co-head coaches for two seasons. Kenya also spent time as an assistant basketball coach with LSU, Ole Miss and Oklahoma State University.
“I think it really gave me a really good foundation for working hard and keeping the main thing the main thing," Landers said. "My mom is really good at supporting me and doing the things that she needs to do for me. Me and my dad work out every day. Even if it’s a long day — sometimes it’s in the garage — but we get it in and I really am thankful.”
The same day Landers announced her commitment to the University of Texas, the Longhorns also earned the commitment of Theo Swafford, the No. 1 baseball recruit in the Class of 2028.
While Landers said she and Swafford don't personally know each other, they will certainly cross paths in the future.
Before she heads to Austin, though, her focus remains on Waxahachie and the next two years of her high school career.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why No. 1 softball recruit Michaela Landers chose Texas as her future home
