DFW Softball's Top HR Candidates: Bradley, Gaudio & Landers Eye 2026 Title

Back-to-back years. That's how long the Metroplex single-season softball home run record has been falling, and the 2026 season is shaping up to continue the trend. Three players from across the DFW area have emerged as the leading candidates to claim the title this year.

The benchmark belongs to Melissa's Kennedy Bradley, who slugged 24 home runs in 2025. Bradley generates top-tier exit velocity and is a true heart-of-the-order threat — a hitter who combines raw power with a high average and a track record of delivering in high-pressure situations.

The second name in the conversation is Hope Gaudio, a junior shortstop at Mansfield Legacy. The LSU commit brings effortless power to the plate with elite barrel consistency and a disciplined eye that allows her to punish strikes. Her gap-to-gap approach gives her full plate coverage, and she's established herself as one of the most feared hitters in the region.

Then there's Waxahachie shortstop Michaela Landers, who has stepped out of the prospect shadows in a major way. Landers broke the Texas single-season RBI record this year, driving in 92 runs, and has gone deep once in every five at-bats. Her power has been a driving force behind an outstanding 2026 season for the Indians.

The DFW area is loaded with talented shortstops, but Bradley, Gaudio, and Landers stand apart. All three hit for both power and high average — a combination that makes pitching around them the most defensible option opposing coaches have left.