MEMPHIS - The 2021 NCAA Division III CoSIDA Academic All-America softball teams have been announced. The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), recognizes student-athletes for both their academic and athletic performances. Within DIII, the Academic All-District teams are divided into eight districts as Sports Information Directors within their respective district vote for the high-caliber award. Each All-District winner moved on to the All-America voting where three teams are selected.

Rhodes College senior Lauren King (Seattle, Wash.) was one of 33 individuals to be named Academic All-America for NCAA Division III softball, and just one of six who have earned the honor twice in their career. Fifteen of the newly inducted members have at least a 3.90 GPA.

King, a designated player and pitcher, earned second team honors for the second year in a row. She came to Rhodes as a transfer her sophomore season from the University of South Dakota. She has garnered CoSIDA Academic All-District honors twice and has earned All-SAA accolades in each eligible season with the Lynx. King became the program's first ever CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2020.

Among the nine individuals up for Academic All-American honors, King held the highest average (.538), slugging percentage (.897), on-base percentage (.570), most hits (63) and most stolen bases (12 of 14). This year she earned All-Region honors for the first time in her career after being named the 2021 SAA Player of the Year. In 35 games she made 20 appearances in the circle, going 7-5 with nine starts and a 3.30 ERA. This year she also earned Rhodes' highest athletic honor for a female student-athlete after being named the 2021 Rebecca Rish Gay Award winner.

King graduated Rhodes with a degree in International Studies and History with a 3.93 GPA as a member of three different honor societies. She was named to both the SAA Academic Honor Roll each season as well as the NFCA All-Academic squad.