UIS softball third baseman Ella Brinkley has been named to the NFCA Division II All-Midwest Region Second Team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Brinkley was named First Team All-GLVC this season, her third career all-conference nod and first time making the top team. This marks her first career all-region honor.

Despite missing a stretch of seven games, Brinkley recorded 59 hits during her senior season, finishing with a .407 batting average, the best of her career. She collected 11 doubles, six triples, and three home runs, slugging .628—the third-highest single-season slugging percentage in program history.

Defensively, Brinkley posted the best fielding year of her career at the hot corner, totaling 30 putouts and 85 assists with just 10 errors for a .920 fielding percentage.

Earlier this year, she was named to the NFCA Player of the Year Watchlist.

Brinkley ends her Prairie Star career as the UIS program leader in career hits (217) and runs scored (139). She ranks second all-time in batting average (.372), trailing only Lakyn Wagoner, and second in on-base percentage (.442) behind Danielle Dennis.

The NFCA All-Region awards recognize top softball student-athletes from the association's eight regions. First and second teams are selected by member head coaches in each region. All honorees now move forward for consideration for the 2025 NFCA Division II All-America teams.