The Flames were chosen to finish in third place in the Horizon League on Thursday morning. This comes after a 2021 season in which the Flames won the Horizon League championship, and punched their ticket to the NCAA Regionals. UIC finished the last season with a 29-23 overall record and a 23-11 conference record. The Flames finished their 2021 season in the NCAA Regional. 

UIC returns All-League First Team member Samantha Ferguson, Second Team member Alannah Cran, and All-Freshman Team member Dee Dee Caskey to the team. Ferguson was one of the top hitters on the Flames team, collecting 50 hits and driving in 28 runs. Cran finished with an impressive conference batting average, hitting .337 in her sophomore season. Cran also impressed defensively, allowing no errors and notching five assists in the outfield. Caskey showed out in her first season as a Flame, finishing with 29 hits and 28 runs in her first season. Additionally, Fergueson, Caskey, and Maica Ingles were all named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team.

The Flames are also returning senior Tara McElligott, who has held down the first base position throughout her career. McElligott has been a consistent staple of the lineup during her time at UIC. The senior brings keen vision and power to the plate, leading the team with 21 walks and finishing second on the Flames in total home runs (9). 

The UIC softball team starts their 2022 season off this weekend with a tournament in sunny San Diego. The Flames are scheduled to play five games this weekend, with their first coming on Friday, Feb. 11, against Cal Poly. The first pitch for the first game of UIC's season is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.