Gyvan Hammons, senior outfielder for UNA softball, demonstrates leadership and commitment to her fellow teammates.
While her statistics attest to her hard work, there’s much more to her story, beginning when she was just four years old.
“This is my 18th year playing softball,” she said. “Both of my sisters are older, so I got to watch them play all the sports whenever they were growing up. Softball looked the most fun, and I just wanted to beat them. So, I went ahead and chose softball and it stuck with me for a long time.”
From Hammond, Louisiana, Hammons grew up with her mom, dad and two sisters. Hammons lost her father a year and a half ago, and she made specific mention that the grief brought her closer to her mom and sisters.
Last season, she started in 47 games, batted a .281 with 39 hits, 32 runs, nine runs batted in, and finished with three doubles, one triple and one home run inside the park.
Softball was not the only sport Hammons grew familiar with. Her parents gave her the option to explore so she could better understand what she truly wanted to do.
“I played basketball up until my freshman year of high school. It is a much quicker pace than softball so I had a lot of fun playing it. I ran track, I did some triple jump, long jump, and I threw the javelin a little bit. I love volleyball. I never played it but my sisters did. I would always pepper with them in the backyard. But, I had a realization with myself my freshman year and I was like, ‘Okay, softball is kind of what I’m better at and it’s what I’m gonna succeed at in the future.’ So I went ahead and put all my eggs in one basket.”
Choosing to dedicate her time and energy to softball, she played for two years at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Florida.
“[Junior college] is an awesome route for athletes that aren’t really sure what they want to do,” she said. “It gives you the experience, and the closeness of a team. I did my two years at JUCO and it was just time to level up.”
Hammons had the confidence that packing her life up once more was the perfect decision.
“When I came on my visit here with Coach Cozart, she was so loving and welcoming. She showed me around. I love the nature on campus. The teammates that showed me around on my visit were super nice. I could just tell that I thought it was going to be a place that I thought was home.”
Growing up, she wanted to be a sports broadcaster. That goal has slightly shifted to sideline reporting for ESPN. Same game, different aspect.
Hammons is majoring in Journalism and Digital Media Production and is currently interning with the UNA Athletic Department. She helps with athletics media and gameday production.
“Calling out that MLB championship game, that’s the dream,” she said. “Also, I’ve always loved LSU, go Tigers till I die.”
She also recalls the first time she saw a glimpse of her future.
“The first Christmas I can remember, my dad got me a microphone so I could start calling games on the couch with him and it was a lot of fun,” she said. “I think I’ve always just wanted to be a part of sports. It’s what I’m most passionate about.”
She is open to a variety of sports to report. The most knowledgeable for her are softball and baseball, but basketball and football also pique her interest.
After graduating this May, she hopes to get a graduate assistant spot and help with a university’s broadcasting program. She is thinking about minoring in sports management.
“I’m not really sure when it comes to the school side of it,” she said. “But I definitely want to stay on the team side of sports because I’m having so much fun in my current internship.”
Hammons’ has grown to have a strong connection to her teammates and coaching staff, coming with a number of nicknames and inside jokes.
“I am a leader. I am very vocal. Being in the center, I can see majority of the field. So I’m letting my team know what’s going on and what they can’t see. You always play best when you are having fun, and sometimes you just need that teammate that’s always having a good time, always laughing, bringing the energy up, and that is definitely the kind of person I am.”
Softball Head Coach Ashley Cozart described Hammons’ character and skill during her time on the team.
“Gyvan is one of those special athletes you get the opportunity to coach. She is a winner, a leader, and plays the game with as much grit and heart. She is a great player and the best center fielder I have ever coached. I knew when we recruited Gyvan she would bring a special mentality and toughness that our program needed. The impact she’s made on this team and university in two years has been awesome to see. She doesn’t take an inning, a pitch, or a single day off from being the best she can be. She’ll always be remembered as one of the toughest to put on a uniform in our program.
Her single-game season highs for 2025-26 include four hits, one home run, three runs scored, one run batted in, three bases stolen, one assist and four putouts.
A game she is most proud of occurred last season versus Alabama where the Lions were defeated 2-4. Despite the loss, she gave her team credit for their hard work.
“We came out and played them like we would have played any other team. We should have won that game, but I’m still super proud of my team,” She said. “My pitcher that started, Aliv [Alivia] Wilken, crushed it. I felt good putting up a single against Alabama. That was my first SEC team that I played where it mattered. It’s a game that I’ll always remember.”
When given the opportunity to design her glove last season, she used it to remind her of who she is and who she plays for.
“I have a verse on my glove,” she said. “ ‘[1 Thessalonians 2:20] – Indeed, you are our glory and joy.’ My dad used to always tell me that I am his joy and that I bring out the joy in other people. About 2 months after I received my glove was when he passed. I had that verse on my glove all season long that was reminding me to play for him. I do have joy and I continue to bring that joy out in other people. It was just a mental reminder for me to have fun, play with joy, and play for him.”
Hammons’ strongest source of motivation comes after the loss of her father, reflecting on why her current love of the game is so strong.
“I am so passionate about softball. But recently, it has been to make my dad proud. He was more of a softball fan than I was honestly. I was nervous for my career to be over. I was going to be like, ‘Dad, what are you going to do? You can’t watch me anymore’. But now that times have changed and things are different, I’m honestly just playing because he would have wanted me to. He would have wanted me to have fun, to go as far as I can and do the best I can. So I’m doing this for him. I know he’s watching me up there and I know he’s super proud of me. So every game I step on the field, I have him in my heart and on my gloves.”
