By Alex Diaz – (@DiazOnSports) Spear Reporter | University of Washington freshman Kaycie Burdick leads off first base while her twin sister, San Jose State freshman Sophia Burdick, stands in the outfield during their matchup.(Photo by Matthew Meyer – Spear Photographer)
Few bonds run deeper than the one shared between sisters. For twin sisters Kaycie and Sophia Burdick, that bond has shaped nearly every step of their softball journeys. Today, they stepped onto Spartan Softball Field on opposite sides for the first time in their lives.
This season marked the first time in three years the programs met on the field, a matchup made possible after coaches from both teams worked to schedule the contest, knowing how meaningful the opportunity would be for the twin sisters to compete against one another.
“For them to have a central location to play against each other, I think it was great for their family to see both of their daughters play,” San Jose State’s head coach Tammy Lohmann said.
Historically, the matchup has favored the University of Washington, which entered the game holding a 6–0 record against SJSU.
Freshman outfielder Sophia Burdick has quickly found her role in a young SJSU lineup, earning a starting position early in the season.
In a fitting twist, both sisters entered the matchup as starters and were slotted in the ninth spot of their respective batting orders.
“I actually was really surprised that they were going to come out here since Washington doesn’t play many teams in California,” Sophia Burdick said. “I was really excited when I saw her.”
In the second inning, Kaycie sent a line drive to right field, directly toward her twin sister, Sophia.
The play served as a quick reminder that the siblings were now competing against each other, a moment Sophia described as “fun” despite the unusual circumstances.
Freshman outfielder Kaycie Burdick has also stepped into a starting role in her first collegiate season, continuing the parallel paths she shares with her twin sister as she competes for Washington.
The move from Pleasanton to Seattle marked a major transition for the Bay Area native, but family support remained constant, with many of their relatives traveling to SJSU to watch the sisters face each other and cheer for both sides from the stands.
“To be going to different colleges, to let alone playing on different teams, is weird,” Kaycie Burdick said. “But I’m always rooting for her even if I’m on the other side.”
For the Burdick sisters, the moment carried meaning far beyond the final score.
After spending their whole lives playing side by side, competing on opposite teams while living hundreds of miles apart has been one of the biggest adjustments not only to their softball careers but also to their lives.
“We’re best friends,” Kaycie Burdick said. “We’ve always played together, been partners for everything.”
Taking the field against each other not only reunited them in competition, but also gave their family and teammates a chance to witness a milestone reflecting years of shared dedication, sacrifice and sisterhood.
For one game, they were rivals. Everywhere else, they remain teammates for life.
