richardson is the recipient of the 1998 sports legends award, the 1997 babe zaharias award (female athlete of the year), the 1996 amateur athletic foundation athlete of the year, inducted into the ucla hall of fame in 1996, nuprin comeback of the year award in 1990, four-time sullivan award nominee and inducted into the florida state hall of fame in 1999. her college honors include ncaa player of the decade (1980s), three-time ncaa all-american, two-time aiaw all-american, three-time ucla mvp and 1983 all university award at ucla. she was named mvp in the women's major fast pitch national championship four times. she is an inductee of the national softball hall of fame.