Oklahoma Sooners Softball Season 2026: Why They Still Look Good for Another National Title Run

The Oklahoma Sooners softball team is already ready for another strong year in 2026, even if their amazing run came to an end in a way that felt hard. You know how good they have been if you have been watching college softball. Their four-straight victories ended in 2025, but I think they will be back strong. Coach Patty Gasso and her crew have been actively changing the team. They lost a few guys, but they also got some really good ones. This team never appears to be down for long.

After the Sooners' season ended in the WCWS semifinals, three players graduated. Some of these were first baseman Cydney Sanders and pitchers Sam Landry and Isabella Smith. This means that many of the same people will be in the dugout at Love's Field next year. But the Sooners did lose four players via the transfer site. Hannah Coor and Maya Bland, who played in the outfield, Kadey Lee McKay, who played in the infield, and Corri Hicks, who played catcher, all left. Coor was the only player that started every game for Gasso in 2025, so the losses aren't as bad as they seem.

The good news is that Coach Gasso did the same thing she did last year. She signed the best recruiting class in the country. This fall, five bright freshmen will join the program. Softball America said that Kai Minor, an outfielder, was the best player in the whole recruiting class. He is headed to Oklahoma. Next season, she will play with infielder Lexi McDaniel, catcher Kendall Wells, and pitchers Allyssa Parker and Berkley Zache. Also, pitcher Sophia Bordi, who didn't finish the year with the program last season, looks ready to come back. Gasso also got a pitcher who was a transfer. Sydney Berzon, who used to play for LSU, is now a Sooner. Oklahoma's run of four straight victories may have stopped in 2025, but the Sooners are ready to go after another national title in 2026.

The Possible Starting Lineup for the Oklahoma Sooners Softball Team in 2026

How the players on the infield and outfield are getting ready for another great season

I believe that the core of this team is still very strong. Kasidi Pickering, who started 61 games in 2025, will definitely start. She had a .392 batting average, which was second best on the team, and she hit 18 home runs. She has a strong bat and is always there. She will probably keep her job. Abigale Dayton, who also started 61 games, will probably play next to her. Dayton hit.325 with three home runs, eight doubles, a triple, and 19 runs batted in. These two have a lot of experience and can hit well.

Freshman Sydney Barker was Coach Gasso's pick to put her bat in the lineup toward the end of last season. If Barker can take over at first base, which Sanders left open, Minor and maybe even Tia Milloy might get more chances in the outfield. Milloy played in 50 games as a freshman, but he only started 11 of them. She hit .259 with five home runs and a double in 54 times at bat. I think Barker has a decent chance of making first base her home after how well she did last season.

Ella Parker, a superstar, is also back for her junior year. She generally plays as the designated player, but she can also play in the outfield if needed. As a redshirt freshman, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas proved she could be counted on as a third baseman. Oklahoma had a lot of good players, but Gabbie Garcia at shortstop and Ailana Agbayani at second base were two of the best. By the conclusion of last year, these players had really shown how talented they are. This means that first base is the key competitor. Last year, Barker played there a couple occasions when Sanders needed a rest. Lexi McDaniel, a true freshman, could get an opportunity to contend for this place in the fall. Coach Gasso might potentially try other players there. It will be interesting to watch who gets that job.

Looking at the pitchers and catchers for the upcoming Oklahoma softball season

New and experienced players are ready to make a big difference in the circle and behind the plate.

Jennifer Rocha, the associate head coach and pitching coach, has been progressively putting together a staff approach to pitching. For the past ten years, she has done this. This could be her biggest collection of pitchers ever. The Sooners get a top pitcher to replace Landry when Sydney Berzon joins the team. Berzon has previously proven that she can do well in the SEC. She has been named an NFCA All-American thrice. Many veteran transfer pitchers have gotten better by working with Rocha in the past. I think Berzon will be in charge, but Rocha has more strong options than ever to plan games all year. The squad really benefits from having so many good pitchers.

Kierston Deal Paytn Monticelli and Audrey Lowry are all back from the 2025 rotation. The Sooners have a lot of experience as both starting pitchers and relievers. Allyssa Parker, who officially joined the 2024 class, is now the best player in her recruitment class. Berkley Zache signed as the fifth-best pitcher. The pitching staff should be quite good because it has a combination of seasoned players and highly-rated rookie talents. Coach Rocha has a lot of options for each game.

Isabela Emerling is back behind the plate. She has a lot of expertise as a catcher. She can tell Kendall Wells, the best catcher in the country, what she knows. Emerling participated in 58 games and started 56 of them. Wells should get more chances to play in the start of 2026. This is different from Corri Hicks, who hurt himself last October. The team is in a wonderful spot with a good veteran and a bright newcomer at catcher. It gives you both stability and the chance to grow.

Why the Oklahoma Sooners are still one of the best teams to win the 2026 WCWS title

Even though some players have left, the team's talent and coaching make them a tough opponent.

The Oklahoma Sooners didn't have to do much work to get players to join their team. This is not the case for certain other teams, such Texas Tech. The key reason is that they kept so many good players. Coach Gasso also signed another bunch of new players who have very high hopes. I think this illustrates how good the program is. They can grow from the inside and still get the best new players. The Sooners will still be able to fight for another WCWS title next June, even though they are being silent in the present. I am sure they will be in the running.

Patty Gasso and her coaching staff are simply some of the best in collegiate softball. No one else can develop players and put them in the correct spots as they can. Even though the roster has changed a little, I think the system and coaching will make sure the squad plays at a high level. They know how to get their players ready for high-pressure situations and how to win important games. Oklahoma has a big edge because its leaders are always the same. It implies they can change and yet play at the greatest level every year.

With a mix of returning starters, excellent transfers, and top-tier rookies, the 2026 season looks very promising. They have a lot of players at each position, which is vital for getting through a long season and a strong SEC schedule. They have strong hitters, fast runners, and a pitching staff that can do a lot of different things. All of these things suggest that this team will be very hard to beat. I'm already excited to see them play. The Sooners are a squad to watch for the next national championship.