Lena Girardi – Joe Girardi's daughter – commits to Oklahoma State

Top 2025 recruit Lena Girardi has committed to Oklahoma State, she announced. Girardi, the daughter of former MLB player and manager Joe Girardi, is a 6-foot shooting guard out of Bradenton (Florida) IMG Academy.

“I’m such a competitive person,” Girardi said. “I take pride in being the hardest worker on any team I’m on. That’s what got me to where I am today. I’m someone who’s very good at attacking downhill and drawing fouls – that’s one of my biggest things.” 

The Cowgirls were a late addition to Girardi’s recruitment, but they made an impression on Girardi from the jump. 

“The connection that I had with Jacie [Hoyt], and just the way that she believed in me and her vision for me, was really a big thing for me…The way that she came after me, and everything she did to show me that she wants me. We just connected right away. We would get on the phone and talk for an hour and we would talk about the most random stuff. It just really felt like we had an amazing connection. She’s just the best person ever. All the assistants too — they’re all amazing. Coach Kelby [Jones], is the one that I communicate with the most. He’s just so fun and I loved everything about them and their beliefs… When I went there, I kind of just fell in love with the campus.”

The way Hoyt broke down Girardi’s game and what she could bring to the program sold her almost immediately.

“The way that they saw that I could go in there and have a chance to play and make a big impact — that’s exactly what I want to do. I don’t want to sit, but I know I have to earn what I get, but obviously having a chance to play is huge. The belief she has in me, I would say, was the biggest thing.”

Lena Girardi chose Oklahoma State over North Carolina, Northwestern, Virginia Tech and Arizona. She took official visits to Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech but canceled the remainder of her visits. 

“It’s kind of cringy, but they say ‘When you know, you know.’ In my heart, that was where I knew I had to be.”