Getting to know OU softball 2025: Ailana Agbayani

The OU softball season is almost here. Almost. The four-time defending national champions, obviously, have a very different look in 2025.

So many of the names OU fans had grown to love like Jayda Coleman, Tiare Jennings, among a bevy of others, have moved on.

Only eight returning players from the four-peat squad. That means a whole new crop for head coach Patty Gasso and staff to try to get playing at a championship level.

Whether it’s through recruiting or the transfer portal, nobody is crying for OU. And Gasso landed some of the best of the best.

Now? Let’s get to know them. Before the season is underway, SoonerScoop is going to let the freshmen and transfers introduce themselves.

Ailana Agbayani (INF/RHP, Jr., No. 50)

Destined to be a softballer, no?

Yes. My mom played softball at the University of Hawaii and so it was kind of just always in my blood. But definitely not something that they thought was for me. Like growing up I was definitely more into like the girly things like dresses and playing dress up. My grandma always tells me, “Ailana, I never thought you would make it this far in softball!’ And I’m just like, ‘Grandma!’ But it’s just amazing. It’s just amazing having my family really and just being able to push each other. And that’s our family time, when we bond with each other is when we’re all working out together. We have my mom, we have my dad hitting us ground balls. And then me and my brother at short fielding, my sister at first catching for us then she goes to the outfield and throws the bases to us. Like it’s a whole family thing. 

Knowing softball was for you?

It was actually a funny story. Going into my eighth-grade year after my seventh grade summer of playing softball I actually wanted to quit and I told my dad. I was like, ‘Dad I don’t think this is for me. I want to quit softball.’ And he said no. And I was like if I’m stuck, I might as well continue to work hard. And it was just, the reason why I wanted to quit, I just felt discouraged. I mean I was always the smallest, the tiniest, I just felt really discouraged. But it just proves that just continue to work hard and really trust yourself and when you have a good support system you can do anything you put your mind to. 

Transfer portal process?

So I actually entered the portal the very last day that it closed and it was a scary process. But then like they said, I just trusted God and I really felt like God, this was the plan for me and transferring was the best for me. So Coach Gasso reached out to me and once I started getting on the phone with her and talking to her more I was able to really like build a relationship with her and I came on my visit the rest was history. 

Playing against OU at Love’s Field?

I would say that playing here was amazing just because I loved even though the fans weren’t cheering for me and they were against me, it was just so amazing playing in an environment where they love softball. Where everyone was so into the game. I mean at my old school we barely had anyone coming to the games so playing in front of like sold out stands, it was so amazing.

Embracing the OU expectations?

At least for me I don’t really think of the past too much. Yes they’re amazing and they’ve always been known for having a strong program but I think she recruited all of us and she knows obviously what she’s doing and I think it’s always good just to really not think and compare yourself to others and really just be your own person because that’s what’s got all of us here. So I think really just not looking too much at the past and embracing how we are as people and softball players and playing the game like we know and with their amazing coaching. And I think that we have a really great team this year and we’ll continue to be great.