Getting to know OU softball 2025: Gabbie Garcia

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.

Gabbie Garcia (INF, Fr., No. 42)

Your mom, a legend?

My mom is honestly the person that I look up to the most when it comes to softball. It’s crazy being young. She asked me at a young age what I want from the game and I said ‘well, I want to be one of the best players, right?’ And from there, she’s like ‘OK, do you understand what it takes?’ I was eight, nine years old and I had no idea. She goes ‘It’s going to take a lot of work.’

From there, we set our eyes on a goal and just working as hard as we can. I remember there were many nights of fighting but eventually you get to that age where we ended up, instead of butting heads, working together. From there, I was able to put my head down and continue to work and continue to grind. Here I am now getting the opportunity to play on one of the biggest stage or the biggest stage and just wanting to continue to grow here and with this program.

First conversation with Gasso?

The first conversation with Coach Gasso, I was super intimidated, I’ll be honest. I was like ‘Oh my gosh, this is Coach Gasso.’ I got to say the right thing, I got to act the right way, right? And then honestly, getting here, learning that she has that mother figure over the team and wants us to become like … she sees us as her children. She wants us to become great young women and seeing her sense of humor and seeing her motivation for us and seeing how she won’t let us stoop under her expectations and holds us accountable. It’s incredible. It’s awesome.

American Sign Language?

When I was going into my freshman year, we had to choose a language. I’ll be honest, at the time, I heard Spanish was really difficult but American Sign Language always just seemed very unique and different. I was like ‘OK’ and I was just very curious, right? So I hopped in, jumped into the water with that and I’m from there and I just actually ended up falling in love with the language itself and the community behind it. I think it’s fascinating, the history behind American Sign Language, all the truth. It’s just crazy. I love it. Think it’s so much fun. I think it’s amazing to bring it and to continue to share the language with the world. 

Working with Tiare Jennings?

She was a leader coming off and now coming into that role of being a coach here, I know personally for me, I see her as a big sister, right? Someone I can go to when I’m kind of confused or when things start moving a little fast or when Coach says one thing and you’re like ‘what does that mean?’ And I know I can go to her and she’ll explain to me and break it down. It’s phenomenal. She’s a great person. I know she used to play for my old club team, so I used to see her a little bit here and there and still to come here and continue to learn from her, it’s just awesome. She’s a great person.