Getting to know OU softball 2025: Isabella Smith

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.

Isabella Smith (RHP, RSr., No. 8)

Transfer portal process?

At the end of our season at Campbell, I wasn’t 100 percent sure that I was even going to transfer. It was a thought in my head and it was something I just leaned on God for and I prayed and I was like God just tell me what I’m supposed to do. I’m very based on everything happens for a reason and that God was going to give me a sign. And when I got the sign that I needed I knew it was time. And then JT actually reached out to me first and asked if he could set up a call with him and the other coaches and then I think a few hours later Coach Gasso called me. We had a pretty lengthy, really amazing conversation. And then the next morning Coach Rocha called me. We got on the phone talking about like what bullpens were like and things like that, me just trying to get more information. And then we set up a visit. And then here I am. 

Why OU?

I think just how family-oriented it is. I am a huge family person and family is everything to me, especially being like 20 hours from home I definitely wanted to be in a place where it still felt like family. And so that was really big for me and it just felt like this is where God wanted me to be and where God wanted me to spend my last year so it was pretty clear. 

Tough to miss fall ball?

I wouldn’t say necessarily I missed out. Like I said, everything happens for a reason. So I was just trying to trust the process the entire fall. I was able to scrimmage the team in practices and things like that so I’m still going up against one of the best or the best offense in the nation and it’s preparing me for spring. So I still had great opportunities. 

One of the many pitchers?

I think especially with how amazing our staff is here, no one here needs to throw every inning or a lot of innings or carry a majority of innings. I think especially with this being Sam’s senior year and this being my fifth year, we’re getting up there in age so I think definitely having an entire staff that is capable and trustworthy is really going to help us especially going farther in postseason because it helps the longevity of our bodies being rested and our bodies not being completely worn out trying to get through conference. 

OU uses a full staff?

I think looking back even just watching that game it was exciting. It was something that I think, honestly, I don’t think it’s ever been done before that they used that many pitchers in one game. So it was exciting to see that there were multiple different arsenals in their bag and it was just exciting to see the way that they used it and the way that Coach Rocha had trust in every single one of her pitchers on the roster.