Getting to know OU softball 2025: Sydney Barker

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.

Sydney Barker (INF, Fr., No. 77)

Recruiting process?

My recruiting process was amazing, honestly. Obviously, I was looking at a few schools. But I was really grateful to get that call on September 1. The jitters, nervousness. It was great. I had been in contact with her from a few camps previously. After I came out and took my visit, I knew this was the place for me. I didn’t go on any other visits. I just knew this was it for me.

Gasso the recruiter/coach?

My impression from her in the recruiting process is she’s very real. She’s straight up, so I kind of knew how everything was going to be like being here, which I’m very grateful for because I come from an organization with really headstrong coaches. No excuses, just working really hard. And I feel like that’s exactly how Coach Gasso is here. It was really no different to what I thought she was since I’ve been here, which is really great to have a coach like that when it’s a lot different with coaches at other programs. Coming here and knowing she is going to push us to our wits end is honestly the best thing for a player.

OU visit?

When I came on my visit, I was actually with Hannah Coor, Tiare Jennings and Jordy Bahl. Probably the three best girls you could have on a visit. They were very welcoming and told me the truth about everything. They didn’t sugarcoat anything. They said this is going to be really hard. This is going to change you from a girl to a woman. That really intrigued me because knowing I was going to come here and make a change on the field and off the field was a big turn on for me.

Freshmen class?

We are grateful to have all eight of us together because everything is very new. To have one or two or three or four, I think, would be more difficult. But knowing that we’re all in this together and a big part of the team and have to step up and we’re young but need to get it rolling and take after the other girls and get to know the culture to have a great spring season.

Loaded OU squad?

I think all of us freshmen, upperclassmen, come from a place where we are the better players on our travel team. To come on a team where the talent is just all around there? It pushes you, pushes you as a teammate, pushes you as a player, as a person and wanting to get better. Looking to your left and right, everyone is bought in and all in on this together. It’s a really good feeling knowing you’re not the only one giving it your all and doing your best every day.

Sophomore class?

It’s been, very grateful for our sophomore class because they were involved with such a great team last year. Been really helpful. Ella, Kasidi, Nelly, Maya. They help us a lot in the cages, always asking them questions about my swing to Kasidi or to Nelly about my fielding. Always willing to help, give advice. It’s nice to have people so close in age to give you those adjustments and that knowledge.

Sense of urgency in fall?

We felt urgency from the coaching staff. But there was also urgency from us girls. We really want to make sure we have the best spring season possible. No days off, no excuses. We hit it hard. Every girl is very blunt with each other. That’s something that is awesome about this team is we have discussions with this team and all real with each other and say how it is. It’s really nice to know all the girls are going to tell you the truth and what you need to be working on and vice versa.