OU softball moving forward after NiJaree Canady picks Texas Tech

Well, who saw that one coming in the OU and softball world? Even with all the Texas Tech rumors running rampant in recent weeks, there was no way NiJaree Canady was going to end up in Lubbock, right?

Guess there was and there is.

Canady stunned the softball world by announcing her commitment to Texas Tech on Wednesday afternoon. It is being reported as a history-making Name, Image Likeness deal to help bring softball’s best player to the Red Raiders.

These past two years have been amazing and I thank @StanfordSball for the ride of a lifetime. Excited for what’s ahead! @TexasTechSB pic.twitter.com/C017QT51Gp

— NiJaree Canady (@CanadyNijaree) July 24, 2024

OU, just like every other school in the country, did what it could for Canady. There’s no doubt head coach Patty Gasso and the program made their best pitch.

A strong feeling of OU laid all its cards on the table after a Canady visit in June, and then it became a waiting game. As much as OU felt like the favorite for the initial month, other programs, predictably and understandably, kept coming.

Canady was 24-7 this season with a 0.73 ERA and five saves for Stanford. She threw a whopping 230.2 innings, allowing 116 hits, 24 earned runs with a ridiculous 337 strikeouts. Included in that were 24 complete games and nine shutouts.

A native of Topeka, Kan., Canady has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Canady has been the catalyst toward Stanford reaching the Women’s College World Series semifinals in back-to-back seasons. A well-deserved National Player of the Year.

When OU added Sam Landry less than two weeks ago, a lot of people connected dots that the Sooners were out of the Canady race. Now that wasn’t necessarily true, but Gasso and staff realized they had to prepare.

You can’t wait around forever just in case it doesn’t pan out. And for one of the first times ever when it comes to OU, it didn’t.

OU, of course, made its moves. In the circle with Landry and Isabella Smith (Campbell) and adding dynamic position players.

The Sooners are the four-time defending national champions for a reason. But they’ll enter 2025 as one of the top teams – not the top team.

Gasso has said repeatedly how excited she is to coach the freshmen and start again in 2025 with a new crop.

Eight freshmen, eight returning players and five portal additions. Barring some last-minute changes, the 2025 Sooners are set.

OU transfer portal commitments

Sam Landry, P, Louisiana (1 year)

Landry was a three-time all-Sun Belt honoree. She has a 2.12 career ERA, 63 wins & 460 strikeouts. A sneaky get at the time, and now we know just how huge it is for OU. A combination of Landry and Kierston Deal does sound pretty solid for the Sooners. Landry was the best pitcher not named Canady in the portal in June and July. And OU made sure it didn’t get shut out here.

Ailana Agbayani, SS, BYU (2 years)

Coming off a brilliant sophomore season. Agbayani hit .424 at the plate. She had five home runs and drove in 33 runs. Agbayani also knew how to get on base, with 30 walks, hit 11 times and only struck out seven times in 165 plate appearances. She had some of her best games against the best teams. Drove in a season-high three in one game against Oklahoma State. And OU fans might remember Agbayani with four hits, two doubles and two RBIs in the shocking 9-4 win for the Cougars at Love’s Field.

Isabela Emerling, C, North Carolina (2 years)

Emerling will have two seasons of eligibility remaining and is coming off a fantastic sophomore season. Emerling hit .323 with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs. And she’ll have some guidance from a former catcher, if needed, as Kinzie Hansen is staying in Norman as a grad assistant. The leap Emerling made from freshman to sophomore season was impressive. She’s someone who is still getting better.

Abby Dayton, OF, Utah (2 years)

The batting champ of the Pac-12, hitting .431 last season. Dayton was All-Pac-12 in each of her first two seasons. She was a third-team All-American as a sophomore. Dayton added two home runs and 28 RBIs this season and earned 27 walks. Dayton also made some spectacular plays in center, something OU fans know all too well.

Isabella Smith, P, Campbell (1 year)

What didn’t Smith do at Campbell? The CAA Pitcher of the Year, Smith went 26-7 in 2024 with a 1.56 ERA. Included in that was 18 complete games, nine shutouts, two saves and 239 strikeouts in 206 innings. Smith threw two no-hitters. She also had a huge moment in helping Campbell defeat Duke in April. She holds the school record for career strikeouts (638), career wins (70), single-season wins (29), single-season appearances (49), and single-season strikeouts (241).