Pitcher Kelly Maxwell is coming to OU softball

Kelly Maxwell is a Sooner.

It’s the “Go Boomer” heard all around the Sooner State and all over college softball. Maxwell, one of the greatest players in Oklahoma State history, is coming to the other side of Bedlam.

SoonerScoop can confirm multiple reports Thursday that Maxwell will spend her final season in college at Oklahoma in the latest shocking move of a wild transfer portal season in the sport.

Maxwell hasn’t officially announced, but she did update her Instagram bio to say OSU alum and to say she is a part of Oklahoma softball.

“Oklahoma softball” in the bio for Kelly Maxwell. pic.twitter.com/RGHLcEfCaT

— Bob Przybylo (@BPrzybylo) August 3, 2023

It started with one massive pitching name leaving the Sooners. And it feels like this portal cycle will end with one last huge victory for head coach Patty Gasso.

Just days after OU completed a season for the ages, star pitcher Jordy Bahl announced she was leaving the program to go home to Nebraska.

The Sooners had capped off a 61-1 record in 2023 with their third straight national championship. OU ended the season with an NCAA record 53-game winning streak. Few saw the departure of Bahl, just a sophomore, as a legitimate possibility, especially after her dominance at the Women’s College World Series.

It was stunning. It stung. But everybody handled what could have been a rough situation in the best way possible.

Gasso didn’t flinch. OU, as a matter of fact, didn’t flinch. The Sooners slowly started to add pieces in the transfer portal, bringing in two pitchers.

Former Wisconsin pitcher Paytn Monticelli was the first to announce she was heading to Norman. Then former Liberty star Karlie Keeney did the same. It looked like, at that point, everything was set.

With Nicole May and Kierston Deal both returning and S.J. Guerin also in the rotation, Gasso was ready to go for 2024.

Then Maxwell shook everything up by announcing she was leaving the Cowgirls early last month. Immediately, it looked like OU was going to be the destination.

But after Keeney announced for OU and more time had gone on, it appeared Maxwell might find her home elsewhere.

Nope, just took a little time. And Gasso let the softball world know with her patented “Go Boomer” social media post late Wednesday evening that something was brewing in Norman.

Maxwell wasn’t just a part of OSU’s success. She has been a huge reason why the Cowgirls have become a staple at the WCWS themselves in recent years.

She finished her OSU career at 58-20 in the circle with a 1.58 ERA in just under 500 innings pitched. Included in that is 40 complete games, 21 shutouts, 12 saves and 746 strikeouts.

Maxwell was 16-7 last season, with a 1.91 ERA in 142.2 innings pitched. She threw nine complete games and struck out 229.

This becomes the second huge Bedlam transfer in recent months. OU football added former OSU defensive end Trace Ford in late December. That was big and could turn out even bigger for the Sooners this season if Ford can stay healthy.

But Maxwell? That’s another level. This is going to resonate for quite some time.

This week was about where would the elite pitching transfers go? Former Stanford hurler Alana Vawter surprised some by choosing South Carolina on Wednesday.

Now? It was Maxwell’s turn. And a move that shows the softball world OU isn’t slowing down. The Sooners are looking to open Love’s Field in a major way next season.

It’s too early to talk winning a fourth consecutive national championship, but the pieces are in play for Gasso and OU to make another memorable run in 2024. And Maxwell will be there in Norman coming along for the ride.