Time for OU softball to start making its transfer portal moves
OU softball has been waiting in the wings when it comes to the transfer portal. Just watching who is entering each day, with the window closing Monday.
But now? It’s time for head coach Patty Gasso and the Sooners to strike. It has been less than two weeks since OU won its fourth consecutive national championship. Since then, three players entered the portal, leaving plenty of options for OU.
“I’m ready to start coaching again because I don’t have to coach this (10 seniors),” Gasso said. “They know it. They’ve got it. They coach each other. I’m really excited about what’s coming. I love what has happened with our freshmen. Oh, my goodness. I did not anticipate that. So the future is very, very bright.”
Who could the Sooners be going after?
OU portal targets
NiJaree Canady, P, Stanford (2 years)
It’s the waiting right now. Canady is expected to officially hit the portal Monday. Once Canady hits, let the games begin. OU feels like the favorite, according to multiple sources. It would be a move that would send more shockwaves through the softball world.
EDIT: Canady is officially in the transfer portal Monday afternoon.
Rylee Holtorf, SS, Washington (1 year)
Holtorf is just one of several former Huskies searching for a new home. She was a backbone for the Huskies. Holtorf hit .336 with 11 home runs last season. She has 17 career home runs and 56 RBIs and is known for her stellar defense at shortstop.
Kailey Wyckoff, C, Texas Tech (2 years)
Wyckoff was the 2023 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and is a two-time all-Big 12 honoree. She has a career batting average of .400, with 16 home runs, 66 RBIs and 77 runs scored. OU absolutely needs a catcher. Wyckoff feels like the best bet. Entered the portal last Monday.
Who’s leaving? Who’s returning?
We’ve said it repeatedly, but again, 2025 is going to be incredibly different. There are so many names OU fans and softball fans have been accustomed to hearing that are gone.
That senior class went 235-15 with the four national championships.
“This generation, they’ve taught me a lot about coaching,” Gasso said. “They taught me how to accept who they are and how it looks. I mean, I think that has a lot to do with a lot of things, that I just allowed them to be them. It’s hard sometimes because some of it I’m like, oh, no. But it’s important to them. They’ve taught me how to coach better.”
OU lost 10 seniors. Then add another three in the portal (Avery Hodge, Quincee Lilio, SJ Geurin). OU has eight players coming back and is adding eight freshmen. Based on the usual OU numbers, you can assume around five spots are there. Two pitchers, a catcher, an infielder, and we’ll see from there?
It’s time to have some fun.
