9 Oklahoma Sooners included in D1Softball's top 100 players from 2023 (2024)

What D1Softball Said:

Does Coleman contribute more on offense, defense or energy to the team? It might be all. The Big 12 Player of the Year was marvelous in the outfield, robbing home runs and winning the D1Softball Defensive Player of the Year. She had a career-high in both doubles (15) and home runs (17), while drawing 41 walks and stealing 16 bases. – Brady Vernon, D1Softball

What Sooners Wire Says:

Jayda Coleman was the lightning rod for the Oklahoma Sooners championship run. She had a career year and earned first-team All-American honors in addition to her Big 12 Player of the Year award. Whether it was a leadoff home run or a momentum-changing play in center field, Coleman was arguably the best player in college softball in 2023.

What D1Softball Said:

Another incredible season for Jennings. As she typically does, Jennings led the Sooners with 66 RBIs, which finished as the sixth-most in the nation. She also became the all-time leader for RBIs at the Women’s College World Series with 29 and she has another season. She also has a chance to overtake Jenny Dalton-Hill’s career record of 328 next season as she has driven in 245 runs in her career. – Vernon, D1Softball

What Sooners Wire Says:

Tiare Jennings may not have had the numbers she did in her first two years, but she was still fantastic in the postseason for the Oklahoma Sooners. A legit run-producer in the lineup, Jennings still hit for a great average and is one of the reasons the Sooners will be the favorite to win the national title again in 2024.

What D1Softball Said:

The Women’s College World Series Most Outstanding Player was at her best when the lights were the brightest. Not only did Bahl have the second-best ERA in the nation (0.90), she tossed 24.2 scoreless innings in Oklahoma City. After winning two national championships as a Sooner, Bahl will now try to grow her legacy as a hometown hero at Nebraska. – Vernon, D1Softball

What Sooners Wire Says:

While Jordy Bahl had a great freshman year, her performance over the final three months of this season was incredible. Her performance in the NCAA tournament was something of legend. Though we’ll have to enjoy her pitching prowess from a difference after transferring to Nebraska, we were witnesses to one of the sports truly special players the last two years.

What D1Softball Said:

Brito was on a shortlist of players that had at least 17 doubles and 17 home runs. The third baseman had an impressive resume of pitchers she took deep, including Megan Faraimo, Lexi Kilfoyl, Sydney Berzon, Dariana Orme and Millie Thompson. She also had a career-best .412 batting average and played solid defense at the hot corner. – Brady Vernon, D1Softball

What Sooners Wire Says:

Alyssa Brito was a key piece to Oklahoma’s offensive success. With a career year and a first-team All-American selection, Brito became a key cog in the order for Patty Gasso.

What D1Softball Said:

Storako helped the Sooners in multiple ways. The Michigan transfer helped set the tone for when Oklahoma really turned it up a notch, shutting out UCLA at the Mary Nutter in California. Storako is known for her riseball, but she also had a swing and miss percentage of 35 on her changeup. – Vernon, D1Softball

What Sooners Wire Says:

Jordy Bahl’s season was magical at the end, but in the beginning of the year, Patty Gasso relied on Alex Storako’s veteran presence and pitching prowess to carry Oklahoma. While she wasn’t asked to do much down the stretch, Storako was a leader on this team and came through with clutch innings when the Sooners needed them.

What D1Softball Said:

Lee made an instant impact for Oklahoma. The All-American slugger had 10 doubles, 14 home runs and 51 RBI. She’s also always displayed she has a great eye her whole career and her 30 walks finished second on the team. – Vernon, D1Softball

What Sooners Wire Says:

Haley Lee was instrumental throughout Oklahoma’s season, hitting up and down the lineup. When the Sooners needed to get someone on base, Lee was up to the task. She was another great addition from the portal for Patty Gasso.

What D1Softball Said:

May’s 0.91 ERA finished behind only Stanford’s NiJaree Canady and her former teammate Jordy Bahl nationally. The changeup was May’s go-to out pitch, getting hitters to swing past it 43 percent of the time. May will be part of the Sooner class aiming to go four-for-four in national championships. – Vernon, D1Softball

What Sooners Wire Says:

For much of the year, it was Nicole May and not Bahl leading the Sooners in ERA. All season, May showed her toughness and ability throughout the year and looks to be the headliner in the Sooners’ rotation in 2024 after they lost Storako (WPF) and Bahl (Nebraska).

What D1Softball Said:

There isn’t a better backstop behind the plate in the country. Hansen doesn’t have a lot of runners thrown out because most teams don’t even attempt to steal. She was also the most consistent bat during Oklahoma’s postseason run, having a hit in every game but two and driving in 13 runs. Of course, her game-tying home run against Clemson in Super Regionals was the most notable. – Vernon, D1Softball

What Sooners Wire Says:

Like Jayda Coleman, Kinzie Hansen did everything for the Oklahoma Sooners this year. This ranking feels a bit low. She’s the best catcher in softball, and her work at the plate was huge for the Sooners during the NCAA tournament. Like Jennings and Coleman, Hansen will be key for the Sooners chances at a four-peat in 2024. Hansen has a shot to be Oklahoma’s next captain.

What D1Softball Said:

You could say it’s debatable that Lyons is the best defensive shortstop in the country, but its closer to unanimous. Lyons had three errors this year, the least amount in a season for her. While injuries derailed her offensive numbers, a down year for Lyons still meant an OPS over 1.000 in the Oklahoma lineup. – Vernon, D1Softball

What Sooners Wire Says:

Again, one could make the argument that this ranking is too low. Grace Lyons was the leader of Oklahoma’s historic season and is arguably the best defensive player in softball. Lyons is going to be incredibly missed.

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