Patty Gasso is optimistic of landing college softball’s top pitcher to OU

NiJaree Canady is the top pitcher in college softball. She has guided Stanford to the Women’s College World Series in each of the previous two seasons.

Canady’s announcement earlier this month that she was entering the transfer portal with two seasons of eligibility remaining sparked a firestorm across the Division I softball landscape. Every team in the country would welcome the two-time All-American with open arms.

It just so happens that Patty Gasso’s Oklahoma Sooners, who recently won their fourth consecutive national championship, are in desperate need of pitching aid for the 2025 campaign.

It appears like Oklahoma’s championship legacy and recent collegiate softball dominance, combined with Canady’s exceptional pitching abilities in the circle, would be a logical fit. A win-win for both sides. If only it were so simple.

Oklahoma jumped to the top of the softball transfer pool as soon as Canady entered the transfer portal. However, there are numerous other prominent schools that are capable and eager to make a strong pitch (pun intended) to persuade the finest pitcher in the game right now to conclude her collegiate career with them.

Canady’s landing sports options have been limited since she formally entered the transfer portal in mid-June. Even the rumor mill has been pretty silent about the matter. Most analysts, however, expected it to be a lengthy process.

It’s not simply the inherent talent she brings to the field. That aspect is evident. However, additional factors influence the process for both sides (Canady and suitors interested in securing her commitment). The OU head coach believes Canady’s job, expectations, and long-term goals must be mutually agreed upon.

The colleges actively seeking the two-time All-American must also be able to match her academic needs and provide the necessary educational environment for this to occur.

Of course, family and personal preferences play an important role in these types of talks. Canady’s hometown of Topeka, Kansas, is just four and a half hours away from Norman, making it very easy for family members to attend her games. Much more so than it is at Palo Alto, California, or during games in the Atlantic Coast Conference, where Stanford will compete next season.

And you must consider the role NIL (name, image, likeness) money will play in the final decision-making process. A student-athlete with Canady’s abilities is sure to trigger a NIL bidding war.

Although Canady has not made any public comments or indicated which colleges she may be considering as a landing site, several prominent programs have been cited in recent days as possibly being at the top of her target list. Oklahoma is one of the schools, alongside Texas and Florida State. The Washington Huskies, a longtime Pac-12 adversary now in the Big Ten, have also been mentioned as a prospective new NCAA softball home.

While Oklahoma’s championship record is undeniably appealing, Gasso is losing eleven seniors from the roster, which may be a deterrent for Canady if she is looking for a better prepared championship challenger. The Sooners do, however, have a pitching need and a scholarship to offer.

Texas, like the Sooners, is a club stocked with talent and poised to return to the Women’s College World Series. The Longhorns’ deep and seasoned pitching staff, which was one of the best in the NCAA last season, could be a disadvantage. How does the National Collegiate Player of the Year fit into this scenario?

Florida State’s attraction to Canady could be Seminole head coach Lonni Alameda, a two-time National Player of the Year and one of the best in the country at coaching and developing pitchers.

College softball experts do not anticipate Canady to make a decision anytime soon. The procedure might continue until the fall. Gasso is hopeful about Oklahoma’s chances of adding Canady to the roster. The advantages of doing so speak for themselves. The challenge of bringing the former Stanford star aboard is ensuring that everything is in place for her to continue to grow and succeed not only on the field, but also in the classroom, as well as in her personal and future career lives.