The top prize in the transfer portal has been secured, and it didn’t go in Patty Gasso’s favor.
NiJaree Canady, the 2024 USA Softball Player of the Year and a Stanford transfer, has committed to Texas Tech, as announced in a post on X on Wednesday.
Oklahoma, like nearly every other program, had been pursuing her since she entered the portal. Instead, the Sooners have brought in two pitchers from smaller conferences to strengthen their staff.
A sign that Canady might not end up at Norman was when Louisiana transfer Sam Landry committed to the Sooners on July 13. Landry pitched 194 innings last year, striking out 165 batters, walking only 65, and finishing with a 2.08 ERA.
At the end of June, Gasso also secured former Campbell pitcher Isabella Smith, who posted a 2.01 ERA in 2024, with 238 strikeouts and 69 walks over 206 innings.
Both Landry and Smith will have one year of eligibility left. They will join Kierston Deal, who took on a bigger role for the Sooners in 2024, as well as reliever Paytn Monticelli and true freshman Audrey Lowry to complete Jennifer Rocha’s pitching staff.
