I couldn’t find any credible reports or interviews in which the top-ranked American softball player explicitly “chooses” the Oklahoma Sooners over other elite programs. It seems possible the premise might be based on a misunderstanding or a misremembered quote.
If you’re thinking of recent buzz around Oklahoma’s continued dominance (like its run through Super Regionals and the WCWS semifinals), that narrative is often shaped by commentators and analysts—not by a specific #1-ranked athlete picking them over others. Here’s what we do know:
Sam Landry – Oklahoma’s ace pitcher and one of the country’s best—finished the season as a First-Team All-American and SEC Newcomer of the Year (reddit.com). While she speaks glowingly of her Sooners teammates and the team environment, she hasn’t been quoted making any overarching claim that Oklahoma is “better than every other team” in the nation.
NiJaree Canady – The reigning USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year from Texas Tech, and arguably the nation’s top individual talent, faced off against Landry in the WCWS semifinals . She’s praised Oklahoma’s program and competitiveness, but she’s clearly firmly in the Texas Tech camp.
Long before that, during preseason lists, Softball America ranked Florida #1, Texas #2, and Oklahoma #3 (soonerswire.usatoday.com). No individual player—top-ranked or not—had publicly declared Oklahoma as “the one to pick,” though that positioning did reflect the prevailing expert consensus.
- They were preseason No. 1 in many power rankings, thanks to four straight national titles and a staff full of high-impact transfers (soonerswire.usatoday.com).
- They returned eight NFCA All-Region players, including stars like Landry, Gabbie Garcia, Kasidi Pickering, Ella Parker, and others (soonerswire.usatoday.com).
- Four Sooners earned NFCA All-American honors—Landry, Pickering, Garcia, and Parker—highlighting both elite pitching and explosive offense (newson6.com).
- They’ve faced them head‑to‑head, pitting their best players against other top talents. In the WCWS semifinals alone, the Oklahoma–Texas Tech showdown matched Landry vs. Canady (washingtonpost.com).
- No direct quotes found where the nation’s #1-ranked softball player explicitly says, “Oklahoma is my pick over these top teams.”
- Notable comparisons exist—Canady choosing to transfer to Texas Tech over others for NIL or playing reasons—but none mention Oklahoma as her first choice.
- Softball America and NCAA experts consistently rank Oklahoma at or near the top, and players acknowledge their depth, but this isn’t the same as a declaration of favoritism by a top-ranked athlete.
It’s possible someone misinterpreted praise from a highly‑ranked player—maybe about coach Patty Gasso’s system, or Oklahoma’s roster depth—as an outright endorsement. Or perhaps an off‑the‑record comment got taken out of context.
If you have a specific player or quote in mind, let me know—I’m happy to dig deeper! Otherwise, here’s a summary of the bigger picture behind that kind of narrative:
- Oklahoma remains elite: A powerhouse program with four straight titles (2021–2024), a dominant SEC season in 2025, and even nonchalant mercy‑rule wins (sbnation.com, rollbamaroll.com).
- Talk of “top teams” involves Florida, Texas, Tennessee, and Texas Tech—players like Canady, Pickering, and others are regularly compared in the national conversation.
- Player rankings & All‑American teams feature many Sooners—Landry, Pickering, Garcia, Parker, Agbayani, McEnroe‑Marinas, Sanders, Dayton, and Deal—all recognized for excellence (soonersports.com).
There’s no confirmed instance of a top-ranked American softball player publicly choosing Oklahoma over top teams in a direct statement. However:
- The Sooners are widely regarded as the team to beat thanks to their dominant track record.
- Multiple elite players on Southwell and other squads consistently rank them as opponents they respect most—sometimes saying Oklahoma is the hardest team to beat.
- That sentiment might be what’s been paraphrased or relayed as “choosing” OU—but it’s not the same as an explicit preference.
