Juarez Selected Second in Athletes Unlimited Draft

NORMAN – Oklahoma softball redshirt senior Giselle Juarez was selected with the second pick in the Athletes Unlimited Softball College Draft Monday evening.

Juarez becomes the 36th OU softball player drafted to play at the professional level. She was one of 12 college draftees Monday night and joins former Sooners Sydney Romero, Caleigh Clifton and Shelby Pendley as part of the second season of the Athletes Unlimited league.

A two-time NFCA First Team All-American, Juarez has helped lead the Sooners to two Big 12 regular season crowns, most recently this weekend's 2021 title. The Glendale, Ariz., native ranks in the top 10 in program history for opponent batting average, strikeouts per seven innings pitched and walks per seven innings pitched.

This season, Juarez paces OU with a 15-1 record in the circle and 108 strikeouts to just 14 walks. Opponents are batting just .180 off the freshly-minted draftee.

Juarez will be one of 60 players in Athletes Unlimited's second season of professional softball, beginning after the conclusion of the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. The innovative league is based off an individual points system to decide a champion, with Texas alum and Olympian Cat Osterman winning the inaugural crown in 2020.

The 2021 AU season will take place at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois from August 28 to September 27. All 30 games will be available to watch across CBS Sports Network, FOX Sports, FOX Deportes, Facebook and YouTube.

Juarez and the Sooners head into postseason play beginning with the Big 12 Championship this weekend in Oklahoma City. OU will open play against fourth-seeded Baylor Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. CT. Tickets for the championship are available at Big12Sports.com.

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