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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Five Sooners Tabbed to USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List
January 21, 2026 | Softball
NORMAN — Oklahoma Softball is well represented on the Top 50 Watch List for the 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, with Sydney Berzon, Gabbie Garcia, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas, Ella Parker and Kasidi Pickering earning a spot on the list.
OU's five selections is tied with Texas for the most in the country. The Southeastern Conference's 24 selections paces all leagues, with student-athletes hailing from OU, Texas, Florida, Arkansas, LSU, Georgia, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama.
Sydney Berzon | RHP | Senior | Buffalo, N.Y. (LSU)
Berzon was a three-year letterwinner with LSU before joining the Sooners ahead of the 2026 season. Berzon went 52-25 with LSU, turning in a 2.02 ERA with 416 strikeouts in 486.1 innings of work for the Tigers. She was a three-time All-SEC pick and also earned National Fastpitch Coaches (NFCA) All-American honors in both 2023 and 2024.
Gabbie Garcia | INF | Sophomore | Chandler, Ariz.
Garcia returns for her sophomore year after starting 59 games for the Sooners as a true freshman. Garcia took home NFCA Third Team All-American honors in 2025 and SEC All-Defensive Team honors, finishing fifth among all freshmen in home runs with 20.
Nelly McEnroe-Marinas | INF | Redshirt-Sophomore | Waianae, Hawaii
McEnroe-Marinas was the everyday starter at third base for the Sooners last year, making starts in all 61 games. As a redshirt-freshman she homered 15 times and tallied a .339 batting average, earning a spot on the NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 25 List.
Ella Parker | UTL | Junior | Los Angeles, Calif.
Parker is coming off an NFCA First Team All-American season in which she hit .423 with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs, earning Women's College World Series All-Tournament honors after homering against Karlyn Pickens twice in OU's dramatic 4-3 win against Tennessee. Parker was also a 2024 NFCA Third Team All-American and is a career .419 hitter.
Kasidi Pickering | OF | Junior | Humble, Texas
Pickering joined Parker as an NFCA First Team All-American last year, while taking home First Team All-SEC recognition and First Team College Sports Communicators Academic All-American honors. The junior is hitting .391 for her career, while notching 30 home runs and 108 RBIs in 125 starts.
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced on April 29. While an athlete does not have to be on the Watch List to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 Finalists. The Top 10 Finalists will be revealed May 13, with the Top 3 being released May 18. The 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be announced prior to the NCAA Women's College World Series (WCWS).
OU's five selections is tied with Texas for the most in the country. The Southeastern Conference's 24 selections paces all leagues, with student-athletes hailing from OU, Texas, Florida, Arkansas, LSU, Georgia, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama.
Sydney Berzon | RHP | Senior | Buffalo, N.Y. (LSU)
Berzon was a three-year letterwinner with LSU before joining the Sooners ahead of the 2026 season. Berzon went 52-25 with LSU, turning in a 2.02 ERA with 416 strikeouts in 486.1 innings of work for the Tigers. She was a three-time All-SEC pick and also earned National Fastpitch Coaches (NFCA) All-American honors in both 2023 and 2024.
Gabbie Garcia | INF | Sophomore | Chandler, Ariz.
Garcia returns for her sophomore year after starting 59 games for the Sooners as a true freshman. Garcia took home NFCA Third Team All-American honors in 2025 and SEC All-Defensive Team honors, finishing fifth among all freshmen in home runs with 20.
Nelly McEnroe-Marinas | INF | Redshirt-Sophomore | Waianae, Hawaii
McEnroe-Marinas was the everyday starter at third base for the Sooners last year, making starts in all 61 games. As a redshirt-freshman she homered 15 times and tallied a .339 batting average, earning a spot on the NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 25 List.
Ella Parker | UTL | Junior | Los Angeles, Calif.
Parker is coming off an NFCA First Team All-American season in which she hit .423 with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs, earning Women's College World Series All-Tournament honors after homering against Karlyn Pickens twice in OU's dramatic 4-3 win against Tennessee. Parker was also a 2024 NFCA Third Team All-American and is a career .419 hitter.
Kasidi Pickering | OF | Junior | Humble, Texas
Pickering joined Parker as an NFCA First Team All-American last year, while taking home First Team All-SEC recognition and First Team College Sports Communicators Academic All-American honors. The junior is hitting .391 for her career, while notching 30 home runs and 108 RBIs in 125 starts.
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced on April 29. While an athlete does not have to be on the Watch List to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 Finalists. The Top 10 Finalists will be revealed May 13, with the Top 3 being released May 18. The 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be announced prior to the NCAA Women's College World Series (WCWS).
Players Mentioned
RHP
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INF
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INF
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UTL
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OF
/ SoftballSB Highlights: OU 22, East Texas A&M 0
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