Completed Event: Softball versus #6/8 Arkansas on April 18, 2026 , Loss , 2, to, 3
Final
Softball
2
vs #6/8 Arkansas
3
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sooners Pace Nation With Four USA Softball Player of the Year Top 25 Finalists
April 29, 2026 | Softball
Gabbie Garcia, Kai Minor, Ella Parker and Kendall Wells Tabbed to List
NORMAN — Oklahoma Softball's Gabbie Garcia, Kai Minor, Ella Parker and Kendall Wells were named to the prestigious USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 list as announced Wednesday, April 29. The Sooners are the only team with four players on the list, and just one of six programs with multiple honorees.
Minor and Wells are the only two freshmen on the list, which is composed of 21 upperclassmen. Garcia is also only one of two sophomores named to the list. Parker is a first-time selection to the list, which will eventually be narrowed down to one USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year announced ahead of the 2026 Women's College World Series.
Garcia has already surpassed her runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs and walks total from her freshman season. The shortstop has 22 home runs and 66 RBIs, ranking third in the SEC in runs batted in and home runs.
Minor is third among all freshmen in the nation in batting average at .440, pacing all SEC freshmen as well. She leads OU with 66 hits and has registered 56 runs, 11 doubles, five triples and seven home runs. The speedy outfielder has also stolen 17 bags.
Parker debuts on the list as she is on pace for a career season. The right fielder is hitting .430 with 19 home runs and 57 RBIs while posting a perfect fielding percentage in the outfield to go along with three assists.
Wells leads the nation with 36 home runs and has already set the single-season home run records for the SEC, OU, and NCAA freshmen. The catcher from Bogart, Ga., is hitting .377 with 36 home runs, 79 RBIs, 63 runs and a 1.113 slugging percentage.
More on the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year List
Each NCAA Softball season, USA Softball recognizes a Collegiate Player of the Year based on outstanding play over the course of the entire season. At the beginning of each season, USA Softball issues a Top 50 "Watch List" for Player of the Year, followed by a list of finalists that narrows from Top 25 to Top 10 and Top 3. The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year is awarded during a team reception the week of the WCWS.
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award is voted on by previous award winners, coaching representatives from 9 Division I Conferences in the 10 USA Softball Regions as well as members of National and Local media who consistently cover Division I softball across the country.
2026 Player of the Year – Important Dates
Top 50 Watch List — January 21
Top 25 Finalists — April 29
Top 10 Finalists — May 13
Top 3 Finalists — May 18
Player of the Year — Prior to the WCWS
2026 Player of the Year Top 25 Finalists
Jocelyn Briski - Alabama
NiJaree Canady - Texas Tech
Jocelyn Erickson - Florida
Jordy Frahm - Nebraska
Gabbie Garcia - Oklahoma
Megan Grant - UCLA
Maya Johnson - Belmont
Teagan Kavan - Texas
Emily LeGette - North Carolina
Sage Mardjetko - Tennessee
Ruby Meylan - Oklahoma State
Kai Minor - Oklahoma
Ella Parker - Oklahoma
Mya Perez - Texas A&M
Karlyn Pickens - Tennessee
Moriah Polar - Purdue
Keagan Rothrock - Florida
Taylor Shumaker - Florida
Sydney Stewart - Arizona
Katie Stewart - Texas
Kaitlyn Terry - Texas Tech
Isa Torres - Florida State
Aminah Vega - Duke
Kendall Wells - Oklahoma
Jordan Woolery - UCLA
Minor and Wells are the only two freshmen on the list, which is composed of 21 upperclassmen. Garcia is also only one of two sophomores named to the list. Parker is a first-time selection to the list, which will eventually be narrowed down to one USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year announced ahead of the 2026 Women's College World Series.
Garcia has already surpassed her runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs and walks total from her freshman season. The shortstop has 22 home runs and 66 RBIs, ranking third in the SEC in runs batted in and home runs.
Minor is third among all freshmen in the nation in batting average at .440, pacing all SEC freshmen as well. She leads OU with 66 hits and has registered 56 runs, 11 doubles, five triples and seven home runs. The speedy outfielder has also stolen 17 bags.
Parker debuts on the list as she is on pace for a career season. The right fielder is hitting .430 with 19 home runs and 57 RBIs while posting a perfect fielding percentage in the outfield to go along with three assists.
Wells leads the nation with 36 home runs and has already set the single-season home run records for the SEC, OU, and NCAA freshmen. The catcher from Bogart, Ga., is hitting .377 with 36 home runs, 79 RBIs, 63 runs and a 1.113 slugging percentage.
More on the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year List
Each NCAA Softball season, USA Softball recognizes a Collegiate Player of the Year based on outstanding play over the course of the entire season. At the beginning of each season, USA Softball issues a Top 50 "Watch List" for Player of the Year, followed by a list of finalists that narrows from Top 25 to Top 10 and Top 3. The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year is awarded during a team reception the week of the WCWS.
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award is voted on by previous award winners, coaching representatives from 9 Division I Conferences in the 10 USA Softball Regions as well as members of National and Local media who consistently cover Division I softball across the country.
2026 Player of the Year – Important Dates
Top 50 Watch List — January 21
Top 25 Finalists — April 29
Top 10 Finalists — May 13
Top 3 Finalists — May 18
Player of the Year — Prior to the WCWS
2026 Player of the Year Top 25 Finalists
Jocelyn Briski - Alabama
NiJaree Canady - Texas Tech
Jocelyn Erickson - Florida
Jordy Frahm - Nebraska
Gabbie Garcia - Oklahoma
Megan Grant - UCLA
Maya Johnson - Belmont
Teagan Kavan - Texas
Emily LeGette - North Carolina
Sage Mardjetko - Tennessee
Ruby Meylan - Oklahoma State
Kai Minor - Oklahoma
Ella Parker - Oklahoma
Mya Perez - Texas A&M
Karlyn Pickens - Tennessee
Moriah Polar - Purdue
Keagan Rothrock - Florida
Taylor Shumaker - Florida
Sydney Stewart - Arizona
Katie Stewart - Texas
Kaitlyn Terry - Texas Tech
Isa Torres - Florida State
Aminah Vega - Duke
Kendall Wells - Oklahoma
Jordan Woolery - UCLA
Players Mentioned
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