No program in the country has put more players on the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year radar than Oklahoma. On April 29, USA Softball announced its Top 25 finalists for the 2026 award — and the Sooners placed four players on the list, more than any other program in the nation.
The four Sooners are: Kendall Wells, Gabbie Garcia, Kai Minor, and Ella Parker. No other program has more than two representatives on the 25-player list. Oklahoma’s dominance in individual award consideration mirrors the program’s dominance in the standings — ranked No. 1, with the SEC regular season title nearly in hand.
The Four Sooners
Kendall Wells is the headliner. The freshman catcher from Bogart, Georgia, is hitting .377 with 36 home runs, 79 RBI, and a 1.113 slugging percentage. She has already broken the NCAA freshman home run record, the SEC all-time single-season record, and the OU program record. She sits one home run away from tying Lauren Espinoza’s 31-year all-time NCAA mark. Wells is one of just two freshmen named to the list of 25 — an extraordinary achievement in a field dominated by upperclassmen.
Gabbie Garcia, the sophomore shortstop, has been nearly as impressive. Garcia has hit 22 home runs and driven in 66 runs, ranking third in the SEC in both categories. She is one of just two sophomores on the list and has been a force in the middle of Oklahoma’s lineup all season.
Kai Minor is the other freshman on the list alongside Wells — just two of the 25 finalists are freshmen, and Oklahoma has both of them. Minor has been a key contributor to one of the most potent offenses in the country.
Ella Parker rounds out the four. This is Parker’s first time being named to the list, a recognition of a standout season that has been somewhat overshadowed by the program’s other stars.
The Award Timeline
The Top 25 list narrows to 10 finalists on May 13. The Top 3 is announced May 18. The 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed ahead of the Women’s College World Series, which opens May 28 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
Wells is the clear frontrunner given her historic home run chase and overall production, but Garcia’s case is strong as well. Having four players in contention for the sport’s most prestigious individual award is a reflection of Coach Patty Gasso’s program culture — one that develops elite players year after year and produces entire rosters full of award-caliber contributors.
What’s Next
Oklahoma continues its final regular-season series at Texas A&M, with Game 2 tonight at 5 PM CT on SEC Network. The Sooners need one more win to clinch the SEC regular season title. The SEC Tournament begins May 5 in Lexington, Kentucky. The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 narrows to 10 finalists on May 13. The winner is announced before the WCWS, which opens May 28 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
