6 Sooners named to USA Softball’s Preseason National Player of the Year Watch List

The Oklahoma Sooners are about to embark on another incredible journey when the 2024 season gets started. Owners of a record 53-game winning streak, they’ll have a chance to further extend their historic achievement deep into the year.

They’ll have a couple of top 10 battles with Washington and Duke on the first weekend of the season in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. But if they can pass those tests, there’s no telling when the streak could come to an end.

The Sooners will get everyone’s best shot yet again in 2024, but they’ve got the talent to withstand every salvo, just like they did last year. Though they’re replacing Jordy Bahl, Grace Lyons, and Haley Lee, they brought in a talented freshman class and a number of impactful transfers to retool the roster.

But there’s more than enough talent to have another magical season and it starts with the six Sooners that were named to USA Softball’s National Player of the Year watch list.

Alyssa Brito, INF

Alyssa Brito had a huge year for the Sooners in 2023. She became a critical piece to the Sooners lineup and was really good at third base during their national title run. In 2023, Brito tied for the team lead in home runs with 17 and was second on the team in batting average and RBIs.

Jayda Coleman, CF

She’s arguably the best defensive player in the game, making highlight-reel catches and robbing home runs with regularity. In 2023, she had a career year at the plate, setting personal bests in batting average, home runs, and RBIs to go along with her stellar defensive play.

Kinzie Hansen, C

After a 2022 season that was didn’t fully showcase her abilities at the plate, Kinzie Hansen came back with a vengeance in 2023. She hit 13 homeruns and drove in 57 runs while hitting .409 at the plate. Hansen was named the top catcher in the country by Softball America.

Tiare Jennings, 2B

Tiare Jennings RBI numbers dropped off a bit, but that’s what happens when the best offensive player in the history of the game, Jocelyn Alo, graduates. Jennings was still incredibly productive leading the Sooners with a .415 average and 17 home runs and 66 RBIs. She has a shot to go over 300 RBIs for her career in 2024.

Kelly Maxwell, P

Kelly Maxwell is one of the most experienced pitchers in the sport and has been a workhorse for the Oklahoma State Cowgirls. Maxwell battled a blister to her throwing hand that affected her control, still she had one of the lower opposing batting averages in the nation. Now, with the best defense, lineup, and pitching coach in softball the best is yet to come for the former Big 12 Pitcher of the Year.

Nicole May, P

Nicole May had a fantastic season in 2023, going 18-0 with a 4.5:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. May was second on the team in innings pitched, opponents batting average, and ERA. She’ll be relied upon eve more in 2024 as the leader of the Sooner’s pitching staff.

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Story originally appeared on Sooners Wire