‘I have decided to return home’: Oklahoma’s Jordy Bahl enters the transfer portal

Just days after helping the Oklahoma Sooners capture their seventh national title and third straight to win Most Outstanding Player in the tournament, Jordy Bahl is entering the transfer portal.

Bahl was a key cog to the Sooners’ 2022 and 2023 national titles, playing a more integral role in 2023 after dealing with a shoulder injury that limited her in her freshman season.

Bahl was unhittable in the NCAA tournament, allowing one run in eight appearances, including three shutouts, two of which came in the Women’s College World Series.

The Sooners, who have been big-time beneficiaries of the transfer portal, now watch one of their own look for a new home.

In her statement on Twitter, Jordy Bahl said, “Nothing will compare to what this year and this team have been. From staring defeat in the eyes and never giving in, the behind the scenes grind, handling the mounting pressure that only grows each year, only the girls on this team will ever be able to fully understand.

“That is why this is such a bittersweet thing to do. I have decided to return home and play the game I love, closer to the things that me who I am and that have always been more important to me than this game. The most important thing in my life after my faith, is my family.

“For the last two years, despite the amazing opportunities and accomplishments, my love for home and the acknowledgment of my foundation have grown. Being away from these things has been very tough. Through the constant battles that the outsiders do not see, my teammates and coaches were always understanding, loving, and nothing but supportive. The bond developed with these girls can never, and will never be broken. My sisters in Christ.

“My respect for this program and how they do things the right way, and play the game with an unapologetic passion are all things I have learned and will take with me.

“My heart is full of gratitude and love for the girls, coaches, and people at the University of Oklahoma. I am excited thinking about growing the game that has provided me so many opportunities for growth in the home state, a current overlooked state for girls in softball at all ages, and I am excited to finish the softball journey right where it began.”

The Nebraska native will have every option available to her as she pursues her next college destination. And with what she did in the NCAA tournament and in her first two years in college, she could call any school in the country and she’d get a spot on the roster.

Shortly after the announcement, OU Head Softball Coach Patty Gasso released a statement of support, saying, “Jordy shared with our staff on Friday that she has been feeling a strong need to be closer to home for quite some time and that she planned to enter the transfer portal. It was a very candid and emotional conversation in which we both communicated our love and appreciation for each other.”

Gasso continued, “We are grateful for her tow years with our program and for everything she accomplished. She obviously was a huge part of our on-field success, but what I’ll always appreciate most about Jordy is her approach and dedication to the game, as she’s the ultimate competitor. We’re understanding of her situation and certainly want her to be the happiest she can be. We are supportive of her and she will always be part of the OU Softball family.”

Though it was such a short time in Norman, her performance became the stuff of legend. On a team full of great players, Bahl was Oklahoma’s best in 2023. Though it was a rough start to the season, her final few months as as Sooner helped Oklahoma run off 53 games in a row and win its third consecutive national title.

No matter what the future holds for Jordy Bahl, she’s one of the best players to ever put on the Crimson and Cream. She was as good as there was in college softball during her two years in Norman. And we were witnesses to her greatness.

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Story originally appeared on Sooners Wire