Every Sooner to win NCAA softball tournament’s Most Outstanding Player
No team has won more national titles since the turn of the century than the Oklahoma Sooners’ seven. After getting their first ring in 2000, it took Oklahoma 13 years to get their next one.
Since 2013, the Sooners have six national championships, more than any team has since 2000. UCLA has the most championships all time with 14, but it has only won four this millennium. Arizona is one title ahead of Oklahoma, but has just three titles this century and hasn’t won a championship since 2007.
In seven national title runs, Oklahoma had seven players win the NCAA Most Outstanding Player award. Here are the seven:
2000 - Jennifer Stewart, Pitcher
The Sooners finished the season with the best record in the nation (66-8) and 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙥𝙩 through the WCWS.
Pitcher Jennifer Stewart earned MOP, earning victories in all four of OU’s wins. All-American Lisa Carey helped OU top UCLA in the title game with a two-run HR in the 3rd. pic.twitter.com/GbsaGyVyjA
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) April 4, 2020
Jennifer Stewart helped the Oklahoma Sooners go undefeated in the NCAA Tournament. She was 4-0 in the WCWS, culminating with a win over powerhouse UCLA, limiting the Bruins to one run in the national championship game.
2013 - Keilani Ricketts, Pitcher
A dominant two-way player and two-time National Player of the Year, Keilani Ricketts finished her Oklahoma career on a high note, leading the Sooners to their second national title. The Sooners didn’t lose a game that postseason and outscored their opponents, 91-16. Ricketts was at the forefront of the incredible run.
2016 - Paige Parker, Pitcher
Paige Parker went 38-3 in 2016, picking up both wins in the Sooners WCWS championship series win over Auburn. In the NCAA Tournament, she picked up five wins to help Oklahoma win the first of two back-to-back national championships in 2016.
2017 - Shay Knighten, First Base
Shay Knighten earned the Most Outstanding Player award, batting .350 in the WCWS with four runs scored, two doubles, a home run and six RBIs. Her big moment came in the 17th inning with the Sooners trailing by one. Knighten blasted a three-run home run to help Oklahoma take Game 1. In Game 2, she put the Sooners ahead with a bases-clearing double to lead Oklahoma to the national championship.
2021 - Giselle Juarez, Pitcher
Giselle Juarez was an iron woman for the Oklahoma Sooners in their 2021 national title win. She went 7-0 with shutout performances against Morgan State, Georgia and UCLA. The win over the Bruins came in an elimination game to push Oklahoma into the WCWS championship series. Against Florida State in the finals, Juarez won games two and three with complete-game performances in which she allowed a combined three runs and struck out 13 Seminoles.
2022 - Jocelyn Alo, Designated Player
Jocelyn Alo had an insane run in the 2022 NCAA tournament, going 21-for-32 with nine home runs and 23 RBIs. The all-time home run leader went out with a bang in the tournament, raising her batting average .034 points in the national championship run.
2023 - Jordy Bahl, Pitcher
Jordy Bahl’s run in the NCAA Tournament was incredible. She allowed one run and went 7-0 to lead the Sooners to their seventh national title. In the Women’s College World Series, Bahl was 5-0 and didn’t allow a run. That included two shutouts.
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