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Why did Kelly Maxwell transfer to Oklahoma? Former OSU pitcher made Bedlam softball switch

austin curtright, usa today network
·5 min read

Kelly Maxwell has been one of college softball's best pitchers for a few seasons now. But, in her sixth and final season in 2024, she has donned a new uniform.

The two-time All-America selection made the Bedlam switch for her final season of eligibility, making the trip south of Stillwater to Norman, joining Oklahoma after five seasons at Oklahoma State. The move was controversial, as the Sooners were coming off back-to-back-to-back national championship win. The Cowgirls, no slouches themselves, also made the Women's College World Series in each of those seasons.

REQUIRED READING: Mussatto: No other Bedlam transfer carries weight of Kelly Maxwell's move to OU softball

Unfortunately for Maxwell and the Sooners, their star pitcher wasn't able to end her career with a series win over Oklahoma State, as OU lost its final series of the season to the Cowgirls on May 3-5. The Friendswood, Texas, native started and pitched three innings against her former team on May 3, allowing three runs on four hits while earning the loss.

Maxwell then pitched an inning of relief on Saturday, and allowed two runs on two hits.

Here's why Maxwell, who's set to be one of Oklahoma's most important players during its quest for a fourth consecutive national championship, transferred from Oklahoma State in the offseason:

REQUIRED READING: Oklahoma State's Kenny Gajewski revisits Kelly Maxwell transfer to OU softball: 'It hurt'

Why did Kelly Maxwell transfer to Oklahoma from Oklahoma State?

Oklahoma State coach Kenny Gajewski spoke on Maxwell's decision to transfer after former Cowgirls pitching coach John Bargfeldt announced his retirement after the 2023 season.

“At that point, it kind of crossed my mind, like, ‘Oh, crap, I wonder if she’s thinking (about transferring),’” he told The Oklahoman in June 2023.“I didn’t even broach that subject with her at that point.”

Gajewski added: “I don’t think she was ever thinking about leaving until John departed, to be very honest."

Maxwell announced her decision to enter the transfer portal on Instagram in July 2023.

"From the moment I stepped on campus, you welcomed me with open arms. The support you have given me throughout the past five years has been a dream come true. As you may have heard, I have made the decision to enter the transfer portal. This was not an easy decision but one that I felt was best, for my own personal happiness. Thank you for being there and supporting me as I made some of the best memories of my life. I will truly miss you. Go Pokes."

When Maxwell announced Oklahoma as her destination, Gajewski — a pitcher on OU's 1994 national championship baseball team — was upset with her decision.

“My only disappointment for Kelly,” Gajewski said at an OSU athletic donor event in August 2023, “is that she went to OU, because now she’s lost everything here that she’s ever done. And as long as I’m here, it’ll be hard for her to come back here. That’s just the way it is.”

Gajewski was asked again about Maxwell's decision in September. At the time, he maintained his opinion about her legacy at OSU.

“I felt like the only place she could go and lose her legacy here would be OU," he said. “I’m not mad at her. She gave us everything. I’m not stepping back from what I said. I wish I wouldn’t have said, 'as long as I’m the head coach here,’ because that sounded very selfish and about me.

"But what I meant by that … I think it’ll be very hard for her to come back here as long as I’m the coach here. She has a heart. A big heart. So you’re gonna feel weird ever wanting to come back here, if that makes sense. I think that’s a normal feeling that we would go through.”

Gajewski also said he wished Maxwell had decided to attend a different school for her final year of eligibility.

“I wish she would’ve gone somewhere else," he said. "I mean, we’re trying to beat those guys and now we gotta face her? That sucks. But I’m not cheering against her. I don’t wish her one ounce of harm. I don’t wish any of that, but it’s different now. And that’s the only thing. If she was at a different school, it would have been weird, but maybe not different.”

Once Maxwell officially made it to Norman and was competing in fall practices with the Sooners, she was asked about her transition across the Bedlam rivalry.

“It’s been good so far,” Maxwell said of the transition to playing with the Sooners after a successful career in Stillwater. “I was grateful enough that these girls opened their arms to me and made me feel welcome from the start. It’s very competitive here. I would use that word as the difference kind of in my last fall. So it’s been good. Good transition so far.”

Kelly Maxwell stats

Here's Kelly Maxwell's year-by-year stats:

  • 2019 (Oklahoma State): Redshirted

  • 2020 (Oklahoma State): 6-3 record with 1.51 ERA across 46 1/3 innings with 57 strikeouts

  • 2021 (Oklahoma State): 15-5 record with 1.81 ERA across 116 innings with 147 strikeouts

  • 2022 (Oklahoma State): 21-5 with 1.22 ERA across 189 2/3 innings with 313 strikeouts

  • 2023 (Oklahoma State): 16-7 record with 1.91 ERA across 142 2/3 innings with 229 strikeouts

  • 2024 (Oklahoma): 18-2 record with 1.96 ERA across 114 1/3 innings with 119 strikeouts

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why did Kelly Maxwell transfer to Oklahoma softball from Oklahoma State?