NiJaree Canady would be the fitting final piece to the OU softball puzzle

It’s one thing to know what you need from the transfer portal, but then it’s another to watch OU softball go out and do it.

Time and time again.

Following the historic four-peat as national champions, OU had to say goodbye to a lot of familiar faces. That meant head coach Patty Gasso had to hit the transfer portal stronger than ever before.

But a six-day period in the last week showed everybody, hey, OU is still OU. The Sooners checked off one box after another in earning their four commitments.

Now? Well, we all know what’s left. OU needs a fifth. And everybody has that name circled, former Stanford star pitcher NiJaree Canady .

The second Canady, the reigning National Player of the Year, hit the portal, it was pure chaos. Every program that believes it can compete for a national championship was going to make its move.

OU has been included in that. Now almost two weeks removed from that, things are sort of clearing up although the Canady camp remains quiet.

Schools galore keep coming. But when you talk about the finalists, the one common school mentioned is OU. It could be OU or UCLA. Or OU or Texas A&M. Or OU or Tennessee, or Texas. You get the picture, but the Sooners are always there.

Canady hasn’t made her decision but multiple sources keep reassuring SoonerScoop that OU has every right to feel incredibly confident.

But? Don’t look for the ‘Go Boomer’ just yet. And honestly? It might not happen for another month, maybe as late as August. Other schools are going to keep doing what they can. They should and Canady has earned the right to go through this process, if that’s what she chooses to do.

Canady was 24-7 this season with a 0.73 ERA and five saves. She threw a whopping 230.2 innings, allowing 116 hits, 24 earned runs with a ridiculous 337 strikeouts. Included in that were 24 complete games and nine shutouts.

A native of Topeka, Kan., Canady would have two seasons of eligibility remaining. Canady has been the catalyst toward Stanford reaching the Women’s College World Series semifinals in back-to-back seasons.

However, there’s something about when Gasso comes calling. Love’s Field, the OU resources, the national championships — it’s a tough package to beat.

And Canady would be a fitting final piece for OU for 2025.

OU transfer portal commitments

Ailana Agbayani, SS, BYU (2 years)

Coming off a brilliant sophomore season. Agbayani hit .424 at the plate. She had five home runs and drove in 33 runs. Agbayani also knew how to get on base, with 30 walks, hit 11 times and only struck out seven times in 165 plate appearances. She had some of her best games against the best teams. Drove in a season-high three in one game against Oklahoma State. And OU fans might remember Agbayani with four hits, two doubles and two RBIs in the shocking 9-4 win for the Cougars at Love’s Field.

Isabela Emerling, C, North Carolina (2 years)

Emerling will have two seasons of eligibility remaining and is coming off a fantastic sophomore season. Emerling hit .323 with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs. And she’ll have some guidance from a former catcher, if needed, as Kinzie Hansen is staying in Norman as a grad assistant. The leap Emerling made from freshman to sophomore season was impressive. She’s someone who is still getting better.

Abby Dayton , OF, Utah (2 years)

The batting champ of the Pac-12, hitting .431 last season. Dayton was All-Pac-12 in each of her first two seasons. She was a third-team All-American as a sophomore. Dayton added two home runs and 28 RBIs this season and earned 27 walks. Dayton also made some spectacular plays in center, something OU fans know all too well.

Isabella Smith, P, Campbell (1 year)

What didn’t Smith do at Campbell? The CAA Pitcher of the Year, Smith went 26-7 in 2024 with a 1.56 ERA. Included in that was 18 complete games, nine shutouts, two saves and 239 strikeouts in 206 innings. Smith threw two no-hitters. She also had a huge moment in helping Campbell defeat Duke in April. She holds the school record for career strikeouts (638), career wins (70), single-season wins (29), single-season appearances (49), and single-season strikeouts (241).

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