Completed Event: Softball at #12/14 Texas A&M on May 1, 2026 , Loss , 5, to, 8
Final
Softball
5
at #12/14 Texas A&M
8
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Minor, Wells Named NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 3 Finalists
May 21, 2026 | Softball
Third Top-Three Duo in History of Award, Second in Program History
NORMAN — For just the second time in program history and third time in the history of the award, two players on the same team were named TUCCI/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Freshman of the Year Top 3 Finalists as OU Softball's Kai Minor and Kendall Wells were tabbed to the list Thursday, May 21. Minor and Wells are joined by Nebraska's Alexis Jensen.
The first instance of two Sooners on the top three list came in 2021 when Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings were selected as finalists. Florida's Amanda Lorenz and Kelly Barnhill were the first to do it in 2016.
Minor and Wells were both named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 list, while Wells also earned a spot on the top 10 list. The duo joined each other as First Team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selections, while Wells was honored as the first SEC Freshman of the Year in program history. They also were both named Softball America First Team and Freshman All-Americans, while Wells was named freshman of the year by the publication.
A freshman from Irvine, Calif., Minor has started 53 games in center field for the Sooners, tallying a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage while leading all freshmen nationally in batting average (.446). Minor is tied with Wells for the team lead in runs and paces the team in hits (79), doubles (17), triples (six) and stolen bases (17). Her 27 multi-hit games leads the squad, two of which came last weekend when she hit a double and home run in a pair of games in her NCAA Regional debut.
A freshman from Bogart, Ga., Wells set a myriad of power records while playing stellar defense behind the dish. Wells set the SEC, NCAA freshman and OU single-season home run records this year, standing with 37 which is tied for second in NCAA single-season history. Her 81 RBIs paces the team while her 1.030 slugging percentage is best in the SEC and fifth in the country.
Both Sooners will be up for NFCA All-American honors later this month as NFCA First Team All-Midwest Region honorees. The winner of the NFCA Freshman of the Year award will be announced ahead of the Women's College World Series.
The first instance of two Sooners on the top three list came in 2021 when Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings were selected as finalists. Florida's Amanda Lorenz and Kelly Barnhill were the first to do it in 2016.
Minor and Wells were both named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 list, while Wells also earned a spot on the top 10 list. The duo joined each other as First Team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selections, while Wells was honored as the first SEC Freshman of the Year in program history. They also were both named Softball America First Team and Freshman All-Americans, while Wells was named freshman of the year by the publication.
A freshman from Irvine, Calif., Minor has started 53 games in center field for the Sooners, tallying a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage while leading all freshmen nationally in batting average (.446). Minor is tied with Wells for the team lead in runs and paces the team in hits (79), doubles (17), triples (six) and stolen bases (17). Her 27 multi-hit games leads the squad, two of which came last weekend when she hit a double and home run in a pair of games in her NCAA Regional debut.
A freshman from Bogart, Ga., Wells set a myriad of power records while playing stellar defense behind the dish. Wells set the SEC, NCAA freshman and OU single-season home run records this year, standing with 37 which is tied for second in NCAA single-season history. Her 81 RBIs paces the team while her 1.030 slugging percentage is best in the SEC and fifth in the country.
Both Sooners will be up for NFCA All-American honors later this month as NFCA First Team All-Midwest Region honorees. The winner of the NFCA Freshman of the Year award will be announced ahead of the Women's College World Series.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
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