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
.png&width=40&height=40&type=webp)
.png&width=40&height=40&type=webp)
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Wells Named NFCA Freshman of the Year
May 26, 2026 | Softball
Second Catcher in the History of the Award to Earn the Honor
NORMAN — Oklahoma Softball freshman catcher Kendall Wells was named National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Freshman of the Year as announced at the 2026 Women's College World Series banquet Tuesday, May 26 at the Oklahoma City Science Museum.
Wells is the fifth Sooner to be named NFCA Freshman of the Year since the award's inception in 2014. She is also just the second catcher in the history of the honor to earn the recognition. She is the first catcher since Tennessee's Annie Aldrete in 2014 to earn the honor.
A freshman from Bogart, Ga., Wells put together one of the best seasons in college softball history. Wells set the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Oklahoma and NCAA single-season freshman home run record with 39 roundtrippers. She ranks second in NCAA history for home runs in a season and her 88 RBIs are also good for second among freshmen in OU single-season history.
Wells was named First Team All-SEC and SEC Freshman of the Year this season, leading the league in slugging percentage (1.028), RBIs (88) and total bases (184).
Handling work behind the dish, Wells committed only two errors, tallying a .993 fielding percentage. She was also named a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist.
Joining Wells as a NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 3 Finalist was teammate Kai Minor who was a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist with a .444 batting average, 84 hits, 70 runs and a 1.000 percent fielding percentage.
Oklahoma's NFCA Freshmen of the Year Winners
Kendall Wells - 2026
Jordy Bahl - 2022
Tiare Jennings - 2021
Jocelyn Alo - 2018
Paige Parker - 2015
Wells is the fifth Sooner to be named NFCA Freshman of the Year since the award's inception in 2014. She is also just the second catcher in the history of the honor to earn the recognition. She is the first catcher since Tennessee's Annie Aldrete in 2014 to earn the honor.
A freshman from Bogart, Ga., Wells put together one of the best seasons in college softball history. Wells set the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Oklahoma and NCAA single-season freshman home run record with 39 roundtrippers. She ranks second in NCAA history for home runs in a season and her 88 RBIs are also good for second among freshmen in OU single-season history.
Wells was named First Team All-SEC and SEC Freshman of the Year this season, leading the league in slugging percentage (1.028), RBIs (88) and total bases (184).
Handling work behind the dish, Wells committed only two errors, tallying a .993 fielding percentage. She was also named a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist.
Joining Wells as a NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 3 Finalist was teammate Kai Minor who was a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist with a .444 batting average, 84 hits, 70 runs and a 1.000 percent fielding percentage.
Oklahoma's NFCA Freshmen of the Year Winners
Kendall Wells - 2026
Jordy Bahl - 2022
Tiare Jennings - 2021
Jocelyn Alo - 2018
Paige Parker - 2015
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballNorman Super Regional Game 3
Sunday, May 24
SB Highlights: OU 7, Mississippi State 1
Saturday, May 23
Norman Super Regional Game 2 (Coach Gasso, Lowry, McDaniel)
Saturday, May 23
Norman Super Regional Game 1 (Coach Gasso, Wells, Emerling)
Friday, May 22
