Completed Event: Softball at #12/14 Texas A&M on May 1, 2026 , Loss , 5, to, 8
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at #12/14 Texas A&M
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Four Sooners Earn NFCA All-America Honors, Wells Named Catcher of the Year
May 27, 2026 | Softball
Wells, Parker, Minor and Garcia Named NFCA All-Americans
NORMAN — For the seventh consecutive season at least four Sooners were named National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Americans as Kendall Wells, Ella Parker, Gabbie Garcia and Kai Minor earned NFCA All-America honors as announced Wednesday, May 27. Wells was also named Diamond Sports/NFCA Catcher of the Year, just the second such honor in program history.
OU's four honorees are tied for the national lead, joining only Texas Tech and Florida State. Parker and Wells were the first-team selections for Oklahoma, while Minor and Garcia earned third-team honors.
Wells becomes just the second Diamond Sports/NFCA Catcher of the Year in program history, joining Jessica Shults from 2012. This pair of honors comes less than 24 hours after Wells was named NFCA Freshman of the Year. She was also tabbed as Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman of the Year last month, the first honoree in the program's young history in the SEC. The freshman catcher finished off one of the best seasons by a freshman and any player in the history of softball. Wells set the SEC, OU and NCAA single-season freshman home run record. She finished the year with 39 home runs and 88 RBIs, which ranks first and second by a freshman in program history. Behind the dish she committed only two errors and only permitted three stolen bases.
Parker, a junior, earned NFCA First-Team All-America honors in back-to-back seasons and is now a three-time NFCA All-American after earning third-team laurels in 2024. The Ladera Heights, Calif., native was a first-team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive selection this year, tallying three assists and a perfect fielding percentage in the outfield. A USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist, Parker hit .405 with 59 runs, 15 doubles and career highs in home runs (22) and RBIs (63). She slugged a whopping .902 and concludes her junior season as a career .414 hitter with 50 home runs and 178 RBIs.
Garcia put together one of the best all-round seasons for a shortstop across the country and in Sooner history. The Chandler, Ariz., native earned NFCA Third-Team All-American honors for the second consecutive season after hitting .395 with 22 home runs, 74 RBIs, 61 runs and a .974 fielding percentage in 59 starts at shortstop. Garcia finished second on the team in multi-hit games with 22 and third on the team with 19 multi-RBI games. She was named first-team All-SEC, SEC All-Defensive Team and a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 pick.
Minor put together a phenomenal freshman season as OU's table setter and everyday center fielder. The Irvine, Calif., native was named a NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 3 Finalist and USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist as an All-SEC First Team and Softball America First Team All-American. The lefty bat finished second in the SEC in batting average (.444), while pacing all freshmen nationally in that category. She also ranked in the top five in the league with 17 stolen bases, helping her rack up 70 runs scored. Minor's bat was sizzling hot to finish the season as she concluded with 36 extra-base hits with the help of 18 doubles, 11 home runs and seven triples.
OU has 93 NFCA All-Americans all-time, 92 of which have come during head coach Patty Gasso's tenure. The Sooners have had at least two first team picks every season since 2017.
OU's four honorees are tied for the national lead, joining only Texas Tech and Florida State. Parker and Wells were the first-team selections for Oklahoma, while Minor and Garcia earned third-team honors.
Wells becomes just the second Diamond Sports/NFCA Catcher of the Year in program history, joining Jessica Shults from 2012. This pair of honors comes less than 24 hours after Wells was named NFCA Freshman of the Year. She was also tabbed as Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman of the Year last month, the first honoree in the program's young history in the SEC. The freshman catcher finished off one of the best seasons by a freshman and any player in the history of softball. Wells set the SEC, OU and NCAA single-season freshman home run record. She finished the year with 39 home runs and 88 RBIs, which ranks first and second by a freshman in program history. Behind the dish she committed only two errors and only permitted three stolen bases.
Parker, a junior, earned NFCA First-Team All-America honors in back-to-back seasons and is now a three-time NFCA All-American after earning third-team laurels in 2024. The Ladera Heights, Calif., native was a first-team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive selection this year, tallying three assists and a perfect fielding percentage in the outfield. A USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist, Parker hit .405 with 59 runs, 15 doubles and career highs in home runs (22) and RBIs (63). She slugged a whopping .902 and concludes her junior season as a career .414 hitter with 50 home runs and 178 RBIs.
Garcia put together one of the best all-round seasons for a shortstop across the country and in Sooner history. The Chandler, Ariz., native earned NFCA Third-Team All-American honors for the second consecutive season after hitting .395 with 22 home runs, 74 RBIs, 61 runs and a .974 fielding percentage in 59 starts at shortstop. Garcia finished second on the team in multi-hit games with 22 and third on the team with 19 multi-RBI games. She was named first-team All-SEC, SEC All-Defensive Team and a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 pick.
Minor put together a phenomenal freshman season as OU's table setter and everyday center fielder. The Irvine, Calif., native was named a NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 3 Finalist and USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist as an All-SEC First Team and Softball America First Team All-American. The lefty bat finished second in the SEC in batting average (.444), while pacing all freshmen nationally in that category. She also ranked in the top five in the league with 17 stolen bases, helping her rack up 70 runs scored. Minor's bat was sizzling hot to finish the season as she concluded with 36 extra-base hits with the help of 18 doubles, 11 home runs and seven triples.
OU has 93 NFCA All-Americans all-time, 92 of which have come during head coach Patty Gasso's tenure. The Sooners have had at least two first team picks every season since 2017.
Players Mentioned
Norman 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
