In a season brimming with unforgettable moments, clutch plays, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, one name stood above the rest: Kasidi Pickering. The freshman phenom has officially been recognized as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Oklahoma Sooners Women’s Softball Team, a rare distinction for a first-year player—and an honor that confirms what Sooner Nation has known all season long: Pickering is a generational talent.
With her electrifying bat, instinctive defense, and ice-cold composure in the game’s biggest moments, Pickering didn’t just fill a role—she became the heart and soul of Oklahoma softball in 2025. Her recent crowning moment came during the team’s annual awards banquet, where she was named MVP and also received the Sooner Impact Award, given to the player who embodies leadership, character, and performance.
This double distinction cements Pickering’s place not only as a standout athlete but as a pillar of Oklahoma’s proud softball tradition.
Rising to Stardom in Norman
Coming into the 2025 season, Pickering was already on the radar of fans and scouts alike. A standout recruit from Texas, she entered Norman with a stacked resume that included All-American honors at the high school level, a gold medal performance with Team USA’s Junior National Team, and the reputation as one of the purest power hitters in the country.
Still, few could have predicted just how quickly she would adapt to the rigors of Division I softball—especially at a program as decorated and demanding as Oklahoma’s. But Pickering didn’t just adjust—she thrived.
“She’s the kind of player that changes the game every time she steps into the batter’s box,” head coach Patty Gasso said during the MVP announcement. “Kasidi’s work ethic, her passion for the game, and her ability to stay cool under pressure have been nothing short of phenomenal. She deserves every accolade she’s earned—and more.”
Numbers Don’t Lie: Pickering’s Stellar Season
Over the course of the 2025 campaign, Pickering compiled numbers that would make even seasoned veterans blush:
- Batting Average: .392
- Home Runs: 21
- RBIs: 65
- Slugging Percentage: .742
- On-Base Percentage: .471
- Fielding Percentage: .990 (primarily in right field)
Beyond the stats, Pickering led the Sooners in walk-off hits, with four game-winners that sent the OU crowd into a frenzy. She also maintained her poise in postseason play, where she batted .410 across the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments.
Perhaps the most iconic moment came in the Women’s College World Series semifinal, when Pickering stepped to the plate with two outs and the Sooners trailing by a run in the bottom of the seventh. With the count full, she ripped a line drive to the gap in right-center, plating two runs and punching OU’s ticket to the national title game.
That moment encapsulated what Pickering brought to the team: confidence, clutch execution, and a refusal to back down.
The Sooners’ Legacy, Pickering’s Future
The MVP award puts Pickering in rare company. She joins legends like Keilani Ricketts, Jocelyn Alo, and Tiare Jennings as players who have claimed the team’s top honor. What makes her achievement even more special is that she did it as a freshman, which has only happened a handful of times in program history.
“It’s surreal,” Pickering said in her acceptance speech. “To be part of this team, to wear this uniform, and to have the support of Sooner Nation—it’s something I never take for granted. I’m just getting started.”
Her words were met with a standing ovation, not just from teammates and coaches but from alumni, media members, and fans in attendance. There’s a growing sense in Norman that Pickering could be the face of the program for years to come—a player capable of leading OU into the next great era of dominance.
With key seniors departing and others heading to the pros, the Sooners will likely build around Pickering in 2026 and beyond. Her presence gives the team an anchor, a superstar, and a vocal leader who has already earned the respect of her peers.
Patty Gasso: “She’s Everything We Stand For”
For Hall of Fame coach Patty Gasso, the MVP selection was a no-brainer.
“Kasidi has already proven she can handle the big stage,” Gasso said. “But more than that, she handles the little things—team meetings, extra reps, encouraging a teammate who’s down. She’s everything we stand for at Oklahoma Softball.”
Gasso, who recently notched her 10th national title, said Pickering reminds her of a young Lauren Chamberlain mixed with the composure of Alo. High praise from a coach who has mentored some of the best to ever play the game.
“She’s got that it factor,” Gasso added. “You either have it or you don’t. Kasidi has it in abundance.”
Recognition Beyond Norman
Pickering’s excellence hasn’t gone unnoticed nationally. In addition to her team MVP award, she was a Top 3 finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, and a First-Team All-American.
She’s also been invited to join Team USA’s Senior National Training Camp, with a strong chance to represent the United States in upcoming international competitions, including the 2026 World Cup of Softball and potentially the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“She’s the future of softball in America,” said USA Softball’s Director of Player Development Kelly Inouye-Perez. “What she’s doing at Oklahoma right now is amazing—but we think the best is yet to come.”
Role Model for the Next Generation
Pickering has also embraced her growing platform, becoming a role model for young athletes around the country. Her NIL deals include partnerships with brands like Easton Softball, Nike, and even a local Norman nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls through sports.
She’s used her social media presence to advocate for mental health awareness, speaking candidly about the pressures of being a top-tier athlete and the importance of balance.
“I want young girls to know it’s okay to chase big dreams, but also to ask for help when you need it,” Pickering told ESPNW earlier this year. “Softball is what I do, not who I am.”
Her humility and perspective have only endeared her more to fans and media alike, who see her not just as a star athlete, but as a genuine, grounded, and inspirational young woman.
What’s Next for Pickering?
With her freshman season now in the books, Pickering is already preparing for 2026. She’s working with Gasso and the coaching staff on refining her plate discipline, improving her reads in the outfield, and serving as a mentor to the next crop of incoming Sooners.
“Winning MVP means a lot—but it also means people are going to expect even more from me,” Pickering said. “And I welcome that. I want to be great—not just for me, but for my team, for Coach Gasso, and for every girl who dreams of playing here one day.”
Expectations will certainly be sky-high. But if her first season was any indication, Kasidi Pickering is more than ready to meet them—and then some.
As Oklahoma fans reflect on a season filled with triumph, resilience, and continued excellence, it’s clear that 2025 will be remembered as the year Kasidi Pickering arrived.
Her MVP award is a fitting tribute to a season that not only helped sustain the Sooners’ dynastic run but may have kickstarted a brand-new chapter—one with Pickering at its center.
Congratulations to Kasidi Pickering, Oklahoma’s 2025 MVP, a symbol of everything great about college softball and a beacon for where the sport is headed.
