Former Oklahoma Sooners softball catcher [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] will be back with the Oklahoma City Spark for the 2025 season, the team announced on Thursday.
Hansen was a member of the most decorated senior class in college softball history, winning four national titles during her time in Norman. Hansen and the Spark had a successful summer as an independent squad, rolling through the competition to a record of 20-7. Hansen had a strong year in her rookie season and will look to build off of that next year.
We’re 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓‼️🐶 Kinzie Hansen is returning for the 2025 Spark season!
🔗Link in bio. #BeTheSpark pic.twitter.com/pbYE5a7Rqu
— OKC Spark Softball (@okcityspark) August 15, 2024
Hansen played in 243 total games for head coach [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] at OU. She averaged 54.75 games a season and started 49.5 games each of the last four years. In her career, Hansen hit .390 with 60 home runs and 268 RBIs. She was the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.
Her flair for the dramatic and her penchant for clutch hits marked her time as a Sooner. Perhaps the biggest hit of her career came against Clemson in the 2023 super regionals, when heavily-favored Oklahoma trailed late against the Tigers. OU had led 4-0 before Clemson rattled off seven unanswered runs. Oklahoma had two on with two out, and down to her final strike, she connected on a pitch and pulled it deep to left field to tie the game. The Sooners would eventually win the game in extras and would and go on to capture title No. 3 of the current [autotag]Women’s College World Series[/autotag] four-peat. She also hit a two-run home run in the Game 1 of the NCAA Softball championship series this past June.
With Hansen staying in OKC, Sooner fans will have plenty of opportunities to see on of the all-time greats continue her incredible career.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.