With another incredible season for the Oklahoma Sooners, Jocelyn Alo earned her second consecutive USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award. She’s the fifth player to win the award in consecutive seasons, and, heading into the Women’s College World Series, Alo’s put together a career that has her in consideration as one of the best of all time.
But she hasn’t gotten there through sheer talent, though she’s incredibly talented and has been from a young age. Alo has put in the work to become the best player in softball.
In the web series No Days Off from Whistle, Alo shared what sets her apart as a hitter is the reps she put in as a kid with her dad and the film work she does on her opponents and on herself.
“When I was 4 years old, I would ask my dad to take me to go hit, and we would hit 1,000 balls every night just for fun.”
Former teammate and now coach Sooners assistant Shannon Saile described Alo as “extremely dedicated and confident in the work she puts in.”
One of the high points in Alo’s career was breaking the NCAA’s all-time home run record.
“I didn’t hear the crowd whenever I did break the record. I was just super locked into the moment,” Alo shared in the web series. “Next thing I know, my coach is doing our little thing at third and then I’m being mobbed at home plate. And as I see my dad up in the stands, and I’m just saying how much I love him. Definitely lots of good feelings.”
Coming into the season with the home run record in striking distance and Oklahoma poised to contend for another national championship would put pressure on anyone. But Alo said she tries to “stay within herself and not make the moment too big.”
Sooners head coach Patty Gasso told her “pressure is privilege.” And it’s that relationship with Gasso that helped Alo thrive the last couple of seasons.
“Playing for a coach like Patty Gasso is everything I’ve ever wanted in a coach and a whole lot more,” Alo shared about her Hall of Fame coach. “To play under a woman, a boss lady, was something different for me. She has helped me to grow as a person, as a player, and more importantly as a woman.”
In the episode, Alo shared she plans to play professionally after she was selected first in the inaugural WFP collegiate draft. And she announced she’ll be playing for Team USA in the 2028 Olympic games.
You can watch the full video below or on Whistle’s YouTube Channel.
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