The NCAA Division I Council voted to give spring sport athletes an extra year of eligibility due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This means schools will have the power to essentially reset their rosters and accept back seniors who were about to exhaust their last years of eligibility. For Oklahoma softball, that could not be bigger.
The Sooners were playing without star southpaw Giselle Juarez for much of the 2019 season already and she wasn’t set to be back anytime soon. She was a senior and led Oklahoma to the Women’s College World Series in 2019. Joining her in almost the same regard is do-it-all player Nicole Mendes, who was just getting back to the playing field after ACL surgery in the fall. Pitcher Shannon Saile, who was one of the primary arms in Juarez’ absence, was also set to graduate.
Legendary coach Patty Gasso already said she expects those three back for the 2021 season. There is no telling how else Gasso will reshape her roster for next season with every player set to return.
Oklahoma has been to the Women’s College World Series in eight of the last nine seasons.
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