Sooners lose pitcher in Transfer Portal trade

Oklahoma softball lost a pitcher to the Transfer Portal for the 2026 season.

Hard-throwing right-hander Paytn Monticelli announced via X on Monday that she transferred to LSU. She was the fifth Sooner player to enter the Transfer Portal following the 2025 season.

According to D1Softball Reporter Justin McLeod, Monticelli entered the Transfer Portal just last week as a designated student-athlete, the result of new roster restrictions brought about by the House Settlement. If a school places a player on its DSA list, it has to release the player from its roster if the player elects to transfer.

Paytn Monticelli transfers to LSU

Monticelli spent two seasons at Oklahoma after transferring from Wisconsin in 2023 following her freshman season. She worked 21.1 innings in 16 appearances this past season, finishing with a 2-0 record, a 3.94 ERA and 20 strikeouts. She struck out 23 batters in 19.1 innings in her first season as a Sooner in 2023 and posted an opponents' batting average of .149.

The former two-time Gatorade Wisconsin Softball Player of the Year switches places with former LSU pitcher Sydney Berzon, who transferred to Oklahoma this offseason. The Sooners also added Ole Miss transfer Miali Guachino to the roster via transfer. The two transfers will join returning pitchers Kierston Deal, Audrey Lowry and Sophia Bordi, as well as freshmen Allyssa Parker, rated as the No. 2 player in the 2025 recruiting class nationally, and Berkley Zache.

Monticelli was the fifth former Sooner to enter the transfer portal following the 2025 season. The other four were outfielders Hannah Coor (Nebraska) and Maya Bland (Texas A&M), infielder Kady Lee McKay (North Texas) and catcher Corri Hicks (Clemson).

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