Just when we thought Patty Gasso was finished assembling the Oklahoma Sooners’ 2026 softball roster, she dipped into the transfer portal one more time.
Ole Miss transfer pitcher Miali Guachino announced via X on Tuesday that she committed to the Sooners from the portal. She was just the Sooners' second transfer addition this offseason, but it was a surprise move after OU's first portal commit was LSU pitcher Sydney Berzon nearly a month ago.
BOOMER!! Thank you Coach Gasso, Coach Rocha and the whole staff for giving me this opportunity. Gods plan!!!! pic.twitter.com/loSe4W55Tt
— Miali Guachino (@mialiguachino) July 2, 2025
Oklahoma adds Ole Miss transfer pitcher Miali Guachino
Gasso insinuated the Sooners wouldn't be big buyers from the portal this offseason. Their biggest need was an experienced ace with Sam Landry graduating, and OU filled that vacancy with Berzon, who was the top player available in the portal as a senior. With no more glaring needs and no movement since early June, it seemed next season's roster was complete until Tuesday's surprise addition.
However, behind Landry last season, the Sooners didn't really have another reliable option. Kierston Deal, a junior lefty, eventually emerged as the No. 2, but finished with a career-worst 3.42 ERA in 26 appearances and 17 starts, which were both career-highs. Deal was solid, but sometimes inconsistent. OU also has a lot of young, unproven talent beyond Deal.
With the addition of Guachino, the Sooners now have seven pitchers on their projected roster for next season. The status of freshman Sophia Bordi is still uncertain, but if she does return to OU, that would make eight pitchers.
Of that group of eight, two are incoming freshmen and three come from the same class, with Guachino, Bordi and Audrey Lowry. And with the transfer portal now closed, it appears all are staying in Norman, at least for the 2026 season.
Although head-scratching, Guachino will definitely make a solid second option behind Berzon next season and could even step up to be OU's ace the two seasons after that, though. Guachino started 28 games for Ole Miss last season as a freshman. She compiled a 16-11 record and 3.43 ERA with four saves before being named to the NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 25 list.
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