Oklahoma softball adds power-hitting UNC catcher as first 2025 transfer commitment

Head coach Patty Gasso and Oklahoma picked up the Sooners' first transfer commitment for the 2025 season on Friday.

Former University of North Carolina catcher Isabela Emerling announced via an X message (formerly Twitter) that she would be playing for Oklahoma next season. She will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Emerling led North Carolina this past season with 14 home runs. She batted .323 with 53 runs batted in, a .685 slugging percentage and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.103. Her 53 RBI tied for the most in a single season in UNC softball history.

The power-hitting catcher from Martinez, California, also played some at first base for North Carolina. She had a team-best 13 multi-RBI games in the 2024 season as well as 11 mullti-hit games.

The addition of Emerling fills an important need for the Sooners at the catcher position. Oklahoma loses co-captain Kinzie Hansen, who played five seasons at OU and was part of four national championship teams. She hit over 400 in four of her five seasons and ended her Sooner career with 60 home runs. Hansen's eligibility ended this season.

Oklahoma also loses backup catcher Riley Ludlam to graduation. After the 2023 season, freshman catcher Jocelyn Erickson, who would have been the heir apparent to Hansen, entered the transfer portal and is now at Florida, where she was the SEC Player of the Year in 2024 and helped lead the Gators to the Women's College World Series.

In addition to Emerling, Oklahoma has two catchers -- Corri Hicks and Riley Zache -- as part of OU's 2024 recruiting class.

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