Sooners add Campbell transfer Isabella Smith to 2025 pitching staff

In need of starting pitching after the loss of three starters from the 2024 softball roster, Oklahoma picked up a commitment from former Campbell University ace Isabella Smith from the transfer portal on Wednesday.

The right-handed pitcher is the fourth Oklahoma transfer commitment in the last seven days and the second from the state of North Carolina. Smith joins former North Carolina catcher Isabela Emerllng, former Utah outfielder Abby Dayton and BYU transfer Ailana Agbayani, a middle infielder.

Smith posted a record of 26-7 this past season with an earned run average of 1.56 and 238 strikeouts with just 69 walks in 206 innings. Included among those 26 victories were 18 complete games, nine shutouts and a pair of no-hitters while competing for Campbell in the Colonial Athletic Association this season.

Smith, who hails from Raleigh, North Carolina, was the 2023 Big South Pitcher of the Year and was the Pitcher of the Year this season in the CAA. She holds the Campbell record for career wins (70), career strikeouts (638), single-season wins (29), single-season appearances (49) and single-season strikeouts (241).

She will help replace the loss of starters Kelly Maxwell, Nicole May and Karlie Keeney, all of whom ended their eligibility in 2024. Maxwell (Oklahoma State) and Keeney (Liberty) were both transfers this past season. Returning pitchers for the Sooners are junior-to-be Kierston Deal and former Wisconsin transfer Paytn Monticelli. Oklahoma also will have freshman Audrey Lowry joining the staff next season.

The four-time defending national champions will have one scholarship offer remaining to fill and are hopeful of landing college softball's No. 1 pitcher the past two seasons, Stanford transfer NiJaree Canady from the portal. That make take a while, though, as Canady is the most sought-after player in the transfer portal.