The honors are starting early for Oklahoma softball players.
Kasidi Pickering and Ella Parker were named D1Softball Preseason First-Team All-Americans on Wednesday. Abby Dayton was also included on the second team.
The Sooners were one of four programs (Oklahoma State, UCLA and Florida State) that had three players included. Preseason No.1 Florida led the way with five players, including three on the first team.
You can see the full team here.
Parker has already received All-America honors before as a 2024 Softball America Freshman All-American and NFCA Third-Team All-American. She was also a finalist for NFCA Freshman of the Year, Big 12 Tournament Most Oustanding Player, and included on the All-Big 12 Second Team and Big 12 All-Freshman Team.
Even as a freshman, Parker was an integral part in the Sooners winning a fourth straight national championship last season. She was Patty Gasso's go-to for DP, leading the team with a .415 average, .722 slugging percentage and 17 stolen bases. Parker also added 60 runs, 62 RBIs and 13 home runs.
Pickering, also a sophomore, was just as important in the outfield last season as a frosh. She was also named to the Softball America Freshman All-American Team and Big 12 All-Freshman Team. Pickering slashed a .389/.513/.705 with 51 RBIs, 45 runs and 12 home runs.
Dayton, a junior, is new in Norman after transferring from Utah during the offseason. As a Ute, she was named a 2024 NFCA Third Team All-American, 2024 Pac-12 Batting Champion, All-Pac-12 First Team honoree (twice) and to the 2023 Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.
Dayton is expected to start in the outfield this season for the Sooners alongside Pickering.
The Sooners will start their season against California State Northridge on Feb. 6 in San Diego. OU will also play San Diego State that same day.