MAKENNA BELLAIRE COMMITS TO OKLAHOMA: NO. 2-RANKED SOFTBALL STAR CHOOSES SOONERS OVER NATIONAL POWERHOUSES
In a move that reverberated across the national softball landscape, five-star phenom Makenna Bellaire, the No. 2-ranked softball player in the 2025 class, has officially committed to the Oklahoma Sooners, turning down offers from powerhouse programs including Tennessee, Florida State, UCLA, and Texas. The announcement came via a heartfelt video posted on Bellaire’s Instagram and X accounts Thursday afternoon, where she declared, “There’s only one Oklahoma. I’m ready to be a Sooner.”
Bellaire, a two-way superstar from Gilbert, Arizona, has long been on the radar of every top-tier Division I softball program. With an explosive bat, elite base-running speed, and Gold Glove-level defensive skills at shortstop, Bellaire has drawn comparisons to Oklahoma legend and current Team USA shortstop Grace Lyons.
During her junior season at Hamilton High School, Bellaire batted an astonishing .511 with 14 home runs, 47 RBIs, and 28 stolen bases, leading her team to a state championship. Equally impressive off the field, she carries a 4.2 GPA and has been praised for her leadership, humility, and fierce competitive drive.
“Oklahoma just felt like home,” Bellaire said in a phone interview with ESPNW. “The moment I stepped on campus, met Coach Gasso, and practiced with the girls—it was everything I’ve ever dreamed of. The tradition, the standard, the sisterhood. I want to be part of something bigger than myself.”
Patty Gasso, Oklahoma’s Hall of Fame head coach, now entering her 31st season at the helm, called the commitment “program-defining,” even for a school already flush with national titles. “Makenna plays with a mix of fire and precision that you just don’t teach. She’s a culture-changer and a tone-setter. Our staff is thrilled. The Sooner Nation is getting a once-in-a-generation talent.”
Gasso and the Sooners beat out a fierce recruiting battle that included Tennessee, where Bellaire’s older cousin played, and Florida State, the 2021 national champion that made a late push with a strong NIL package. Though several programs reportedly offered competitive Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, Bellaire emphasized that her decision was based on fit, culture, and long-term growth.
“Everyone’s talking NIL these days, and yes, it matters,” Bellaire said. “But for me, it was about where I’d grow the most as a person and as a player. Oklahoma’s built different. It’s not just softball. It’s family.”
Bellaire becomes the crown jewel of Oklahoma’s 2025 recruiting class, which already includes three other Top 100 players, including pitcher Talia Hampton (No. 14) and catcher Brynn Ellis (No. 26). With Bellaire anchoring the infield for years to come, Oklahoma’s pursuit of continued dominance in the Women’s College World Series looks firmly intact.
National analysts have already pegged Oklahoma’s incoming class as “one of the best ever,” and Bellaire’s commitment is the exclamation point.
“Makenna Bellaire could be the face of college softball by her sophomore year,” said ESPNW recruiting analyst Jen Schroeder. “She’s that electric. Think Jennie Finch-type impact, but as a position player.”
As for Bellaire, she’s ready to embrace the moment.
“I’ve looked up to so many great Sooners growing up—Sydney Romero, Jocelyn Alo, Grace Lyons. Now it’s my turn to carry that torch. I’m not coming just to wear the jersey. I’m coming to win.”
With her announcement, the next chapter of Sooner softball greatness has begun.
