Oklahoma softball lost nearly its entire starting lineup from last season, including more than 330 innings from its pitching staff. And yet,first-year transfer Sam Landryhas played a vital role in the Sooners being national championship contenders once again in 2025. Landry, who transferred from Louisiana in the offseason to help fill the void left by ace Kelly Maxwell, has blossomed into quite the ace herself in 2025. The 5-foot-10 senior was a first-team All-SEC selection in her first season at the Power Four level, and was also named the SEC Newcomer of the Year. REQUIRED READING:Texas A&M becomes first No. 1 seed to miss Super Regionals in NCAA softball tournament The Mont Belvieu, Texas, native leads the team with 160 2/3 innings pitched this season, which is nearly 90 more innings than Oklahoma's second-most used pitcher. Landry has been leaned on in heavily in 2025, with 15 complete games in 23 of her starts. While the Sooners reloaded on offense after losing a quintet of All-Americans from a season ago, Landry's play in her first season with Oklahoma has been essential to the program's success. Here's everything to know of Landry, who Oklahoma will rely on heavily as it looks to win its fifth consecutive national championship: Landry is the ace of Oklahoma's pitching rotation, and has developed into one of the best pitchers in college softball in 2025. The first-year Sooner transferred from Louisiana last season, looking to prove she can compete against Power Four talent. She has done just that, throwing 160 2/3 innings so far this season with a 2.00 ERA and 165 strikeouts en route to being named a first-team All-SEC selection. Landry wasn't an unknown commodity, however. She was the No. 4-ranked recruit of the 2021 recruiting class, per Extra Innings Softball. She was also one of 40 high school players selected to play in the Premier Girls Fastpitch High School Senior All-American Game. Landry was a first-team All-Sun Belt selection in 2024, throwing 194 1/3 innings with 20 complete games while compiling a 2.09 ERA and 165 strikeouts. She also led the Ragin' Cajuns in wins in each of her three seasons before transferring to Oklahoma. Landry has also been open about how her transfer to Oklahoma reinvigorated her love for the game. "I loved my Louisiana teammates as well, but I think the change was much needed at the point I was at in my life,"Landry told The Oklahoman. "I think being around a whole bunch of new girls, new coaches was what I needed at that point." Landry was selectedNo. 1 overall in the Athletes Unlimited Softballdraft this season, a new league with four teams competing in 24 games starting June 7. Arkansas' Bri Ellis, a finalist for national player of the year, went No. 2 overall. Landry said playing professional softball was never a thought before transferring to Oklahoma. "Before I got here … I probably didn't have that much interest in going pro,"Landry told The Oklahoman. "And then getting here and just falling in love with the sport again and being able to strengthen my strengths, I guess, it's really made me more interested in doing it." REQUIRED READING:Super regionals schedule: Full TV slate for college softball NCAA tournament Here are Landry's year-by-year stats in college: 2022 (Louisiana):20-3 record with 2.76 ERA and 145 strikeouts across 117.1 innings pitched 2023 (Louisiana):19-6 record with 2.74 ERA and 150 strikeouts across 147.2 innings pitched 2024 (Louisiana):24-10 record with 2.08 ERA and 165 strikeouts across 194.3 innings pitched 2025 (Oklahoma):22-4 record with 2.00 ERA and 165 strikeouts across 160.2 innings pitched* *Through regionals This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Who is Sam Landry? Oklahoma softball ace leading Sooners in postseason
