Best 21 photos from Oklahoma Sooners Softball's incredible 2021 (2024)

John Williams

December 10, 2021 11:00 am CT

It’s been a fantastic year for Oklahoma Sooners athletics. As we close out 2021, we’ll be taking you through a walk down memory lane with some of the best photos from big moments or big seasons.

The Oklahoma softball team went on a run for the ages and became must-see television every time they stepped on the diamond. Their combination of power hitting and max-effort defense made them the talk of the town for the first half of 2021.

Their national championship run set records for viewers and attendance both in Norman and in Oklahoma City. The groundswell for the softball team reached a fever pitch when they won their fifth national championship under the legendary Patty Gasso.

Oklahoma went 56-4 on the season and 16-1 in the Big 12. They won their first 36 games of the season and made a habit of run-ruling their opponents and pitching shutouts.

Tiare Jennings and Jocelyn Alo had incredible years from the plate and Mackenzie Donihoo was the spark plug throughout the season with her relentless energy and passion.

Their national championship run wasn’t without its fair share of drama. They dropped the first game of the world series to James Madison and then won four straight to get into the championship series against Florida State.

Again, they’d lose the first game of the series to Florida State before winning 6-2 and 5-1 to close out their fifth national championship and fourth title since 2013.

With much of the roster returning for the 2022 season, the Oklahoma Sooners look primed to defend their national title.

Oklahoma v Oklahoma StateMay 9, 2021

05/09/2021 Oklahoma v Oklahoma State softball. Photo by Joshua R. Gateley

Oklahoma v Oklahoma StateMay 9, 2021

05/09/2021 Oklahoma v Oklahoma State softball. Photo by Joshua R. Gateley

Jocelyn Alo, Kiley Naomi

Oklahoma's Jocelyn Alo (78) celebrates a double at second base in front of Oklahoma State's Kiley…

Oklahoma's Jocelyn Alo (78) celebrates a double at second base in front of Oklahoma State's Kiley Naomi (5) in the first inning of the NCAA college Big 12 Championship softball game Saturday, May 15, 2021, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

B12 Oklahoma St Oklahoma Softball

Oklahoma players gesture to fans in the first inning of the NCAA college Big 12 Championship…

Oklahoma players gesture to fans in the first inning of the NCAA college Big 12 Championship softball game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, May 15, 2021, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Giselle Juarez, Nicole Mendes, Shannon Salle

Oklahoma's Giselle Juarez, left, Nicole Mendes (11) and Shannon Saile (4) hold the trophy after defeating…

Oklahoma's Giselle Juarez, left, Nicole Mendes (11) and Shannon Saile (4) hold the trophy after defeating Oklahoma State in a run-rule victory in the sixth inning of the NCAA college Big 12 championship softball game Saturday, May 15, 2021, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Washington Oklahoma Softball

Oklahoma's Tiare Jennings (23) celebrates a Washington out during an NCAA softball game on Friday, May…

Oklahoma's Tiare Jennings (23) celebrates a Washington out during an NCAA softball game on Friday, May 28, 2021, in Norman, Okla. Oklahoma won 4-2. AP Photo/Brandon Wade

NCAA Oklahoma Washington Softball

Oklahoma's Jocelyn Alo (78) celebrates beside Washington's Sis Bates (22) after hitting a home run in…

Oklahoma's Jocelyn Alo (78) celebrates beside Washington's Sis Bates (22) after hitting a home run in the third inning during an NCAA college softball tournament super regional game in Norman, Okla., Friday, May 28, 2021. (Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman via AP)

NCAA Oklahoma Washington Softball

Oklahoma's Jocelyn Alo (78) celebrates beside Washington's Sis Bates (22) after hitting a home run in…

NCAA Oklahoma Washington Softball

Oklahoma's Giselle Juarez (45), Jocelyn Alo (78), Lynnsie Elam (22) and Nicole Mendes (11) carry a…

Oklahoma's Giselle Juarez (45), Jocelyn Alo (78), Lynnsie Elam (22) and Nicole Mendes (11) carry a pad from the outfield wall after winning the second game against Washington in an NCAA college softball tournament super regional in Norman, Okla., Saturday, May 29, 2021. (Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman via AP)

NCAA Washington Oklahoma Softball

Oklahoma's Nicole Mendes (11) and Jayda Coleman (24) celebrate after Mendes caught the ball for the…

Oklahoma's Nicole Mendes (11) and Jayda Coleman (24) celebrate after Mendes caught the ball for the final out in Oklahoma's win over Washington in the second game of an NCAA college softball tournament super regional in Norman, Okla., Saturday, May 29, 2021. Oklahoma won 9-1 to advance to the Women's College World Series. (Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman via AP)