Oklahoma Softball earns commitment No. 1 2028 pitcher Sophia Schlader

Patty Gasso and the Oklahoma Sooners softball team have earned their second commit of the 2028 class. In September, the Sooners have earned pledges from a top in-state recruit and the top overall arm in the country.

Sophia Schlader, the No. 1-ranked pitcher and the No. 3 overall player in the 2028 class, announced her commitment to the Sooners on Wednesday evening. A five-star prospect out of Urbandale, Iowa, she announced her decision at a ceremony at Waukee Northwest High School. Everyone in attendance and across the Red River watched to see if she'd pick Oklahoma or Texas - her final two schools being considered.

"Thank you, Coach Gasso, Coach JT (Gasso), Coach (Jennifer) Rocha, Coach (Falepolima) Steele and the entire OU staff for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to make a dream I've had since I was little come true," Schlader said in a social media post after the ceremony. "I couldn't be more excited to call Oklahoma home and can't wait for what's ahead! There's only one."

The 5-foot-8 right-handed pitcher and utility player is a 2025-26 Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year, a two-time state champion and one of the most dominant young pitchers in the country. As a sophomore at Waukee Northwest, she went 30-1 with 296 strikeouts in 187 innings. Ranked as the nation's No. 1 prospect in her class by Softball America, she also hit .357 with 29 RBI and 15 home runs, earning a spot on the Des Moines Register All-Iowa Elite Team.

"Her performance this season was outstanding from start to finish, both defensively and offensively," Des Moines Roosevelt High School head coach Christina Smith told Gatorade . "She was unstoppable at the state tournament and dominated in the circle. Outside of her performance, her leadership and the tone she sets for her team is fun to watch and is well respected."

Two weeks ago, Schlader took her visit to Oklahoma. Texas received her final visit just last week. But it was the Sooners that ultimately left the biggest impression. She's the 'Go Boomer' post from Gasso on Wednesday afternoon. The post featured a different spin this time, including a video from Sooner legends Jayda Coleman, Alyssa Britto, Kelly Maxwell, Ailana Agbayani, Alex Storako, Kinzie Hansen, Sam Landry, Tiare Jennings and Destinee Martinez, all welcoming Schlader to the program.

Schlader joins in-state prospect Braylyn Saenz (Moore) , who is ranked No. 41 overall for the class.

Photos from Oklahoma Softball's 32-0 win over Alabama State

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