Oklahoma's Patty Gasso offers advice as Kendall Wells chases softball HR record

Kendall Wells is giving a new meaning to Boomer Sooner.

Oklahoma's 19-year-old freshman catcher is closing in on college softball history as she chases down a 31-year-old single-season home run record set in 1995 by Arizona's Laura Espinoza (37) in 72 games. Wells has 36 home runs in 54 games, with 32 of those matchups ending early in run-rule victories.

There's still lots of softball to be played and opportunities to break the record. Oklahoma kicks off the SEC Tournament on Thursday with a quarterfinal matchup against either No. 8 LSU or No. 9 Georgia after the Sooners earned the No. 1 seed by claiming the 2026 SEC regular-season championship. The NCAA Tournament comes after and the Sooners could play their way into the Women's College World Series.

But as the nation eagerly watches the home run record chase that's emerged between Wells and UCLA sluggers Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery, Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso offered Wells a simple word of advice.

"Kendall (Wells) obviously is in this big race that I am not even considering a race," Gasso said ahead of the SEC Tournament. "I just keep telling her... that records are going to be broken, whether it's by you or someone else. So just be you and not try."

Wells has rewritten the record books all season. She set the SEC single-season record with her 27th home run of the year on March 31 to pass Bri Ellis' previous mark at Arkansas. Her 31st homer broke the NCAA freshman single-season record previously shared by fellow Sooners Jocelyn Alo and Lauren Chamberlain, in addition to Hawaii's Kelly Majam. Wells' 35th home run claimed Oklahoma's single-season home run record previously held by Alo.

Wells' home run quest has resulted in some teams pitching around the freshman slugger. Wells has been walked nine times in Oklahoma's past four games and hasn't hit a home run, her longest drought of the season. But Gasso said Wells has remained patient and noted her frustrations haven't spilled into her defense.

"I can't say enough about her offense. Everyone loves it, but if you watch the quickness that she has picking up bunts, I mean, she is jumping out. She is making some phenomenal defensive plays," Gasso said. "I care as much about that as I do about the way she's hitting the ball. So this is going to be a good test for her going into (the postseason), she's going to get a lot of fanfare when she shows up."

Wells isn't the only player chasing Espinoza's record. UCLA's Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery are also in the running with 35 and 33 home runs, respectively, as the Bruins approach the Big Ten tournament. Grant's 34 homers broke Stacey Nuveman’s UCLA single-season home run record (31) set in 1999, while Woolery's 106 RBIs leads the nation and also marks a program record.

"Just watching greatness in front of me is such an honor and I feel like I have the best seat," said Woolery, who bats behind Grant in the lineup. "I get to watch her hit every day. Even being on deck too, I'm like five feet away from her and I feel like it's so cool to see what she's doing and it's so impressive and I think just how hardworking she is. I strive to be like her too in that sense. It's awesome to see."

Wells, Grant and Woolery all have a chance to become the first player in college softball history to hit 40 homers in a single season as offense as a whole has surged this year. Oklahoma and UCLA both lead the nation with 173 total home runs this season. (The previous single-season home run record was 161).

USA TODAY Sports is tracking the single-season home run record chase as the postseason begins:

Single-season home runs leaders in college softball

Players in bold are actively competing this season.

Here's a look at the single-season home runs leaders in the history of college softball:

Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at [email protected] and follow her on X at@CydHenderson.

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