### Oklahoma Outfielder Maya Bland Enters Transfer Portal

Oklahoma Sooners outfielder Maya Bland has declared her intention to transfer, sharing the news on her Instagram account. In her statement, Bland expressed gratitude to the Sooner Nation for their support over the past two years, noting that she will cherish her time at Oklahoma but believes she is on a new path.

Bland was a significant prospect coming out of high school, boasting a .528 batting average with 16 home runs in her junior year at Argyle High School in Texas. She was ranked as the No. 11 recruit in the Class of 2023 by Extra Inning Softball.

As a freshman in 2024, Bland primarily served as a pinch runner in 52 games, accumulating eight stolen bases and a .333 batting average in 15 at-bats. Her sophomore year saw her participation in 39 games, with seven starts in the outfield. She recorded a .250 batting average and three home runs in 32 at-bats.

Bland's decision comes in the wake of a competitive environment for outfield positions at Oklahoma. The Sooners are set to return all three of their usual starting outfielders—Kasidi Pickering, Abby Dayton, and Sydney Barker. Additionally, players like Hannah Coor and incoming freshman Kai Minor, who was rated the No. 1 overall player in the Class of 2025 by Softball America, add to the depth of the roster.

Bland is the second player from the Sooners to announce their transfer intentions, following Corri Hicks. Hicks played in 23 games in 2025, finishing the season with a .261 batting average, three home runs, and eight RBIs.

The Sooners are also set to lose three players—pitchers Sam Landry and Isabella Smith, as well as infielder Sydney Sanders—to graduation. The announcement follows the conclusion of Oklahoma's 2025 season, which ended with a 3-2 loss to No. 12 Texas Tech in the Women's College World Series semifinals, ending the Sooners' bid for a fifth consecutive national championship.