After the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility for several Oklahoma Sooners, the fan base awaited the decision of the players. In a singular and united statement, Giselle Juarez, Nicole Mendes, and Shannon Saile announced their intentions to return to the diamond.
#2021 pic.twitter.com/mSf49wC0bF
— nicole mendes (@nicole_mendes_) April 3, 2020
“First and foremost, to God be the glory. He has blessed each one of us in this senior class. Entering this year, we were uncertain where it would lead us. G was hurt and Nicole was in the process of rehabbing a torn ACL. Shannon was the lone senior leading the pitching staff. As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to grow, it cause our season to come to an end,” said the trio.
Clearly holding out hope as coaching staffs around the country argued in favor of their seniors, the good news finally came. In response, the group of seniors announced, “we will be returning to finish with each other and the upcoming senior class.”
The move positions Patty Gasso and the Sooners for yet another run at the WCWS and potential a National Championship Series berth.