On Thursday night in Oklahoma City, the University of Oklahoma women’s softball team won its third consecutive national title — its seventh overall — after sweeping Florida State in a best-of-three series in the Women’s College World Series. The Sooners continued their dominance over the sport in historic fashion, finishing the season 61-1 after winning 53 consecutive games to end the season.
But it wasn’t the team’s success on the field that had many talking after Thursday night’s victory.
‘Joy that doesn’t fade away’
During a news conference at the World Series, a reporter asked members of the team how they managed to be so joyful “when anxiety seems like a thing that could very easily set in.” Three of the players on the panel shared how their faith gave them perspective during their record-breaking season.
“Well, the only way that you can have a joy that doesn’t fade away is from the Lord,” said senior shortstop Grace Lyons, the team’s captain. “Any other type of joy is actually happiness that comes from circumstances and outcomes. I think Coach has said this before, but joy from the Lord is really the only thing that can keep you motivated.
Lyons continued: “Thankfully, we’ve had a lot of success this year, but if it was the other way around, joy from the Lord is the only thing that can keep you embracing those memories, moments, friendships and all of that. That’s really the only answer to that, because there’s no other way that softball can bring you that because of how much failure comes in it and how much of the roller coaster the game can be.”
Lyons’ teammate, junior outfielder Jayda Coleman, agreed.
“I went through that my freshman year,” she said. “I’ve talked about this before, but I was just so happy that we won the College World Series, but I didn’t feel joy. I didn’t know what to do the next day; I didn’t know what to do for that following week. I didn’t feel fulfilled, and I had to find Christ in that. I think that is what makes our team so strong is that we’re not afraid to lose, because it’s not the end of the world if we do lose. Yes, obviously, we’ve worked our butts off to be here, and we want to win, but it’s not the end of the world, because our life is in Christ, and that’s all that matters.”
‘Eyes up’
Alyssa Brito, a junior, said the team has rallied about a gesture in which they point to the sky to honor Jesus on the field.
“I think a huge thing that we’ve latched onto is ‘eyes up.’ And you guys see us … pointing up, but we’re really fixing our eyes on Christ, and that’s something where, like they were saying, you can’t find a fulfillment in an outcome, whether it’s good or bad, and I think that’s why we’re so steady in what we do, and our love for each other, and our love for the game, because we know this game is giving us the opportunity to glorify God. I just think once we figured that out, and that’s our purpose, and everyone was all in with that, it’s really changed so much for us.”
She continued: “I know … I’ve seen so much of a growth in myself. Once I turned to Jesus and I realized how he had changed my outlook on life — not just softball, but understanding how much I have to live for, and that’s living to exemplify the Kingdom. I think that brings so much freedom, and I’m sure that everyone’s story is similar, but we all have those great testimonies that have really shown how awesome it is to play for something bigger, and I think that’s just what brings me so much joy, no matter the outcome. Whether we get a trophy in the end or not, this isn’t our home, and I think that’s what’s amazing about it. We have so much more. We have an eternity of joy with our Father, and I’m so excited about that. And yes, I live in the moment, but I know this isn’t my home, and no matter what, my sisters in Christ will be there with me in the end.”
