Norman, OK – April 6, 2025
Several University of Oklahoma (OU) Sooners athletes, including members of the powerhouse softball team, attended a high-profile event featuring Riley Gaines on April 2, hosted by OU’s Turning Point USA chapter. The speech, held in Dale Hall, drew hundreds to hear the former NCAA swimmer and outspoken advocate for excluding transgender women from women’s sports—a stance that’s ignited both applause and backlash on campus and beyond. For the Sooners athletes, the event was a chance to engage with a message that hit close to home, though it’s also stirred debate about fairness, rights, and personal choice.
Gaines, a 12-time All-American from the University of Kentucky, rose to prominence after tying with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA Championships and has since campaigned against trans inclusion in women’s athletics. Her OU talk focused on biological differences and competitive equity, resonating with athletes like Sooners pitchers Audrey Lowry and Sam Landry, and outfielder Hannah Coor, who were spotted in the crowd by OU Daily. Track athlete Peyton McQuillan told the student paper, “She just wants to make sure everyone has a fair opportunity, and it’s clear that she cares—it’s easy to relate to.” Rower Haley Bergstrom echoed this, citing “biological advantages” men hold, while stressing no personal animus toward trans individuals.
The Sooners’ presence didn’t go unnoticed—or unquestioned. After OU softball’s 6-0 win over UCF on April 4, coach Patty Gasso faced a reporter’s query about her players attending Gaines’ event. Gasso’s response was swift and firm: “They’re adults. They can choose what they do on their own time. I’m here to talk softball.” The exchange, captured on video and shared widely on X, drew praise from Gaines herself, who tweeted, “What a ridiculous question from the ‘reporter’, but great answer from a great coach. We love @OU_Softball!!!” Posts on X ranged from support—“So the women’s team went to hear a speaker who supports women athletes? Good for them!”—to criticism of the reporter: “Imagine policing who college kids listen to.”
The event wasn’t without pushback. Dozens protested outside, hoisting signs like “Save Trans Lives” and arguing for inclusivity. Kay Holladay, a demonstrator, told The Oklahoman, “Trans teens should be able to play sports—it’s not about fairness, it’s about belonging.” Gaines, addressing the dissent, said she wished protesters had joined the discussion inside, telling OU Daily, “I understand they were exercising their First Amendment rights, but I wish they’d listened.” The clash mirrors Oklahoma’s broader political landscape, where Governor Kevin Stitt and Superintendent Ryan Walters—both Gaines allies—have championed policies like the 2023 Women’s Bill of Rights, defining gender by biology.
For the Sooners, a team riding a four-time national championship streak, the event underscores a personal stake in the debate. Coach Gasso, a Hall of Famer focused on “supporting her players and winning games,” per X sentiment, sidestepped politics, but her athletes’ attendance signals alignment with Gaines’ core argument. As the softball squad (34-3, ranked third nationally) barrels toward another postseason, their off-field choices have added a new layer to their spotlight—one that’s less about bats and gloves and more about a national reckoning over sports and identity.
By Staff Writer, Sooner Sports Digest