USA TODAY Sports Network 2026 All-SEC softball awards, coach and player of the year
Oklahoma catcher Kendall Wells and Alabama pitcher Jocelyn Briski highlight the USA TODAY Sports Network 2026 All-SEC softball awards.
Patty Gasso doesn't lean in on hyperbole. When the legendary OU softball coach says things like " we're witnessing greatness " with freshman catcher Kendall Wells , it's best to listen up. “Offensively, I’ve seen Jocelyn Alo , I’ve seen Lauren Chamberlain — this is something new,” Gasso said back in February.
“It is some of the most elite power I’ve ever seen from a young player. and she came in like that. It’s not like we had to build her into that.
She came in like that. “Now she is getting all the how’s and why’s from (hitting coach) JT (Gasso) that is making a lot of sense to her. Hitting has become very easy to her.
” Gasso couldn't have been any more correct, and it shows on the 2026 USA TODAY Sports Network’s All-SEC team. A panel of nine reporters who regularly cover the league selected Wells as the unanimous SEC Player of the Year. REQUIRED READING: Kendall Wells is smashing records, redefining what a freshman can be for OU softball Wells is hitting .