Why former OU softball standout Sam Landry is 'super excited' about AUSL draft

Sam Landry was the top overall pick in last spring’s AUSL college draft.

But only a few months later, she’s going to the draft process all over again.

The former OU standout was among the players left unprotected by the Volts, the team she pitched for as a rookie, and now, she is available in the league’s expansion draft on Monday night.

Only the league’s newest teams, the Oklahoma City Spark and the Cascade, will be picking in the expansion draft.

Even though Landry could return to the place where she had her greatest college success, it could be odd for the pro softball league’s top draft pick to be in another draft so soon. But she doesn’t see it that way.

“I think this league is doing great things,” she said in an interview with The Oklahoman, “and having to go through this expansion draft is just proving that this league is doing great things and really growing.

“Super excited.”

Here’s more of what Landry had to say about the draft, the league and her first season as a pro:

More: Why OKC Spark is focusing on drafting AUSL championship roster, not OU softball stars

Were you expecting to be unprotected by the Volts?

“Yeah, I was informed that I would not be protected and I would be able to be drafted by one of the two teams. … If not, I will remain on the Volts. I was telling somebody else earlier, it made me a little anxious, just not knowing where I’m going to be in the future, but time and time again, I trust wherever God puts my feet. So really anxious but excited to see what comes.”

With the Spark being able to draft you, have you thought about the idea of returning to play in Oklahoma?

“Yeah, definitely. Definitely thought about it. Whether I stay with the Volts, go to one of the new teams, I think there’s so many opportunities wherever I go. Oklahoma is a very comfortable place for me to be. I love being out there. I was just out there last weekend visiting, so I would not be terribly mad if I go to the Spark. Wouldn’t be mad if I went to the other new team. Wouldn’t be mad if I played with the Volts. So I think whatever happens is going to be really good.”

What have the last six months or so been like? Top pick in the college draft. Pro softball debut. You had NBA commissioner Adam Silver on his feet when you pitched during an awards ceremony in New York. Do you have a highlight?

“It’s hard for me to pull out a highlight because I absolutely think all of it because I never had the intention of going pro. I never really gave it a second thought. I was just gonna finish college and move on from there. But the fact that I changed my mind and was able to go pro and just be a part of everything that’s going on, it’s all very much a highlight for me in a position that God put me in and I’m so blessed and humbled to be in. Because I think there’s so many opportunities with this league and reaching so many little girls that need somebody to be in those shoes so that they can imagine themselves in those shoes. I’m glad I even get to be just a sliver of that.”

There are lots of photos and videos out there of you signing all the autographs, taking all the photos. What’s that been like for you?

“It’s been surreal. I never imagined myself with the platform or the reach that I have now. So being able to do that and if me signing a softball is gonna be what puts a smile on your face, I’m absolutely gonna do it. Because I was once that little girl that wanted that signed softball so bad. I absolutely hate nothing more than having to walk away when time is called for us to no longer sign autographs. … I love being able to do it. I think it’s really good for this sport.”

You went from a long college season last spring right into AUSL play. What did you learn from your first pro season, pitching in the pros and being a professional athlete?

“I quickly learned how much I depended on the amazing coaches I had at Oklahoma. I always talked about how great they were and how I trusted them fully, but I don’t think I realized how genuine my trust was in them and how much they were doing for me. When I got to the pro league and had to start doing some of the stuff that they were doing for me … that was the biggest eye opener I had. It’s one of the things that I’ve been working on to fit and to adapt to so that I can have a better performance next season. Like you were saying, I took like three or four days off between the World Series and meeting my team in Wichita (Kansas), so a lot of tiredness played into that. But that’s not an excuse, and it’s definitely not one I’m going to have next season when I have all this time off. So really just figuring out what I need for myself to perform my best for whatever team I’m on.”

Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at [email protected]. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Former OU softball star Sam Landry reflects on pro debut, AUSL draft