OU softball standout Sam Landry could return to Oklahoma, play for Spark

Sam Landry might be headed back to Oklahoma.

On Friday, the former OU softball standout was left unprotected by the Volts, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League team that she played for this past summer. As an unprotected player, Landry will be available in the AUSL’s expansion draft on Dec. 1.

Only the Oklahoma City Spark and the Casade, the league’s two newest teams, will select players in the expansion draft.

The expansion-draft part of the evening will only include AUSL players left unprotected by their existing teams, and Landry stands as one of the most notable names. After leading the Sooners to the Women’s College World Series last spring, the right-handed pitcher was selected as the top overall pick in the AUSL’s college draft. Landry finished her rookie season with the Volts with a 1-5 record and a 4.85 earned run average.

More: What we learned about OU softball from 2025 fall scrimmage season

Despite a rough season, Landry became an AUSL star — her jersey was No. 1 in sales across the entire league.

The AUSL announced earlier this month that the Spark, which completed its third season this past summer, was being added to the league. It will play its inaugural AUSL season next summer, and the draft on Dec. 1 is the Spark’s first step in building a roster.

The AUSL’s expansion draft starts at 6 p.m. on Dec. 1 and will be followed by the league's allocation draft. The evening's activities will be broadcast on ESPNU.

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: Sam Landry unprotected by Volts, available in AUSL expansion draft