OU Softball’s Kendall Wells sets SEC Home Run Record, On Pace for NCAA History

In just the 37th game of her collegiate career, Oklahoma freshman Kendall Wells has made history.

The right-handed slugger hit her 27th home run to set a Southeastern Conference (SEC) single-season home run record, surpassing the 2025 USA Player of the Year, Bri Ellis. Her three-run blast in the sixth inning completed the Sooners’ 12-3 defeat over Wichita State on Tuesday.

flying objects headed to Asp Avenue 👀

KW OUT OF LOVE'S! pic.twitter.com/DInzKdBS1q
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) March 8, 2026

“I didn’t even know that was the record,” Wells told the SEC Network post-game. “My second and third at-bats, I didn’t feel like I was making good adjustments. I talked a lot with coach JT (Gasso) in between and kept it simple in my last at-bat."

While the accolades are building, the Georgia native is just getting started. She’s now three homers away from former OU slugger Lauren Chamberlain’s highest home run total in a season (30). That also puts her just seven home runs away from tying the current NCAA home run record holder, Jocelyn Alo’s single-season home run record.

Chamberlain broke the NCAA softball home run record in 2015 with 95 bombs. Alo came through seven years later, surpassing Chamberlain with 122, and Tiare Jennings is a Women’s College World Series (WCWS) record-holder for RBIs (29) and home runs (5).

For reference, it took Alo 23 games to reach 10 home runs as a freshman, and Jennings, who is third on the all-time home run list, hit 27 homers total her rookie season. Wells is on pace to take the crown from Alo.

Kendall Wells has hit 27 homeruns in just 37 games and 115 at bats.

She's already broken a record to put together in an ENTIRE season with SEVENTEEN games left to play in the Sooners regular season.

We are witnessing history. https://t.co/OtoUUMOe0u
— Maria Trivelpiece (@M_Trivelpiece) April 1, 2026

Head coach Patty Gasso admitted at the start of the season that she thought Wells had the potential of being a cornerstone of the program, just like Chamberlain and Alo, and that she'd never seen a young player come in so prepared.

But while she’s thrilled for her players to accomplish personal goals, it’s all about how they are contributing to the team as a whole. Gasso revealed in the post-game press conference on Tuesday night that she doesn’t track records.

“Kendall Wells, what did she do? I knew something had happened, but I didn’t know exactly what it was. I wish I could tell you I know records, but I just want to win. Kendall came in (to college) more ready than any hitter I’ve ever seen, and that is what we are witnessing right now,” Gasso said.

Wells’ 27 home runs currently lead the nation, and she’s in a tight race with UCLA’s Megan Grant, who is four homers behind. She also paces the Sooners with 60 RBIs and sits ninth with a .383 batting average.

The No. 3-ranked Sooners continue their SEC quest with a three-game series against Kentucky, beginning April 2. How many bombs will Wells put up this weekend?