Photo: Brian McLean
By Brian Gosset
X – @gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
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Finlee Williams, the #1 ranked outfielder in the Class of 2027, announced her commitment to the Oklahoma Sooners. OU is regarded as one of the all-time best softball programs in the country – having won over 2,000 games, eight national championships and owning a 0.700+ winning percentage.
Head coach Patty Gasso is in her 31st season.
Williams is the third player from Melissa to commit in September – joining pitcher Eloisa Maes (Arizona) and second baseman Shug Bradford (Auburn). The Cardinals should still be the favorite in 2026 losing just three starters. However, two starters included 2x Player Of The Year Caigan Crabtree (Univ. Of Texas) and star outfielder Paisley Needham (Grayson College).
The Cardinals still have third baseman Kennedy Bradley (Florida), who set the DFW single season record last season with 24 home runs. Another top player that should be committed before the start of 2026 – junior catcher Lulu Adrian, who set the DFW home runs record as a freshman with 22.
Williams helped Melissa to the Class 5A Division 1 state championship last season – as the Cardinals posted a 38-1 record capped by a 4-2 victory over Barbers Hill in Austin. Williams was named 5A All-State and made the 5A state all-tournament team.
It was Melissa’s second straight state title after winning its first all-time 8-0 over Harlingen South and going 38-2-1 during the 2024 season.
Williams, who came to Melissa in the fall of 2024, finished last spring with a 0.569 batting average and was among the state leaders with 19 home runs, 20 doubles, 66 hits and 60 runs batted in. She also stole 29 bases and scored 72 times. In centerfield for the Cardinals, Williams had a 0.980 fielding percentage with just one error on 49 total chances.
Williams was part of a Melissa team that set a national home run record with 122 last season – breaking the previous record of 106 set in 2022. Williams was on fire to start her Melissa career with two homers in each of her first two games. She would have nine home runs in the first nine games.
During the state semifinals – a 15-4 win over Aledo, Williams had four hits, two homers and four RBIs.
As a freshman at 6A Allen, Williams was GM Sports Media Freshman Hitter Of The Year. She led the Eagles in eight categories including a 0.538 average, 64 hits, 16 doubles, eight triples, eight home runs, 54 runs scored, 65 RBIs and 26 stolen bases.
In select, Williams plays for Texas Glory and is on one of the top teams in the country.
