In the summer of 2023, the University of Oklahoma women’s softball team just won the softball National Championship, edging out Florida State to win 3-1 in the big game and take home the huge trophy. And who and what did they credit for their victory? Christ Jesus and their faith in him.
That came when an ESPN reporter asked them about the game and how they managed to make it through the long season while fighting off those who wanted to take the number 1 spot from them, asking, “You talked about keeping the joy of the game, but I’m curious, it’s a long season, right? And you guys have had the target on your back the entire time.”
Continuing, the reporter asked about how they manage to “keep the joy” they have when the pressure from the sport and their tough competition, saying, “How do you handle the unique pressure that comes with that? How do you keep the joy for so long when anxiety seems like a thing that could very easily set in?”
In one of the few pleasant surprises last week, the team gave credit to God. Grace Lyons, an infielder on the softball team, responded by saying, “Well, the only way that you can have a joy that doesn’t fade away is from the Lord.”
Continuing, Lyons noted that though it’s great they won and had so much success, what really matters is that the joy from the Lord the team had kept them embracing everything important. Making that point, she said, “Thankfully, we’ve had a lot of success this year, but if it was the other way around, joy from the Lord is the only thing that can keep you embracing those memories, moments, friendships.”
Lyons then added that God is the only answer to the pressure question because the game is and can be such an emotional roller coaster, making it hard not to lose sight of what’s important if you don’t have faith to steady you. “That’s really the only answer to that because there’s no other way that softball can bring you that because of how much failure comes in it and just how much of a rollercoaster the game can be,” Lyons said.
And Lyons’ fellow players agreed with her ont he faith point. Jayda Coleman, chiming in, said, “1000% agree with Grace Lyons.” Coleman said that when the team won the National Championship her freshman year, “I didn’t know what to do the next day … I didn’t feel filled, and I had to find Christ in that.”
Coleman then added that though they worked hard to get where they are and win the big game after winning all season, they also remember that it’s less important than Christ and their faith in him. “Yes obviously we’ve worked our butts off to be here, and we want to win, but it’s not the end of the world because our life is in Christ, and that’s all that matters,” she said.
Alyssa Brito, also on the panel answering. questions, agreed with the other two players and said, “We’re really like, fixing our eyes on Christ.” She added that the game and playing it are about glorifying God, making the team steadier and more focused than if it were only caring about worldly pursuits. “You can’t find fulfillment in an outcome, whether it’s good or bad. I think that’s why we’re so steady in what we do and our love for each other and our love for the game because we know this game is giving us the opportunity to glorify God,” Brito said.
She added, “We have an eternity of joy with our Father, and I’m so excited about that. Yes, I live in the moment, but I know this isn’t my home, and no matter what, my sisters in Christ will be there with me in the end when we’re with our king.”
Watch them here:
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video