Sensational Jordy Bahl sets off seismic waves with transfer to Nebraska

Let that sink in a smidge.

College softball’s greatest ace, who led Oklahoma to its third straight Women’s College World Series title, is leaving the Sooners’ juggernaut program behind to return home to play for the University of Nebraska.

Home, if you recall, for Bahl is Papillion. While at Papillion-La Vista, Bahl was the nation’s No. 1 recruit, per Extra Inning Softball, and won back-to-back Nebraska Gatorade softball player of the year accolades. She took home Gatorade’s national award her senior year in 2021.

This is, no hyperbole, one of the most seismic moves of the transfer portal era — regardless of sport.

There is, honestly, no apt comparison. The hypothetical transfer of USC’s reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams to Maryland doesn’t quite elicit the same feeling. Absolute shock and awe, without question. But not exactly the same.

Imagine it. The Most Outstanding Player in any NCAA tournament setting decides they want to transfer home with two years of eligibility remaining.

That player opts to transfer from a program with a rich, championship history with a chance at repeating for a fourth straight year and go to a sleeping giant that hasn’t been to the sports’ title game for 38 years.

That’s precisely what’s happening here. Plus a whole lot more.

To those on the outside, it might not make much sense.

Why would you leave such a great thing?

To Bahl, though, this makes all the sense in the world. And it doesn’t need to make sense to anyone else.

When Bahl announced she was leaving OU on Monday, she wrote eloquently about her love for her home state and how her absence has made her heart grow fonder.

“For the last 2 years, despite the amazing opportunities and accomplishments, my love for my home and the acknowledgment of my foundation have grown,” Bahl wrote. “Being away from these things has been very tough. Through the constant battles that the outsiders do not see, my teammates and coaches were always understanding, loving, and nothing but supportive. The bond developed with these girls can never, and will never be broken.

“… I am excited to return home and be Jordy Bahl the softball player, but more importantly the person. I am excited thinking about growing the game that has provided me so many opportunities for growth, in the home state, a current overlooked state for girls in softball at all ages, and I am excited to finish the softball journey right where it began.”

Where it began: Nebraska.

Bahl had pledged to play for Nebraska before she had even entered high school — the rule has changed to where kids can’t do that anymore — but opted to reopen her recruitment in 2019. After decommitting, Bahl told Softball America that her decision to back off Nebraska was “scary.”

“I committed super young when I was 14 and I just came to the realization that I go off to college soon and I only got to visit one school,” Bahl told Softball America in 2019.

“I just wanted to open it up, see what opportunities come, go visit more schools and just make sure that where I end up is going to be the best fit and feel like home for the next four years.”

Offers flooded in from several powerhouse programs, including Oregon, Washington, Texas, Florida and Oklahoma.

The four-time All-State product chose OU in September 2019. While in Norman, she flourished in the circle.

This past season, Bahl was 22-1 with a 0.90 ERA and averaged 1.3 strikeouts per innings pitched. That, for the initiated, is phenomenal. While at this year’s WCWS, she was on another level — pitching 24 2/3 scoreless innings and allowing just 12 hits and four walks with 33 strikeouts.

As a freshman, Bahl also went 22-1 with a 1.09 ERA and averaged 1.45 strikeouts per innings pitched. She, while wearing No. 98, rewrote the Sooners’ record book, and threw her first perfect game on Feb. 25, 2022.

Y’all get the picture. She’s sensational.

To be fair, she’s been sensational since she led Papio to three straight state titles and two straight perfect seasons. But now, she’s not a secret. She’s a gosh dang national treasure.

And she’s coming back to the Good Life — continuing her family legacy of in-state talent.

Her dad, Dave, played football for Doane. Her mom, Emily Classen Bahl, was a two-time Academic All-State basketball player for Papillion-La Vista in the 1990s.

Her older brother, Hayden, pitched for Nebraska-Omaha. Her younger brother, Broden, will play football for Midland this fall. Her youngest brother, Bryson, wrapped up his sophomore season of basketball at Papio South and averaged 18.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

What does this mean for Nebraska?

Getting into Bowlin Stadium is going to be one hot ticket next spring. If you’re financially able, get your season ticket requests in ASAP.

Nebraska fans supported NU softball well before Bahl entered the picture — as NU softball was No. 23 nationally in average attendance in 2023 at 1,000. Considering Bowlin holds 2,530, I expect more sellouts on the horizon.

Nebraska is a place that supports women’s athletics.

Just look at the demand for Volleyball Day in Nebraska this August. More than 90,000 people in attendance for a couple of volleyball matches? Still gives me goosebumps. Or how Nebraska women’s basketball was able to pack Pinnacle Bank Arena with more than 14,000 fans for a game last winter.

On the diamond, though, expectations for NU just went through the roof. For a team that hasn’t been to the WCWS since 2013, there’s no doubt that she will be an integral piece in hopefully ending NU’s drought.

These next few seasons have the makings to be something really special.