As the 2025 softball season unfolded, one of the most intriguing storylines centered on Oklahoma freshman utility player Tia Milloy. A left-handed hitter hailing from Redmond, Washington, Milloy brought not just raw talent, but a fierce competitive edge and sterling pedigree that caught the eye of Sooners fans and coaches alike.
A family forged in athletic excellence
Growing up in a household defined by high achievement, Milloyโs competitive fire was ignited early. Her father, Lawyer Milloy, was an NFL standout and Super Bowl champion; her mother, Claudine, a twoโtime AllโAmerican track star (si.com). Her older sisters, Amirah and Kiki, both starred in collegiate softballโAmirah at Washington and Kiki at Tennessee, even reaching the College World Series (si.com). Tia often shadowed them, blending her athletic instincts with their hard-earned experience.
A polished recruit ready for college impact
In high school, Milloy carved out a remarkable resume: a five-year letterwinner, three-time all-state pick, two-time Kingco MVP, and a .567/.646/1.067 slash line as a seniorโculminating in a 1.723 OPS with 59 hits and 35 stolen bases (soonersports.com). Club ball further sharpened her game; she was a Premier Girls Fastpitch All-American in 2023, slashing .494 with a 1.490 OPS (soonersports.com). When she committed to Oklahoma in October 2022, Patty Gasso and company recognized her as a high-caliber, versatile player who could contribute immediately (si.com).
Fitting seamlessly into the Sooner system
Meeting Coach Gasso confirmed what Milloy had already sensed: a no-nonsense, accountability-driven environment where expectations are high and growth is non-negotiable. She appreciated Gassoโs direct coaching style and the presence of a female head coachโa personal non-negotiable honed by watching her sisters play under women leaders (si.com).
College debut: power and poise under pressure
Milloy wasted no time making an impact. In her first career start on February 7 against Cal Baptist, she belted a home run. She followed it up the next day with another long ball and added two more with a solo shot on February 16 against Hofstra (soonersports.com). Over her first 34 at-bats, she recorded eight hitsโfive of which were homers.
Navigating the freshman curve
March tested Milloyโs mental toughness. Suddenly thrust into a reserve role, her batting average dippedโfour hits in 17 at-bats as she grappled with pressure and expectations (en.wikipedia.org). But she didnโt stumble aloneโtext messages from her father, pep talks from sisters, and counsel from Coach Gasso all rallied to steady her. โThey never let me get into a bad place mentally,โ Milloy reflected (espn.com).
A turning point and enduring legacy
By April, she began to find her stride againโhighlighted by a three-hit, three-RBI outing against UT Arlington on April 1 (oklahoma.rivals.com). Gasso praised her growing consistency, noting a newfound ability to square the ball and contribute down the stretch (espn.com).
With Oklahomaโs dynasty in full swing and national title aspirations ever present, Milloy isnโt just another freshmanโsheโs a unique product of her own lineage, blending family pedigree, raw talent, and a mindset molded for elite competition. In the words of her father, โHer journey is different from all of ours… Tia is built for this.โย
