𝙊𝙐 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙: 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙏𝙞𝙖 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙮 𝙒𝙖𝙨 ‘𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮’ 𝙩𝙤 𝙃𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙍𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙊𝙠𝙡𝙖𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙖…

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, Milloy’s competitive fire was ignited early. Her father, Lawyer Milloy, was an NFL standout and Super Bowl champion; her mother, Claudine, a two‑time All‑American track star (si.com). Her older sisters, Amirah and Kiki, both starred in collegiate softball—Amirah 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 senior—culminating 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 Gasso’s direct coaching style and the presence of a female head coach—a 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 hits—five of which were homers.

Navigating the freshman curve
March tested Milloy’s mental toughness. Suddenly thrust into a reserve role, her batting average dipped—four hits in 17 at-bats as she grappled with pressure and expectations (en.wikipedia.org). But she didn’t stumble alone—text messages from her father, pep talks from sisters, and counsel from Coach Gasso all rallied to steady her. “They never let me get into a bad place mentally,” Milloy reflected (espn.com).

A turning point and enduring legacy
By April, she began to find her stride again—highlighted 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 Oklahoma’s dynasty in full swing and national title aspirations ever present, Milloy isn’t just another freshman—she’s 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, “Her journey is different from all of ours… Tia is built for this.”