Are you ready? (Ay) Is you ready? (Ready) You say you ready? (Oh) Whole squad ready (ready) Is you ready? (Huh?) Are you ready? (Ready) Is you ready? Whole squad ready
Those lyrics from that Migos song came to mind this morning when I went to look at what I’m now describing as the video of testimony from the Oklahoma softball “squad” of Grace Lyons, Jayda Coleman, and Alyssa Brito. It’s incredible to think that there have been over 1 million views within 24 hours of me posting it. Of course, all glory and honor goes to God and “the sisters of Christ,” as Brito so magnificently said in the video.
I’m not sure if Alex Scarborough expected such an incredible faith-based answer when he asked the following question at the post-game conference following the Game One victory over Florida State in the Women’s World Series, “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 easily set in?’
Lyons, a fifth-year senior captain sitting up on stage to the right of coach Patty Gasso and to the left of teammates Coleman and Brito, took to the microphone first and without hesitation, responded with what will forever become known as “the joy quote.”
“The only way you can have a joy that doesn’t fade away is from the Lord and any other type of joy is actually happiness that comes from circumstances or outcomes and I think Coach has said this before but joy from the Lord is really the only thing that can keep you motivated in a good mindset no matter the outcomes.”
Lyons, who coach Patty Gasso has described as the “super senior, finished her storybook career with the Sooners by hitting a solo homer in Game Two against the Seminoles in the 3-1 win, which gave Oklahoma its third straight National Championship.
After the championship win, Lyons once again professed her relationship with the Lord:
"The Lord is good," Lyons said. "I mean, the home run was awesome, but just the feelings of coming home to my team and just the joy that a home run can't bring. It's all from the Lord. I think it was just a genuine joy as I rounded just knowing that it was a total team effort, and that team is something special."
Earlier in the tournament, Lyons had snapped an 0-for-11 drought in a hard fought battle against Stanford with a late inning double to spark a rally by the Sooners. Lyons came around to score on a hit by Tiare Jennings to seal the win.
Lyons talked in depth to OU Daily about her faith and what it has meant to her journey to greatness at Oklahoma and the effect it has had on her teammates and coaches
In the article by Nick Coppola, her coach perfectly describes who Lyons is:
“Grace is grace, the word grace,” OU coach Patty Gasso said. “She’s cool, calm, and thought provoking. When she speaks, everything gets quiet and everybody listens. It's like having another coach on the field.”
And she’s been a big time winner. In five seasons, she’s earned two All-American honors, three All-Big 12 honors and three consecutive Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year awards from 2021-23. And now, she’s one of the few in the sport who will have won three consecutive national championships.
More so, she’s left a lasting impact with her faith.
“She’s helped me so much in my journey with Christ,” Coleman told the OU Daily. “She’ll answer every question, or questions about the Bible, or something that might seem so obvious to everyone. She simplified it all for me, especially about the little things. She is one of the most incredible people I’ve met in my life.”
Coleman, who entered Oklahoma having won the 2019-20 Gatorade Softball Player of the Year as a senior at The Colony High School in The Colony, Texas, further exemplified her journey during the “video of testimony” when she answered the ESPN reporter’s question about "joy.’ The junior center fielder helped the Sooners win the first of the three titles by going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI to cap a freshman season that included honors as first team All-Big 12 and first team All-American.
“I was so happy we won the national championship but I didn’t feel joy,” Coleman said regarding her experience after the first World Series victory. “I didn’t know what to do the next day. I didn’t know what to do for that following week. I didn’t feel fulfilled. And I had to find Christ. I think that is what makes our team so strong because we’re not afraid to lose because it’s not the end of the world.”
Brito, who entered the Super Regionals slugging a team-high 15 home runs along with a .411 batting average, capped off the interview with the description of what “Eyes Up” means to the Boomer Sooner nation…and now, apparently, the rest of the faithful world.
“I think a huge thing we’ve really latched onto is ‘Eyes Up,’” said Brito during the postgame interview. “We’re really fixing our eyes on Christ.”
Watched the interview. Amazing