Breaking the Circle: Quincee Lilio Explains Why She Left Oklahoma Sooners Softball
“Sometimes to grow, you have to take the leap—even from home.”
Norman, OK – May 3, 2025
In a move that left many Oklahoma Sooners softball fans stunned and scrambling for answers, redshirt junior utility player Quincee Lilio announced her departure from the team following the 2024 season and confirmed her transfer to the University of South Carolina. The decision marked the end of a remarkable three-year journey with the Sooners, a program that has dominated the college softball landscape and secured its fourth straight national title just months prior. For many, her exit seemed out of place. For Lilio, it was deeply personal.
Now, after weeks of silence, the Anaheim, California native has finally broken her silence—explaining in vivid, emotional detail why she walked away from the most dominant dynasty in modern softball.
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The Heartbeat of a Dynasty
Quincee Lilio arrived in Norman as a top-15 national recruit, a smooth-swinging lefty with exceptional versatility. She was known for her glove, her discipline at the plate, and above all, her unwavering team-first mentality. For much of her tenure with the Sooners, Lilio wasn’t the headline name, but she was the heartbeat.
Lilio played multiple roles across the diamond, providing critical depth at second base, shortstop, and in the outfield. She hit .331 in her junior year, with clutch hits during the 2024 Women’s College World Series and several highlight-reel defensive plays. Despite limited starts in a roster stacked with All-Americans, she never once complained publicly. Her presence was felt on and off the field—leading team prayers, comforting freshmen, and igniting the dugout with her relentless positivity.
So when her name popped up in the transfer portal two weeks after the championship parade, few in the softball world could believe it.
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“I Was Living the Dream—But It Wasn’t Mine Anymore”
In an exclusive sit-down with ESPNW’s Holly Rowe, Lilio revealed the emotions and internal battles that fueled her choice.
> “Oklahoma was my dream school. I mean, I grew up watching Patty Gasso’s teams with awe. Getting that call, that offer, wearing the crimson—those were the best days of my life. But I started to realize that I wasn’t growing anymore. I wasn’t challenged the way I needed to be—not on the field, not in my heart.”
She emphasized that the decision was not rooted in conflict, but in clarity.
> “I want to be clear: this isn’t about bad blood. I love Coach Gasso. I love my teammates. I still cry when I watch replays from the World Series. But I was becoming… comfortable. Too comfortable. And that scared me.”
Lilio elaborated that the Sooners’ loaded depth chart, while a blessing for the program, began to limit her own progression. As she entered her fourth year with the team, her desire to take on a central leadership role—something she felt would not materialize in Norman—grew too powerful to ignore.
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A Family Conversation
Lilio credits her family with helping her make the difficult decision. Her father, a former high school coach in Orange County, reminded her that sometimes growth means discomfort.
> “My dad told me, ‘Just because something is good doesn’t mean it’s right for every season of your life.’ That stuck.”
Quincee also spoke candidly about the toll of always being the “glue player”—the one who smiles, encourages, cheers, and sacrifices. While she embraced that role, she began to wonder what it might feel like to lead on the field, to step into the spotlight rather than support from the shadows.
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The South Carolina Opportunity
Once in the portal, Lilio was flooded with interest. Powerhouse programs including UCLA, Texas, and Florida State reached out. But it was South Carolina head coach Bev Smith who captured Lilio’s imagination.
> “Coach Smith didn’t just talk about winning—she talked about building. She talked about legacy. She told me, ‘I don’t just want your bat or your glove. I want your voice. I want your heart.’ That did it for me.”
The Gamecocks, who made a surprise Super Regional run in 2024, are viewed as a rising power in the SEC. Lilio’s addition gives them an immediate veteran anchor—on the field and in the clubhouse.
> “It’s scary, honestly,” she admitted. “But it’s also thrilling. I get to write a new story. I get to stretch myself.”
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Reflections from Norman
Back in Norman, her former teammates have nothing but admiration for her move.
Star pitcher Jordy Bahl commented,
> “Quince was our glue. She never needed the spotlight to shine. But now she’s earned the right to have it.”
Coach Patty Gasso, never one to stand in the way of a player’s growth, offered a heartfelt statement.
> “Quincee Lilio represents everything Oklahoma softball stands for—selflessness, grit, leadership, joy. She has my blessing, my respect, and my lifelong support. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is leave a place where you’re loved to find a place where you’re needed.”
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“Once a Sooner, Always a Sooner”
Despite her new home in Columbia, Lilio remains deeply tied to the Oklahoma program. She continues to wear a Sooners bracelet her freshman roommate gave her. She keeps a framed photo of the 2024 championship dogpile by her bedside. And she makes no attempt to distance herself from her roots.
> “I didn’t leave because I didn’t love OU. I left because OU taught me to love myself enough to bet on my future.”
Lilio will wear #18 for the Gamecocks, a number symbolizing “life” in biblical numerology—a quiet nod, she says, to a new chapter born from faith and purpose.
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What’s Next?
For the Sooners, the loss of Lilio is one of several departures that mark the beginning of a new era. With Jayda Coleman, Kinzie Hansen, and Rylie Boone graduating, Patty Gasso faces a rare transitional season heading into SEC competition. But Gasso’s recruiting acumen remains unmatched, and the Sooners have reloaded with top freshmen and transfers.
For Lilio, the future is wide open—and bright.
> “I don’t know how this story ends. But I know I’ll write it with courage.”
Her journey from Anaheim to Norman to Columbia is a testament to a truth often overlooked in the era of trophies and highlight reels: that greatness is not always defined by staying atop the mountain, but summit.
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