Keilani Ricketts

Keilani Ricketts is a 6-foot-2 professional softball pitcher from San Jose, California. She was acquired in the 6th Round of the 2025 Inaugural Draft following a collegiate career at Oklahoma.

Personal Life

Hobbies: Enjoys being outdoors with her daughter, going to farmers' markets, seasonal festivals and food trucks, and playing basketball.

Background: Completed her second season as an assistant coach at the University of the Pacific in 2026, after leading Mid-America Christian to a 37-17 record and an NAIA National Tournament berth in 2024. Calls being a mom and continuing to play professional softball her proudest accomplishments.

Family: Youngest of four children. Her sister, Samantha, was an All-American at Oklahoma and is head coach at Mississippi State; her sister, Stephanie, was an All-American at Hawaii; and her brother, Richard, played football at Air Force. Married her husband, Sean, in 2017, and has a daughter, Elizabeth.

Professional Experience

Athletes Unlimited Softball League (2024–)

2026 AUSL All-Star Cup: Collected 536 leaderboard points, going 2-2 as a captain and earning MVP 3 honors against Team Corrick.

2026 AUSL Regular Season (Carolina Blaze): Ricketts made 17 appearances in the circle, including three starts, setting the new league record for appearances in a season. She tied for first in the league with eight games finished and ranked second in the circuit with 14 relief appearances. She posted a 3.88 earned run average, good for seventh in the AUSL, while compiling a 2-6 record with one save. She tallied 26 strikeouts over 39.2 innings and held opponents to a .293 batting average, ranking eighth in the league. Ricketts opened the season by recording a save against Portland on June 9, allowing one hit over 3.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts in a 4-1 victory. She secured a win in relief against Oklahoma City on June 29, scattering three hits over 4.0 scoreless innings with one strikeout. On July 3, at Utah, she logged a season-high four strikeouts across 4.0 innings, giving up one earned run on three hits in a 4-2 triumph. She closed out the season by throwing a season-high 5.0 innings against Chicago on July 15, allowing two unearned runs on six hits with two strikeouts.

2025 AUSL All-Star Cup: Earned her first AU medal after placing third with 1,184 leaderboard points. Second in the circuit with a 1.56 ERA and a 2-0 record over 27.0 innings.

2025 AUSL Regular Season (Blaze): Ranked eighth in the AUSL with a 4.20 ERA, posting a 1-3 record with two saves and 26 strikeouts.

2024 AUX Season: Secured 856 leaderboard points with 11 strikeouts over 20.1 innings.

Other Professional Experience (2013–2023)

WPF & NPF: Competed for the Oklahoma City Spark in 2023 (5-3, 3.03 ERA). No. 4 overall pick in the 2013 NPF Draft by the USSSA Pride, compiling a 41-24 record from 2013-18.

Japan Softball League: Played for Toyota Industries Shokki from 2013-18.

International Experience

Team USA: Won Gold medals at the 2011 and 2019 Pan American Games, the 2018 WBSC Women's World Championship and the 2019 Japan Cup, along with Silver at the 2012 World Championship. Helped the U.S. Elite Team earn Bronze at the 2026 International Cup.

College Experience: Oklahoma (2010–2013)

Career Statistics: Compiled a 133-35 record with a 1.26 ERA. Holds Oklahoma career pitching records for wins (133), strikeouts (1,605), shutouts (54), and complete games (123). Also hit 50 career home runs with a .503 on-base percentage.

Senior Year (2013): Authored a 35-1 record with a 1.23 ERA and 350 strikeouts. Named WCWS Most Outstanding Player.

Junior Year (2012): Posted 37 victories with a 1.08 ERA and 457 strikeouts.

Awards & Honors

National Honors: Two-time USA Softball Player of the Year (2012, 2013) and the first Oklahoma student-athlete to win the Honda Cup (2013).

All-America: Four-time NFCA All-America selection (First-Team from 2011-13).

Conference Honors: 2012 Big 12 Player of the Year and 2013 Big 12 Pitcher of the Year.