Lena Girardi, the daughter of legendary MLB player Joe Girardi, has committed to the Oklahoma State women's basketball team. Lena, a four-star recruit with a 92 scouts grade, per ESPN, announced her pledge on Friday.
The 6-foot shooting guard had plenty of offers, including Arizona, Virginia Tech, Northwestern and North Carolina, according to On3, but chose the Cowgirls. Girardi posted a video on X detailing her move to OSU.
Before becoming the first commit for Oklahoma State in 2025, Girardi played for Westminster Academy in Florida. The Bradenton native averaged an impressive 23.3 points, 12.8 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game, earning her the Broward County 4A/2A Player of the Year title.
Her father, Joe Girardi, played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1989 to 2003, winning three World Series championships with the New York Yankees. He spent 14 seasons as a manager in the league, guiding the Yankees to a World Series win in 2009.
Why did Lena Girardi pick Oklahoma State?
Lena Girardi made her official visit to Okalahoma State during its football team's season opener on Aug. 31 to connect with the staff. The Cowboys were up against South Dakota State over the Labor Day weekend.
The Florida-based guard said it was the connection with Cowgirls coach Jaice Hoyt that caught her attention.
"The connection that I had with Jacie, and just the way that she believed in me and her vision for me, was really a big thing for me… The way that she came after me, and everything she did to show me that she wants me," Girardi said.
"We just connected right away. We would get on the phone and talk for an hour and we would talk about the most random stuff. It just really felt like we had an amazing connection."
With their first commit of the new season in Lena Girardi, the Cowgirls have also hosted some top talent last month. These include Arkansas' five-star recruit Erianna Gooden and Norman's Keeley Parks.
Oklahoma State finished in the second spot in the B-12 Conference with a 10-4 overall and 7-2 conference record. However, in the NCAA Tournament, the Cowgirls entered as a No. 8 seed and lost in the first round against Miami.
Jacie Hoyt is entering her third season as the Cowgirls' coach as they begin the new season on Tuesday, Oct. 29, against Southern Nazarene.
How will Lena Girardi and OSU perform in the upcoming season? Let us know in the comments section below!