You are capable, strong and beautiful.
That’s the message I want women and girls of all ages to know. And that’s the message I strive to share through my professional work and personal platform.
As a student-athlete at the University of Oklahoma, I began to realize the power I had to impact others. Now it’s my personal goal to push women forward and continue to bridge the gap between women and men in sports.
Let’s back up to the start of my OU journey.
That’s the message I want women and girls of all ages to know. And that’s the message I strive to share through my professional work and personal platform.
As a student-athlete at the University of Oklahoma, I began to realize the power I had to impact others. Now it’s my personal goal to push women forward and continue to bridge the gap between women and men in sports.
Let’s back up to the start of my OU journey.
I grew up in Orange County, California, and the then-Pac-10 was winning all of the NCAA softball championships and had so many competitive teams. I was kind of set on staying on the West Coast. Honestly, I never even filled a recruiting questionnaire for OU, but even so, I decided to come on a campus visit and see how I felt. It ended up being the total cliché “see-myself-there, have-to-be-there moment” that people talk about. I never knew that was a real thing, but it totally happened to me.
Now, looking back on those years, I see that my OU experience was storybook. Pretty much everything that I wanted to do, I felt like I did. Everyone that I met, I felt like they had a lasting impact or that I was supposed to meet them for a reason. I have no regrets from my experience as a Sooner. I feel like I got the full show and was living in a fairy tale. I had the best four years of my life at OU.
Now, looking back on those years, I see that my OU experience was storybook. Pretty much everything that I wanted to do, I felt like I did. Everyone that I met, I felt like they had a lasting impact or that I was supposed to meet them for a reason. I have no regrets from my experience as a Sooner. I feel like I got the full show and was living in a fairy tale. I had the best four years of my life at OU.
I credit so much to Coach Gasso and playing under her; not just her impact on me as a player but also as a person. She is a softball coach but really so much more to me. Seeing her navigate her life and how she handled various situations like business, contracts and overall interactions with different people was so beneficial. She demands respect and doesn’t stop until she gets it. Watching Coach Gasso lead her life impacted me beyond measure.
When I am doing things in life now outside of the field, especially just having retired, I think of her and how she would always say, “Woman Up.” That was when there were people across the field, you just had to be better than them. There had to be such a clear difference in how you carried yourself, how you walked, how you talked, how you went about your business. I still take the valuable lessons she taught us into business and my next adventures, and it has shaped who I am today.
I am realizing this impact even more now.
Back then I knew the impact, but each day that I am away from OU and each day that I am figuring out my big-girl life I am seeing what I learned at OU coming into play.
Even though I was the person who always said I’d never stay after college, I’ve made my home in Oklahoma. When I graduated in 2015, I did move back to California for about a year, but I felt disconnected and a little lonely, and the prices were outrageous. It was one of those things where I said Oklahoma City just made sense for someone my age – business wise and personally because all my friends were here. I ended up moving back and the biggest reason is the family aspect of Oklahoma. Being a student-athlete at OU has led to so many good friendships and connections.
There is a big difference between other places and Oklahoma, being that Oklahoma is there for you. I really, truly feel like a daughter of Oklahoma – and I know that is funny saying that. I have no family here, and people ask me about being away from my family. It does get difficult sometimes, but I seriously feel like Oklahoma is this extended family. I know if I ever needed anything done, they would do it for me. I know I have people here for me, and Oklahoma has just a special place in my heart. I don’t think I could leave yet.
When I am doing things in life now outside of the field, especially just having retired, I think of her and how she would always say, “Woman Up.” That was when there were people across the field, you just had to be better than them. There had to be such a clear difference in how you carried yourself, how you walked, how you talked, how you went about your business. I still take the valuable lessons she taught us into business and my next adventures, and it has shaped who I am today.
I am realizing this impact even more now.
Back then I knew the impact, but each day that I am away from OU and each day that I am figuring out my big-girl life I am seeing what I learned at OU coming into play.
Even though I was the person who always said I’d never stay after college, I’ve made my home in Oklahoma. When I graduated in 2015, I did move back to California for about a year, but I felt disconnected and a little lonely, and the prices were outrageous. It was one of those things where I said Oklahoma City just made sense for someone my age – business wise and personally because all my friends were here. I ended up moving back and the biggest reason is the family aspect of Oklahoma. Being a student-athlete at OU has led to so many good friendships and connections.
There is a big difference between other places and Oklahoma, being that Oklahoma is there for you. I really, truly feel like a daughter of Oklahoma – and I know that is funny saying that. I have no family here, and people ask me about being away from my family. It does get difficult sometimes, but I seriously feel like Oklahoma is this extended family. I know if I ever needed anything done, they would do it for me. I know I have people here for me, and Oklahoma has just a special place in my heart. I don’t think I could leave yet.
Retiring last year was a tough decision. It was for medical reasons and not something I wanted to do yet. Long story short, I had a few surgeries that resulted in complications that put me at risk if I tried to continue playing. I ended up needing a fusion, and being 26 years old at the time, I was not ready to have one or even begin that process with my back. It was one of those decisions to make regarding my future, the bigger picture around my health and how my back would be when I would be 35 or 40. It weighed a lot on my mental health even more so than my physical health. It has actually been a huge relief to stop training as hard because of the impact I was putting on my back swinging every day. It definitely took care of the physical pain, but the mental side was very difficult to navigate.
Since I was 8 years old, everything about my life has revolved around being able to play softball. Walking away from that physical part has made it different now, and I have to find something else to revolve around. There has to be a clear focus, but I am still figuring things out that way and have given myself a lot of grace mentally to navigate this uncharted territory I am in right now. It has been fun to figure out what else I am passionate about and finding how else to impact the softball community on the other side of playing.
One way I’ve stayed involved with the sport I love is by being a sharer. My motto is to learn and to share, and I have had the unique ability to be able to connect with my fans, especially through social media. I really want to share everything that I have learned and hopefully be an asset for these girls coming up to maybe tell them, “Hey, try it this way” or “I tried this way and it didn’t work. Maybe do it this way?” Or something like “Here is what to expect…” Really I just want to be a resource because it makes me still feel connected as I try to be a valuable tool for them.
Since I was 8 years old, everything about my life has revolved around being able to play softball. Walking away from that physical part has made it different now, and I have to find something else to revolve around. There has to be a clear focus, but I am still figuring things out that way and have given myself a lot of grace mentally to navigate this uncharted territory I am in right now. It has been fun to figure out what else I am passionate about and finding how else to impact the softball community on the other side of playing.
One way I’ve stayed involved with the sport I love is by being a sharer. My motto is to learn and to share, and I have had the unique ability to be able to connect with my fans, especially through social media. I really want to share everything that I have learned and hopefully be an asset for these girls coming up to maybe tell them, “Hey, try it this way” or “I tried this way and it didn’t work. Maybe do it this way?” Or something like “Here is what to expect…” Really I just want to be a resource because it makes me still feel connected as I try to be a valuable tool for them.
Professionally, I own Lauren Chamberlain, LLC, an umbrella company that oversees my camps, clinics, events and speaking engagements. I have a performance facility in Edmond, Oklahoma, where I see more than 40 girls a week and focus on specific hitting training, the offensive side of the game with some mental training added in as well. I’m thankful I didn’t have to take a different path because I am happy to still be involved with the sport of softball and can’t imagine if I had to completely leave the game.
This professional journey has grown to an even bigger stage now with Major League Baseball. Recently, I was hired to be an MLB youth ambassador. This group is designed to be a recognizable face to continue to push the sports of softball and baseball by attending Play Ball events or others that involve kids.
This professional journey has grown to an even bigger stage now with Major League Baseball. Recently, I was hired to be an MLB youth ambassador. This group is designed to be a recognizable face to continue to push the sports of softball and baseball by attending Play Ball events or others that involve kids.
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Then starting today, the first episode of my show for MLB called “STACK’d” is available to stream. This is the league’s first high-level production series on YouTube, and I am looking forward to exploring the hosting side of the sport. It’s an interview style show where I talk to high-profile MLB players in a relaxed, game setting. The episodes will start with some funny questions like “Do you believe in aliens?” or tasks like making players sing their walk-out songs as a way to loosen them up before moving into more serious questions.
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Given my softball history and what I have been able to accomplish, it makes the guys more open to talking to me. Before the interviews that I have done so far, I would tell the players that I played professional softball. Then I found out that some of them even knew who I was, which was cool. It has been fun to have really good, productive baseball, softball, bat-and-ball sport conversations.
We had a player there for 45 minutes, and at the 30-minute mark we said, “Hey you’ve been here for 30 minutes, your required time is done, you can stay if you want but you don’t have to.” He responded, “Nah dude, I am staying!” It has been very enjoyable, and I cannot wait to see what happens with it.
We had a player there for 45 minutes, and at the 30-minute mark we said, “Hey you’ve been here for 30 minutes, your required time is done, you can stay if you want but you don’t have to.” He responded, “Nah dude, I am staying!” It has been very enjoyable, and I cannot wait to see what happens with it.
With every professional step I take, I want to continue to bridge the gap between men and women in sports. There are so many things our sport still needs, so I want to just continue being an advocate for current and future softball players.
It’s been incredible watching the sport of softball grow over the last few years. I am especially grateful I had a front row seat to see it grow as we went to the Women’s College World Series three out of my four years at OU. It was exciting to see how many people turned up in Oklahoma City and Hall of Fame Stadium, and to see the renovations that are happening right now. We are also talking about the expansion of the OU softball facility, which absolutely needs to happen for how hot our sport is. I think if we continue to do the right things, market our players, try to get our professional league on a steady roll and continue to get the support of the other people around us, we can really see our beautiful sport grow.
It’s been incredible watching the sport of softball grow over the last few years. I am especially grateful I had a front row seat to see it grow as we went to the Women’s College World Series three out of my four years at OU. It was exciting to see how many people turned up in Oklahoma City and Hall of Fame Stadium, and to see the renovations that are happening right now. We are also talking about the expansion of the OU softball facility, which absolutely needs to happen for how hot our sport is. I think if we continue to do the right things, market our players, try to get our professional league on a steady roll and continue to get the support of the other people around us, we can really see our beautiful sport grow.
The respect we are getting now and the traction that softball is gaining should have happened a long time ago. But now, seeing a big entity like MLB hop on the phone with us and ask us about the state of softball to see where our professional league is and check on the sport right now is so huge.
We need everyone behind us, including men. So, when the sport of softball is backed by MLB, just like the WNBA is backed by the NBA, that comes with sponsorship dollars and TV rights and different things to get our sport out there. The more our sport is recognized and respected and in conversations, the more we can continue to push our sport forward.
We need everyone behind us, including men. So, when the sport of softball is backed by MLB, just like the WNBA is backed by the NBA, that comes with sponsorship dollars and TV rights and different things to get our sport out there. The more our sport is recognized and respected and in conversations, the more we can continue to push our sport forward.
So many things in my life and experiences have shaped me into this confident woman. I truly feel unstoppable at times. One of these key experiences happened when I was asked to be in ESPN’s Body Issue in 2018. Every time the Body Issue came out, I was in awe of all of the athletes. I swore to myself if I ever got the opportunity, I would say yes. That was just in dreaming mode, but I remember telling my agent and some family members that it was a goal and it was going to happen. The following year I got the call asking if I would be interested. I was told I would be in the 10th edition and then I thought, “Holy crud, it’s actually happening. I get to do this.”
It was the most beautiful process, but it’s a little controversial because obviously you are naked and so many people just don’t understand it. To me, you are highlighting the female athlete’s body and just women in general. It shows fluidity and how your body moves when you are playing the sport that has brought so much joy in your own life.
It was an incredible experience and when it went out and went live, I found myself looking at the comments and what people were saying. The positive just out outweighed the negative times a thousand. I was so happy about the outcome and the conversations it created and enjoyed reading stories that people were sharing about their own struggles with their bodies and how empowering this made them feel. I knew I made the right decisions after I saw how many people were affected by it.
When I see young girls growing up or women who are struggling, it’s almost like a, “Hey, I am struggling too, but we can kick ass.” We are really capable of so many things, and I want women and girls to realize their potential and just how beautiful, strong and capable they are of doing anything. Doing anything to push the female force forward is truly what drives me.
Looking back at my life and accomplishments so far, I never thought it would be like this. The feeling is indescribable. I was hoping to make an impact at OU, but I really truly realized my power by going through OU. When I came out on the other side, I realized I could really do some cool and impactful things.
Now I just want to continue what started at OU, the opportunity and the stage that OU gave me and just carrying it out through the rest of my life.
It was the most beautiful process, but it’s a little controversial because obviously you are naked and so many people just don’t understand it. To me, you are highlighting the female athlete’s body and just women in general. It shows fluidity and how your body moves when you are playing the sport that has brought so much joy in your own life.
It was an incredible experience and when it went out and went live, I found myself looking at the comments and what people were saying. The positive just out outweighed the negative times a thousand. I was so happy about the outcome and the conversations it created and enjoyed reading stories that people were sharing about their own struggles with their bodies and how empowering this made them feel. I knew I made the right decisions after I saw how many people were affected by it.
When I see young girls growing up or women who are struggling, it’s almost like a, “Hey, I am struggling too, but we can kick ass.” We are really capable of so many things, and I want women and girls to realize their potential and just how beautiful, strong and capable they are of doing anything. Doing anything to push the female force forward is truly what drives me.
Looking back at my life and accomplishments so far, I never thought it would be like this. The feeling is indescribable. I was hoping to make an impact at OU, but I really truly realized my power by going through OU. When I came out on the other side, I realized I could really do some cool and impactful things.
Now I just want to continue what started at OU, the opportunity and the stage that OU gave me and just carrying it out through the rest of my life.
