Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso expressed her pride in her team despite their early exit from the Women’s College World Series. The Sooners, who had won four consecutive national championships, were eliminated by Texas Tech.
Praise for Texas Tech and Team Resilience
Gasso praised Texas Tech for earning its victory and commended her team for showing great resilience throughout the season. She emphasized the importance of identity beyond championships, stating,
"Who they are first… What they do second."
The Sooners’ elimination marked their earliest exit since 2018. However, Gasso reflected on what she called one of her most enjoyable years as a coach.
"I think it’s been a joyous ride… we’re standing at the World Series as one of top three teams left with a team of 14 newcomers," she said during an emotional moment after Oklahoma’s loss to Texas Tech.
Gratitude Towards Players
Gasso expressed gratitude to her players, sharing her feelings in the locker room after their loss:
- "I just shared with them how much fun I had coaching them."
- "Watching them grow."
Looking Ahead
The Sooners will now look to regroup for next season, which is expected to be another competitive year in college softball. Other teams still vying for the NCAA Championship title include Alabama and LSU, who both fell via sweep to Georgia and Ole Miss respectively over the weekend. UConn is among only two programs besides Oklahoma that have appeared multiple times among the remaining semifinalists currently competing for the title.
Oklahoma’s Championship History
Oklahoma has made six appearances in championship series play since 1997, including five trips to the title round under Gasso’s leadership starting in 2000. The program also appeared twice more between those eras: once finishing runner-up to Washington State and another time falling short against Florida State.
As for what lies ahead, only time will tell how far these remaining teams can go before crowning another champion on June 4th.
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