Oklahoma’s Kelly Maxwell has been named the 2024 WCWS Most Outstanding Player after closing out a national championship for the Sooners.
Patty Gasso’s Oklahoma softball team is well-prepared for the transition to the SEC, having clinched their fourth consecutive national title in her final month coaching in the Big 12.
With a sweep of the Texas Longhorns, the team secured its eighth national championship, seven of which have been won since 2013.
Despite losing ten seniors and three players transferring out, Gasso has signed eight promising freshmen and filled most of the roster gaps.
The debut of Love’s Field in 2024 was highly successful, setting the stage for potentially securing top recruit NiJaree Canady, the 2024 USA Softball Player of the Year.
Gasso expressed excitement about coaching a new team, noting that her departing seniors had developed a strong self-coaching dynamic.
If Oklahoma secures Canady, they could significantly challenge the established SEC softball powerhouses.
Although the SEC boasts competitive depth with every team making the NCAA Tournament in 2024, it hasn’t seen the same dominance at the top as in SEC baseball.
Notably, no SEC team has reached the Women’s College World Series Championship Series since 2017, when Florida lost to Oklahoma.
In recent years, Oklahoma has performed exceptionally well against SEC teams, boasting a 22-2 record over the past four seasons.
Despite upcoming challenges against formidable SEC opponents like Ole Miss and South Carolina, Oklahoma’s strong fan support and formidable home field advantage at Love’s Field should bolster their confidence.
As they navigate their second year in the SEC, Gasso expects her team, led by returning stars and impactful freshmen like Ella Parker and Kasidi Pickering, to continue their winning tradition.
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