The Oklahoma softball team will enter the 2020 season ranked No. 3 in the country in both the USA TODAY/NFCA Div. I Coaches Poll and the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Preseason Top 25.
Alabama and Washington hold the top-two spots, respectively, while UCLA and Arizona hold the fourth and fifth spots.
Oklahoma earned their 13th appearance in the Women’s College World Series last season, cruising to a 57-6 record but finishing as the runner-ups to UCLA. It was head coach Patty Gasso’s 25th season with the Sooners.
Oklahoma is returning two first-team All-Americans in pitcher Giselle Juarez and utility Jocelyn Alo. Grace Green, a third-team All-American, is also returning.
This is the 10th-straight year the Sooners have started in the NFCA’s top 10, the nation’s longest active streak.
As it stands, the Sooners will face eight ranked teams. Their top-five matchups include No. 5 Arizona on Feb. 15 and top-ranked Washington in the Mary Nitter Collegiate Classic on Feb. 22.
Oklahoma opens their season on Thursday, Feb. 6 against Nevada in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.