Tag: Oklahoma Sooners Softball

Oklahoma Sooners unveil Patty Gasso statue at Love’s Field

The Oklahoma Sooners enshrined a living legend at Love’s Field on Friday, unveiling the statue of head coach Patty Gasso.

A living legend was enshrined at [autotag]Love’s Field[/autotag] today when the University of Oklahoma unveiled a statue honoring softball coach [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag].

The statue evokes the image of Gasso giving a player a high five as they round third base after hitting a home run. Oklahoma has become synonymous with offense, and she’s handed out a lot of high-fives over the years.

Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso take a picture with players and family during a statue dedication at Love’s Field in Norman, Okla,, Friday, Sept., 13, 2024. SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Gasso is the winner of eight national titles, pushing Oklahoma into a tie for second place after the Sooners completed the only four-peat in college softball history. Seven of the eight national championships have come since 2013, and six since 2016.

Under her guidance, the Sooners won 15 Big 12 regular season titles and led her staff to earn seven NFCA coaching staff of the year awards.

Prior to the spectacular run to the 2024 national title, the Sooners were one of just two teams to accomplish a three-peat, joining the UCLA Bruins, who secured the feat in the sport’s infancy.

Gasso is the winningest active coach in college softball and ranks third all-time in career wins, leading Oklahoma to the pinnacle of the sport over her 30 years at the helm for the Sooners. The NFCA Hall of Fame member has not only been a part of the growth of the OU Softball program, but the sport itself.

University of Oklahoma President Joe Harroz spoke at the unveiling and highlighted Gasso’s remarkable impact on her players, the sport, and those who follow the team, saying, “true greatness is not measured by the number of wins you have. It’s measured by the number of lives you impact. Patty transcends softball. Patty transcends sports.”

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Oklahoma Board of Regents approves historic raise for Patty Gasso

University of Oklahoma Board of Regents voted to increase Patty Gasso and OU Softball assistant salaries for 2025.

Fresh off a fourth straight national title, the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents approved a significant raise for Head Coach Patty Gasso and her assistants Jennifer Rocha and J.T. Gasso.

According to Eric Bailey of the Tulsa World (subscription required), Gasso’s salary for 2024-2025 will be increased to $1.9 million, and next year will increase to $2 million in 2025-2026. According to Colton Sulley of The Oklahoman, the salary has an average annual value of $2 million per year and runs through 2028. Gasso’s last raise came in 2022, a salary bump that paid her $1.775 million a year.

Rocha and J.T. Gasso will see their salaries increase to $300,000 a year per Bailey.

The Sooners keep their corps coaching staff intact as they look to build off of their historic run over the last four years.

https://twitter.com/EricBaileyTW/status/1834666114300911795

Oklahoma underwent its biggest turnover over the last five years, losing a number of stars to eligibility. But they’ve got a good young corps of players to build around as the Sooners enter the SEC.

OU’s SEC schedule was released for next spring. They’ll take on softball powerhouses Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida next spring to extend their record national championship streak.

https://twitter.com/OU_Softball/status/1833944835801448849

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Oklahoma Sooners to unveil Patty Gasso Statue Friday

The University of Oklahoma unveiled plans to unveil a statue of Patty Gasso at Love’s Field this Friday.

The Oklahoma Sooners are set to enshrine one of the greatest college coaches of all time. Announced by Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione at the 2023 national championship celebration, the Sooners will unveil a statue honoring OU Softball [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag].

Gasso is the architect of a softball program that has won eight national championships under her leadership. OU Softball is the only program to win four straight national titles, accomplishing that feat from 2021 through another remarkable run in 2024.

In 31 seasons at Oklahoma, Gasso has the most wins and highest winning percentage of any coach in softball history. Under her direction, Oklahoma Softball has reached the Women’s College World Series 17 times.

Patty Gasso spoke about what it means to her, saying, “It’s really surreal. It’s really, I don’t even know what to say. I mean, I’m honored and humbled, and I was shocked when it was announced. I wasn’t expecting that at all. It’s kind of cool that it’ll be there for a while.”

Gasso has made an indelible imprint on the sport of softball, not just in Oklahoma but around the world. She hasn’t just been an advocate for the game, but an advocate for athletes and their mental health at the collegiate level.

There are few who have had as much of an impact on their sport as Patty Gasso has had on college softball. And her impact will last for generations.

From the University of Oklahoma Athletic Department

 The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department announced Wednesday it will dedicate a statue honoring head softball coach Patty Gasso, on Friday, Sept. 13. It will be the school’s first statue honoring a female coach or athlete.

The ceremony, which will be open to the public, will begin at 4 p.m. in front of Gate 1 at Love’s Field. The public viewing area will be standing room only immediately south of Gate 1, with a free livestream of the event available on SoonerSports.com. Public parking for the dedication is available in the Lloyd Noble Center lot.

Gasso, OU President Joseph Harroz Jr., OU Vice President and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione and an OU Softball alumna will speak at the ceremony. Following the event, photo opportunities at the statue will be available to fans.

The statue was created by master sculptor Brian Hanlon of Hanlon Sculpture Studio.

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Alex Storako returning to OKC Spark for 2025

Alex Storako was a key addition to the 2023 Sooners and will be sticking around Oklahoma City in 2025.

Former Oklahoma Sooners pitcher [autotag]Alex Storako[/autotag] is once again staying close to home to play her professional softball.

Storako was a dynamite [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] addition at OU for head coach [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] for the 2023 season. As the Sooners were on their way to national title No. 3 of the current four-peat, Storako was a big part of bringing the championship home.

In her one year in Norman, Storako was a critical part of the Sooners’ pitching staff, picking up big wins early in the season and getting the start against in the three-peat clincher. She went 18-0 at Oklahoma. In 103.2 innings that season, she recorded 108 strikeouts and had an ERA of 1.15.

After a tremendous year, Storako was the first overall pick by the OKC Spark in the 2023 WPF draft. Now, she’ll be returning to the Spark for the 2025 season, as will OU legend [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] at catcher.

Though she spent just one year at OU, she was beloved by fans as she helped the Sooners to a historic season. Now, those same fans will get to watch her continue her career back in Oklahoma City.

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Kinzie Hansen returning to Oklahoma City Spark in 2025

One of the all-time greats in Sooner softball history will be back on the OKC Spark next season.

Former Oklahoma Sooners softball catcher [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] will be back with the Oklahoma City Spark for the 2025 season, the team announced on Thursday.

Hansen was a member of the most decorated senior class in college softball history, winning four national titles during her time in Norman. Hansen and the Spark had a successful summer as an independent squad, rolling through the competition to a record of 20-7. Hansen had a strong year in her rookie season and will look to build off of that next year.

Hansen played in 243 total games for head coach [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] at OU. She averaged 54.75 games a season and started 49.5 games each of the last four years. In her career, Hansen hit .390 with 60 home runs and 268 RBIs. She was the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

Her flair for the dramatic and her penchant for clutch hits marked her time as a Sooner. Perhaps the biggest hit of her career came against Clemson in the 2023 super regionals, when heavily-favored Oklahoma trailed late against the Tigers. OU had led 4-0 before Clemson rattled off seven unanswered runs. Oklahoma had two on with two out, and down to her final strike, she connected on a pitch and pulled it deep to left field to tie the game. The Sooners would eventually win the game in extras and would and go on to capture title No. 3 of the current [autotag]Women’s College World Series[/autotag] four-peat. She also hit a two-run home run in the Game 1 of the NCAA Softball championship series this past June.

With Hansen staying in OKC, Sooner fans will have plenty of opportunities to see on of the all-time greats continue her incredible career.

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National Player of the Year NiJaree Canady commits to Texas Tech

The Texas Tech Red Raiders picked up a big recruiting win, earning a commitment from National Player of the Year NiJaree Canady.

In a move that creates a seismic shift in the balance of power in the world of college softball, NiJaree Canady has committed to Texas Tech.

The USA Softball National Player of the Year is making the move from Stanford, where she helped lead the Cardinal to back-to-back Women’s College World Series appearances. Now, the Red Raiders become a favorite in the Big 12 and to make it to Oklahoma City next spring with the best pitcher in softball in the circle.

Canady led the nation with 337 strikeouts and a 0.73 ERA and was 24-7 for Stanford. She allowed just 44 walks. She held opponents to a .147 opponent’s batting average and a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 0.69.

In the 2024 WCWS, Canady started five elimination games for Stanford, going 4-1 and allowing just one earned run. The lone loss came in a 1-0 pitcher’s dual vs. Texas.

The Oklahoma Sooners were hoping to bolster their pitching staff with Canady, but ultimately it was Texas Tech and new head coach Gerry Glasco who pulled off the huge recruiting win.

The Sooners will roll with Kierston Deal, Peytn Monticelli, incoming freshman Audrey Lowry, and transfer additions Sam Landry (Louisiana) and Isabella Smith (Campbell).

Deal has shown promise in her first two years in Norman, but hasn’t been relied upon as a frontline starter to this point. She’ll have her chance in 2025 as the Sooners head into the SEC.

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Sooners add former Louisiana pitcher Sam Landry via transfer portal

Patty Gasso continues to add to the Oklahoma Sooners roster in the transfer portal.

The Oklahoma Sooners softball team added their newest member via the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] on Saturday. The second pitcher to join the team this offseason is officially in the boat.

[autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] and the four-time defending champions got a commitment from former Louisiana pitcher Sam Landry. The three-time all-[autotag]Sun Belt[/autotag] honoree announced her decision on social media.

In her career, she’s posted a 2.12 ERA with 63 wins and 460 strikeouts in 460 innings pitched. She entered the transfer portal on June 27.

Landry was an All-Sun Belt first-team selection, Sun Belt Championship All-tournament honoree, and an All-Louisiana first-team selection. She finished top 10 in victories last season with a career-best 24 wins. She led the Ragin’ Cajun pitching staff with 165 strikeouts, and held her opponents to a .219 batting average over 46 appearances and 28 starts.

Landry and fellow transfer [autotag]Isabella Smith[/autotag] will arrive to help the Sooners pitching staff, which includes [autotag]Kierston Deal[/autotag], [autotag]Patyn Monticelli[/autotag] and freshman [autotag]Audrey Lowry[/autotag]. Deal is the most experienced returner the Sooners have on the roster. The Sooners are still awaiting the decision of Player of the Year NiJaree Canady.

Landry is the fifth player Gasso, and the staff has acquired via the portal since winning the national championship last month.

More: Oklahoma Sooners Softball Transfer Portal Tracker

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‘Going into the SEC is just a different animal,’ says Patty Gasso

Head softball coach Patty Gasso explains why the Oklahoma Sooners are excited about their move to the SEC.

It’s realignment time for the Oklahoma Sooners, as the entire athletics program moves from the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] to the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. The move became official at midnight on Monday morning.

For the softball team, that means defending their four-straight national championships from a different conference. But with [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] calling the shots, OU has a better chance than anyone to capture a five-peat.

Gasso joined ESPN’s Paul Finebaum on his show Monday, as the SEC Network celebrated the Sooners’ move to the conference. She remarked on the excitement level of the fans and of her team moving to the SEC.

“Going into the SEC is just a different animal,” Gasso said. “I’m really excited. I think everyone here at Oklahoma is very excited. But we love competition. We never are afraid of it. We face it in the eye and that’s why our team has been so successful and most teams here on campus have as well, so we’re looking forward to it. I know it’s gonna make us better, but I know it’s gonna make this university flourish even more than we have already.”

The softball roster has been under construction since winning the national title last month. A historic group of seniors leaves after four-straight championships. Three players have departed in the transfer portal, while Gasso has replenished the depth chart with new additions, both in [autotag]recruiting[/autotag] and the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag]. But, there’s little doubt that Oklahoma will be stocked with talent to chase the program’s ninth ring in 2025.

Gasso’s comments on “The Paul Finebaum Show” illustrate the competitive nature of both the softball team and the entire athletic program. Sure, the SEC will be more difficult (especially for football). But, the resources and prestige of the conference, along with that elite competition that the SEC offers, will help improve OU Athletics in the short, medium and long-term.

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Tiare Jennings signs with the Oklahoma City Spark

Tiare Jennings is the latest Oklahoma great to sign with the Oklahoma City Spark.

The Oklahoma City Spark added another Sooner superstar to their lineup. Already boasting a squad that features former OU greats [autotag]Keilani Ricketts[/autotag], [autotag]Jocelyn Alo[/autotag], [autotag]Alex Storako[/autotag], [autotag]Haley Lee[/autotag], [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag], Kinzie Hansen, Rylie Boone, and [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag], the Spark have added one of the best to ever play the game, [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag].

Jennings won four national championships with the Sooners. In 2024, she made the move to shortstop and hit .370 with 25 home runs and 69 RBIs. It was her third season with Oklahoma that she hit more than 20 home runs in a season and finished third all-time in NCAA history in home runs with 98 homers in her career.

The Spark will welcome the Chatanooga Steam for three games at Devon Park starting Tuesday night before hosting the New York Rise for a three-game series starting Friday night in Oklahoma City.

For their full schedule or for ticketing, go to OKCSpark.com.

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Sooners, Longhorns greats talk about move to SEC

With the move to the SEC official, the conference released a video with Sooners and Longhorns legends like Bob Stoops, Patty Gasso, and Baker Mayfield talking about the move.

It’s a great day to be a Sooner as the University of Oklahoma makes the official move to the Southeastern Conference. Joining the SEC doesn’t simply have football ramifications as the conference boasts some of the best programs in the country in softball, baseball, track and field, women’s gymnastics, and women’s basketball.

Oklahoma and Texas are leveling up with the move.

Over at the SEC Network, Sooners and Longhorns legends like [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag], [autotag]Blake Griffin[/autotag], T.J. Ford, [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag], [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag], Colt McCoy and more discussed what it means for the Red River Rivals to join the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

Stoops spoke about the pageantry of the University of Oklahoma in addition to the excellence of the program that makes it a fantastic fit for its new home. Gameday in Norman will match that of some of the best programs in the SEC. And with 50 conference titles, seven national championships, and seven Heisman winners, the success of the football program and the athletic department as a whole makes the SEC better.

Oklahoma’s softball and women’s gymnastics programs are the best in the nation. They head to a conference that is arguably the deepest for their respective sports.

The University of Oklahoma is venturing into a whole new world, but it’s a world that better fits what OU has accomplished in their history as an athletics program.

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