Oklahoma makes history at Women’s College World Series with fourth straight championship (2024)

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Sooners have claimed the first four-peat in Women’s College World Series history.

It was the No. 1 Texas Longhorns versus the No. 2 Sooners for the title, but the defending champs never felt like much of an underdog. Oklahoma swept the championship series 8-3 in Game 1 and 8-4 in Game 2.

The Sooners went through nearly their entire pitching staff Thursday night, but that appeared mostly intentional. In a bit of a surprising move, coach Patty Gasso gave graduate student Karlie Keeney the start — just her fifth this season — and she pitched 2 2/3 innings while allowing four hits and two runs.

Texas scored first with an RBI single by Kayden Henry in the second inning before sophom*ore Paytn Monticelli came in as relief. Monticelli hadn’t pitched since March 9 — and entered with the bases loaded and two outs — but escaped the inning with a ground out. Kierston Deal pitched one inning followed by Nicole May (1 2/3 innings, one hit, one run, four Ks) before ace Kelly Maxwell closed out the win (1 1/3 innings, one hit, one K).

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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Fans in the outfield turned their gaze toward left field as Oklahoma’s Kelly Maxwell jogged out of the bullpen. The Sooners were four outs away from a national championship, and Maxwell’s entrance was met with enthusiasm and a collective deep breath.

The Sooners already felt in control of their fate, but coach Patty Gasso was putting in her ace to close this championship series against No. 1 Texas. Maxwell, later named the Women’s College World Series most outstanding player, did just that, clinching the Sooners’ 8-4 win to sweep the championship series and make Oklahoma the first team to four-peat as national champions in college softball history.

Oklahoma is familiar with this stage, but the players and Gasso are sure to point to the challenges that come with reaching this level of success again, and again, and again. This season especially, the pressure mounted, senior outfielder Jayda Coleman said.

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Oklahoma won its eighth softball national title. Where does that rank all time?

12 — UCLA (2019, 2010, 2004, 2003, 1999, 1992, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1985, 1984, 1982)

8 — Oklahoma (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2017, 2016, 2013, 2000)

8 — Arizona (2007, 2006, 2001, 1997, 1996, 1994, 1993, 1991)

2 (tied) — Florida (2015, 2014); Arizona State (2011, 2008); Texas A&M (1983, 1987)

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT!!!! The Oklahoma Sooners are the 2024 national champions, taking down the No. 1 seed Texas to secure their fourth straight title, the first time such a feat has ever been accomplished in college softball. These Sooners seniors, led by Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings, have only ever ended their seasons with championships, and what a way to end their careers.

This Oklahoma squad is monumental, legendary, epic and any other positive adjective you can think of. Just absolutely DOMINANT, along with coach Patty Gasso, who just nabbed her eighth career national title at the helm of the Sooners' program.

I truly don't know where some of these pitches are missing for the Longhorns pitchers. Reese Atwood held that last pitch from Citlaly Gutierrez up a little long for lasting effect as a note to the umpire, but it certainly doesn't help things for Texas.

That was such a weird, wild, and honestly, detrimental baserunning situation from Mia Scott. After rolling over on an inside pitch with a bouncing grounder to second baseman Avery Hodge, who then bobbled the ball to allow one Longhorns runner to score, Scott turned left toward second base rather than simply returning to first. I assume her intention was to get into a rundown and hopefully stay in it long enough for Ashton Maloney to score and tie the game, but she simply did not get off far enough to make the rundown even begin, so defensive sub Maya Bland and Avery Hodge were able to tag her out.

The tying run was stranded with the heart of the Longhorns order coming to the plate.

This is a massive at-bat for Bella Dayton and the Longhorns right now with runners on second and third and one out. With the strike zone being hard to read at the moment, these batters really have to pick a pitch and hunt it so they can make some hard contact in a gap somewhere.

Nicole May just fooled Bella Dayton with FOUR changeups in a row. Absolutely nasty.

I'd imagine that if the score remains the same, Texas will turn to Teagan Kavan in the circle soon. While she struggled against Oklahoma last night in Game 1, she has been the ace throughout the entire WCWS, so it'd make sense if Mike White wants to try to cut down Oklahoma as much as possible in order to maintain the possibility of a comeback.

But if Citlaly Gutierrez keeps throwing offspeed pitches like the one she just threw to the red-hot Ella Parker, the Longhorns should be in a good spot to cut into this two-run deficit.

The Longhorns looked absolutely fooled by Nicole May right now. I suppose Oklahoma's plan all along was to come back with a lead eventually, relying on the offense to put it in a good enough spot to then bring in May to close things down. Considering she hasn't allowed a run in relief appearances in the last two years, I'd say that's some elite game planning and even better execution by the Sooners.