2023 Oklahoma Sooners softball team

Last updated

2023 Oklahoma Sooners softball
Oklahoma Sooners logo.svg
Conference Big 12 Conference
Record61–1 (18–0 Big 12)
Head coach
Home stadium OU Softball Complex
Seasons
  2022
2024  
2023 Big 12 Conference softball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L T PCTW L T PCT
No. 1 Oklahoma  y1800 1.0006110 .984
No. 8 Texas  y1170 .61145151 .746
No. 9 Oklahoma State  y1080 .55647160 .746
No. 18 Baylor  y8100 .44440180 .690
Iowa State  6120 .33325300 .455
Kansas  5130 .27825270 .481
Texas Tech  5130 .27831220 .585
Conference champion
Tournament champion
y Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of June 8, 2023 [1]
Rankings from NFCA/USA Today

The 2023 Oklahoma Sooners softball team was an American college softball team that represented the University of Oklahoma during the 2023 NCAA Division I softball season. The Sooners were led by Patty Gasso in her twenty-ninth season, and played their home games at OU Softball Complex. They competed in the Big 12 Conference, where they finished with a 61–1 record, including 18–0 in conference play. The Sooners only loss on the season was during an early season tournament in Waco, Texas, to the Baylor Bears, 3–4.

Contents

The Sooners won the 2023 Big 12 Tournament, and qualified for the 2023 NCAA Division I softball tournament. They advanced to the 2023 Women's College World Series, where they defeated Florida State in two games to win their seventh championship in program history, and third consecutive championship. They became the first team to three-peat since UCLA from 1988 to 1990. [2] [3] The season was also highlighted by setting an NCAA Division I softball-record 53-game winning streak. [4]

Previous season

The Sooners finished the 2022 season 59–3 overall, and 17–1 in the Big 12, finishing in first place in their conference. Following the conclusion of the regular season, the Sooners received an at-large bid to the 2022 NCAA Division I softball tournament, where they were the No. 1 overall seed. During the NCAA tournament they defeated Texas A&M in the regional finals and UCF in the super regionals. They won the 2022 Women's College World Series over Texas. [5]

Offseason

Departures

Oklahoma outgoing transfers
PlayerPositionHeightYearNew teamRef
Turiya ColemanUtility5'7"Freshman Houston [6]
Mackenzie DonihooInfielder5'3"Junior Tennessee [7]

Additions

Oklahoma incoming transfers
PlayerPositionHeightYearPrevious teamRef
Alex Storako Pitcher5'11" Redshirt.svg Redshirt senior Michigan [8]
Haley LeeUtility5'7" Redshirt.svg Redshirt senior Texas A&M
Cydney SandersInfielder5'9"Sophomore Arizona State
Alynah TorresUtility5'9"Senior Arizona State

Preseason

Oklahoma was ranked No. 1 in the nation in the preseason polls by NFCA/USA Today, ESPN.com/USA Softball, D1Softball and Softball America. [9] [10] [11] [12]

Award watch lists

AwardPlayerPositionYearRef
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Jordy Bahl PitcherSophomore [13]
Jayda Coleman OutfielderJunior
Kinzie Hansen CatcherSenior
Tiare Jennings InfielderJunior
Haley LeeUtility Redshirt.svg Redshirt Senior
Grace Lyons Infielder Redshirt.svg Redshirt Senior
Cydney SandersInfielderSophomore
Alex Storako Pitcher Redshirt.svg Redshirt Senior

Roster and personnel

Schedule

2023 Oklahoma Sooners softball game log
Regular season (49–1)
Post-season (12-0)
  •   Win
  •   Loss
  •   Postponement
  • Bold: Sooners team member
  • Reference: [17]
  • Rankings from NFCA:
  • (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
NFCA / USA Today1121111111111111
Softball America1121111111111111
ESPN.com/USA Softball1121111111111111
D1Softball1121111111111111

References

  1. "Big 12 Softball Standings". Big12Sports.com. Big 12 Conference. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  2. Post, J.J. (June 8, 2023). "Oklahoma softball joins elite company with title three-peat". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  3. Auerbach, Nicole (June 8, 2023). "Oklahoma softball wins third consecutive national title: How Sooners cemented a dynasty". The Athletic . Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  4. Brunt, Cliff (June 8, 2023). "Oklahoma wins third straight WCWS title, extends record win streak to 53". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  5. Rohde, John (June 9, 2022). "Back to Back: Sooners Win Sixth National Title". soonersports.com. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  6. Chapman, Ryan (July 3, 2022). "Report: Oklahoma Softball's Turiya Coleman Enters Transfer Portal". SI.com. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  7. Batacao, Jason (June 17, 2022). "OU softball: Mackenzie Donihoo announces transfer to Tennessee". The Oklahoma Daily . Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  8. Aber, Ryan (July 29, 2022). "Chasing third straight WCWS title, OU softball reloads via transfer portal. Here's how the 2023 roster looks". The Oklahoman . Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  9. "USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Preseason)". NFCA.org. National Fastpitch Coaches Association. January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  10. "ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 – Preseason". teamusa.org. USA Softball. January 24, 2023. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  11. "2023 D1Softball Preseason Top 25 Rankings". d1softball.com. D1Softball. January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  12. "2023 NCAA Division I Softball Top 25". softballamerica.com. Baseball America Enterprises. January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  13. "2023 Softball Preseason National Honors". big12sports.com. January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  14. "2023 Softball Roster". soonersports.com. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  15. "2023 Softball Staff". soonersports.com. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  16. "OU at Wichita State Canceled". soonersports.com. April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  17. "2023 Softball Schedule". soonersports.com. Retrieved January 8, 2023.