2023 Oklahoma Sooners softball team

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.

2023 Oklahoma Sooners softball
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Record61–1 (18–0 Big 12)
Head coach
Home stadiumOU Softball Complex
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Big 12 Conference softball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T   PCT W   L   T   PCT
No. 1 Oklahoma  ‍y 18 0 0   1.000 61 1 0   .984
No. 8 Texas  ‍‍‍y 11 7 0   .611 45 15 1   .746
No. 9 Oklahoma State  ‍‍‍y 10 8 0   .556 47 16 0   .746
No. 18 Baylor  ‍‍‍y 8 10 0   .444 40 18 0   .690
Iowa State  ‍‍‍ 6 12 0   .333 25 30 0   .455
Kansas  ‍‍‍ 5 13 0   .278 25 27 0   .481
Texas Tech  ‍‍‍ 5 13 0   .278 31 22 0   .585
† – Conference champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of June 8, 2023[1]
Rankings from NFCA/USA Today

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

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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

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Departures

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Oklahoma outgoing transfers
Player Position Height Year New team Ref
Turiya Coleman Utility 5'7" Freshman Houston [6]
Mackenzie Donihoo Infielder 5'3" Junior Tennessee [7]

Additions

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Oklahoma incoming transfers
Player Position Height Year Previous team Ref
Alex Storako Pitcher 5'11"   Redshirt senior Michigan [8]
Haley Lee Utility 5'7"   Redshirt senior Texas A&M
Cydney Sanders Infielder 5'9" Sophomore Arizona State
Alynah Torres Utility 5'9" Senior Arizona State

Preseason

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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

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Award Player Position Year Ref
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Jordy Bahl Pitcher Sophomore [13]
Jayda Coleman Outfielder Junior
Kinzie Hansen Catcher Senior
Tiare Jennings Infielder Junior
Haley Lee Utility   Redshirt Senior
Grace Lyons Infielder   Redshirt Senior
Cydney Sanders Infielder Sophomore
Alex Storako Pitcher   Redshirt Senior

Roster and personnel

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Schedule

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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

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

References

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  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.