2023 Oklahoma Sooners softball team explained

Sport:softball
Year:2023
Team:Oklahoma Sooners
Conference:Big 12 Conference
Short Conf:Big 12
Record:61–1
Conf Record:18–0
Head Coach:Patty Gasso
Hc Year:29th
Stadium:OU Softball Complex
Champion:National Champion
NCAA Norman Super Regional champion
NCAA Norman Regional champion
Big 12 regular season and tournament champion

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.

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.[1] [2] The season was also highlighted by setting an NCAA Division I softball-record 53-game winning streak.[3]

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.[4]

Offseason

Departures

Oklahoma outgoing transfers
+PlayerPositionHeightYearNew teamRef
Turiya ColemanUtility5'7"FreshmanHouston[5]
Mackenzie DonihooInfielder5'3"JuniorTennessee[6]

Additions

Oklahoma incoming transfers
+PlayerPositionHeightYearPrevious teamRef
Alex StorakoPitcher5'11" Redshirt seniorMichigan[7]
Haley LeeUtility5'7" Redshirt seniorTexas A&M
Cydney SandersInfielder5'9"SophomoreArizona State
Alynah TorresUtility5'9"SeniorArizona 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.[8] [9] [10] [11]

Award watch lists

Award! style="text-align:center;
PlayerPositionYearRef
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the YearJordy BahlPitcherSophomore[12]
Jayda ColemanOutfielderJunior
Kinzie HansenCatcherSenior
Tiare JenningsInfielderJunior
Haley LeeUtility Redshirt Senior
Grace LyonsInfielder Redshirt Senior
Cydney SandersInfielderSophomore
Alex StorakoPitcher Redshirt Senior

Roster and personnel

2023 Oklahoma Sooners roster
 Pitchers
  • 8 – Alex StorakoRedshirt Senior
  • 11 – Kierston Deal – Freshman
  • 19 – Nicole May – Junior
  • 85 – SJ Geurin – Freshman
  • 98 – Jordy BahlSophomore

Catchers

Outfielders

  • 0 – Rylie Boone – Senior
  • 24 – Jayda ColemanJunior
  • 27 – Hannah Coor – Sophomore
 Infielders
  • 1 – Cydney Sanders – Sophomore
  • 3 – Grace LyonsRedshirt Senior
  • 23 – Tiare JenningsJunior
  • 82 – Avery Hodge – Freshman

Utility

  • 7 – Jocelyn Erickson – Freshman
  • 17 – Sophia Nugent – Sophomore
  • 21 – Grace Green – Redshirt Senior
  • 33 – Alyssa BritoJunior
  • 40 – Alynah Torres – Senior
  • 43 – Quincee Lilio – Redshirt Freshman
  • 45 – Haley Lee – Redshirt Senior
 
Reference:[13]
2023 Oklahoma Sooners coaching staff
  • Patty Gasso – Head coach
  • Jennifer Rocha – Assistant head coach
  • JT Gasso – Assistant coach
  • Hannah Sparks – Volunteer assistant
  • Ryan Wondrasek – Director of player development
  • Hope Trautwein – Graduate assistant
  • Lauren Foster – Graduate assistant
Reference:[14]

Schedule

2023 Oklahoma Sooners softball game log
Regular season (49–1)
Post-season (12-0)

Rankings

See main article: 2023 NCAA Division I softball rankings.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Oklahoma softball joins elite company with title three-peat . ESPN.com . J.J. . Post . June 8, 2023 . June 8, 2023.
  2. Web site: Oklahoma softball wins third consecutive national title: How Sooners cemented a dynasty . . Nicole . Auerbach . June 8, 2023 . June 8, 2023.
  3. Web site: Oklahoma wins third straight WCWS title, extends record win streak to 53 . . Cliff . Brunt . June 8, 2023 . June 8, 2023.
  4. Web site: Back to Back: Sooners Win Sixth National Title . soonersports.com . John . Rohde . June 9, 2022 . January 8, 2023.
  5. Web site: Report: Oklahoma Softball's Turiya Coleman Enters Transfer Portal . SI.com . Ryan . Chapman . July 3, 2022 . January 10, 2023.
  6. Web site: OU softball: Mackenzie Donihoo announces transfer to Tennessee . . Jason . Batacao . June 17, 2022 . January 10, 2023.
  7. Web site: Chasing third straight WCWS title, OU softball reloads via transfer portal. Here's how the 2023 roster looks. . . Ryan . Aber . July 29, 2022 . January 10, 2023.
  8. Web site: USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Preseason) . January 31, 2023 . January 23, 2023 . NFCA.org . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  9. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 – Preseason . https://web.archive.org/web/20230124160558/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls . dead . January 24, 2023 . teamusa.org . USA Softball . January 24, 2023 . January 24, 2023.
  10. Web site: 2023 D1Softball Preseason Top 25 Rankings . d1softball.com . D1Softball . January 17, 2023 . January 18, 2023.
  11. Web site: 2023 NCAA Division I Softball Top 25 . softballamerica.com . Baseball America Enterprises . January 24, 2023 . January 24, 2023.
  12. Web site: 2023 Softball Preseason National Honors . big12sports.com . January 25, 2023 . January 25, 2023.
  13. Web site: 2023 Softball Roster. soonersports.com . January 8, 2023.
  14. Web site: 2023 Softball Staff . soonersports.com . January 8, 2023.
  15. Web site: OU at Wichita State Canceled . soonersports.com . April 25, 2023 . April 25, 2023.