Entering her 32nd season as the head coach of Oklahoma softball, Patty Gasso has earned more respect than anyone in college softball, so when she speaks, people listen, and what other coaches heard from her before this 2026 season should have them uneasy about what's ahead.
Gasso is not one to exaggerate hype, even though she's had plenty of chances to, but during OU's media day ahead of the Sooners' season opener against Arizona State on Thursday, Gasso's short opening remark was enough to unload a massive statement.
"I think, probably, the most prepared team I've had ready to go into a season for a while," Gasso said. "We've been working really hard. This is a really focused team, and we're ready to get started."
Gasso has high praise for Sooners heading into season
Those words came from a coach who has led eight teams to national titles, including four in a row in a streak that finally ended last season. Gasso's resume also includes 18 trips to the Women's College World Series, 16 regular-season conference championships, reigning SEC Coach of the Year and she's the head coach of the USA Softball Women's National Team.
All that to point out that Gasso has some remarkable teams to compare the 2026 squad to as the season begins. Now, Gasso didn't say the most prepared team she's had ever, but "for a while." Regardless, even if "for a while" means just five years, that still includes four teams that won a national championship.
Gasso later during the press conference credited experience to why her team is so prepared. Last year, Gasso constantly mentioned the inexperience of her team, which still managed to get one win away from another trip to the WCWS Championship Series. A year later, the Sooners return almost all of their core players and somehow replaced outgoing ace Sam Landry with multiple aces and just as much time in the circle, if not more.
“They know the drill,” Gasso said. “They’ve been sharing. There’s a lot of leading and talking, and they’re kind of in that professional space where somebody will have an at-bat, and then she’ll come out and talk with the next hitter about what’s going on and what she saw and things like that.
“So, although we are still a little young, from our experience last year, the things we went through have really, really paid dividends for this season.”
From a coach who has seen eight national championship teams, the 2026 Sooners are prepared like another.