Author: Dan Pfeffer

2024 held at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 30-June 7.

Champion – Oklahoma Sooners (59-7)
Runner Up – Texas Longhorns (55-10)

The Sooners have achieved softball immortality.

Oklahoma is the winner of the 2024 Women’s College World Series, sweeping rival Texas in the championship series to become the first school to win four consecutive softball national championships.

It was the offense that powered Oklahoma to an 8-3 win in Game 1 Wednesday, and in Thursday’s Game 2, Oklahoma rallied to an 8-4 victory to take down the No. 1 team in the country.

The big hits came from Kasidi Pickering, who launched a two-run homer in the second inning, and Cydney Sanders, who cleared the bases with a fourth-inning double that put Oklahoma ahead for good. The Sooners escaped a jam in the top of the sixth — thanks in part to a massive base-running blunder by Texas’ Mia Scott — before tacking on some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Kelly Maxwell then closed it out as OU staked its claim as (arguably) softball’s greatest dynasty.

“We work hard. We do it blue-collar style. We fight. We’re gritty. There’s nothing we feel that we can’t overcome and that’s why we go out and we just play free,” Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso said in her postgame interview with ESPN.

Last season was a historic one for the Sooners. They set the NCAA record for most consecutive wins and had a near-perfect season at 61-1 as they dominated their way to softball’s second three-peat. Oklahoma then lost ace pitcher Jordy Bahl to the transfer portal, its record winning streak finally ended earlier this season at 71 games and for the first time since 2018, the Sooners weren’t the No. 1 national seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Still, Oklahoma continued its postseason reign. The Sooners breezed through the regional and super regional round and secured a spot in the national semifinal. Their impressive 20-game postseason winning streak came to an end in a loss to Florida and put Oklahoma in a win-or-go-home game, but the defending champions survived. An extra inning, walk-off home run from Jayda Coleman put Oklahoma in the championship series, which they won again Thursday.

“This was the hardest of all, without question,” Gasso said. “It’s going to probably be the most remembered for just the magnitude of what these guys have done. It’s unbelievable. Unbelievable.”

The national championship gives Oklahoma its eighth title, which ties Arizona for second most in NCAA history, behind UCLA’s 12 championships. It’s been dominance for the Sooners in Oklahoma City in recent history.

All eight of their national championships under Gasso have come since 2000, and they’ve now won seven of the last 11 Women’s College World Series while appearing in the last five championship series. It also puts a bow on the careers of five standout Oklahoma seniors − Coleman, Tiare Jennings, Kinzie Hansen, Nicole May and Rylie Boone. Those five seniors were part of every national championship team during the four-peat, a four-year run that saw the Sooners go an astonishing 235-15.

• Most Outstanding Player – Kelly Maxwell, Oklahoma
• Batting Leader –
• RBI Leader –
• RBI Leader –
• RBI Leader –
• Home Run Leader –
• ERA Leader –
• Strikeout Leader –

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

• P – NjJaree Canady, Stanford
• P – Teagan Kavan, Texas
• P – Kelly Maxwell, Oklahoma
• P – Keagan Rothrock, Florida
• C – Jocelyn Erickson, Florida
• C – Kinzie Hansen, Oklahoma
• IF – Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma
• IF – Mia Scott, Texas
• IF – Katie Stewart, Texas
• OF – Kasidi Pickering, Oklahoma
• DP – Ella Parker, Oklahoma
• DP – Regan Walsh, Florida

SCORES

1. UCLA 4 Alabama 1
2. Oklahoma 9 Duke 1 (6 innings)
3. Texas 4 Stanford 0
4. Florida 1 Oklahoma State 0
5. Alabama 2 Duke 1 (Duke eliminated)
6. Stanford 8 Oklahoma State 0 (6 innings) (Oklahoma State eliminated)
7. Oklahoma 1 UCLA 0
8. Texas 10 Florida 0
9. Florida 6 Alabama 4 (Alabama eliminated)
10. Stanford 3 UCLA 1 (UCLA eliminated)
11. Florida 9 Oklahoma 3
12. Oklahoma 6 Florida 5 (Florida eliminated)
13. Texas 1 Stanford 0 (Stanford eliminated)
14. Oklahoma 8 Texas 3
15. Oklahoma 8 Texas 4 (Texas eliminated)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Oklahoma Sooner (5-1)
2. Texas Longhorns (3-2)
3. Florida Gators (3-2)
4. Stanford Cardinal (2-2)
5t. UCLA Bruins (1-2)
5t. Alabama Crimson Tide (1-2)
7t. Oklahoma State Cowgirls (0-2)
7t. Duke Blue Devils (0-2)

NATIONAL SEEDS

1. Texas
2. Oklahoma
3. Tennessee
4. Florida
5. Oklahoma State
6. UCLA
7. Missouri
8. Stanford
9. LSU
10. Duke
11. Georgia
12. Arkansas
13. Louisiana
14. Alabama
15. Florida State
16. Texas A&M

REGIONALS

AUSTIN REGIONAL

1. Texas 5 Siena 0
2. Northwestern 7 St. Francis (PA) 2
3. Texas 14 Northwestern 2 (5 innings)
4. St. Francis (PA) 1 Siena 0 (Siena eliminated)
5. Northwestern 5 St. Francis (PA) 1 (St. Francis eliminated)
6. Texas 7 Northwestern 0 (Northwestern eliminated)

Texas qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.

NORMAN REGIONAL

1. Oklahoma 9 Cleveland State 0
2. Oregon 8 Boston University 0
3. Oklahoma 6 Oregon 3
4. Boston University 8 Cleveland State 0 (5 innings) (Cleveland State eliminated)
5. Oregon 8 Boston University 2 (Boston University eliminated)
6. Oklahoma 3 Oregon 2 (Oregon eliminated)

Oklahoma qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.

KNOXVILLE REGIONAL

1. Tennessee 3 Dayton 0
2. Virginia 7 Miami (OH) 0
3. Tennessee 12 Virginia 0 (5 innings)
4. Miami (OH) 4 Dayton 0 (Dayton eliminated)
5. Virginia 6 Miami (OH) 0 (Miami OH eliminated)
6. Tennessee 6 Virginia 9 (Virginia eliminated)

Tennessee qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.

GAINESVILLE REGIONAL

1. Florida 6 Florida Gulf Coast 0
2. South Alabama 1 Florida Atlantic 0
3. Florida 9 South Alabama 1 (5 innings)
4. Florida Gulf Coast 3 Florida Atlantic 2 (Florida Atlantic eliminated)
5. South Alabama 5 Florida Gulf Coast 1 (Florida Gulf Coast eliminated)
6. Florida 9 South Alabama 1 (South Alabama eliminated)

Florida qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.

STILLWATER REGIONAL

1. Oklahoma State 6 Northern Colorado 0
2. Kentucky 4 Michigan 3
3. Oklahoma State 6 Kentucky 2
4. Michigan 4 Northern Colorado 2 (Northern Colorado eliminated)
5. Michigan 4 Kentucky 2 (Kentucky eliminated)
6. Oklahoma State 4 Michigan 1 (Michigan eliminated)

Oklahoma State qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.

LOS ANGELES REGIONAL

1. UCLA 9 Grand Canyon 0 (5 innings)
2. Virginia Tech 5 San Diego State 1
3. UCLA 7 Virginia Tech 6
4. Grand Canyon 9 San Diego State 7 (San Diego State eliminated)
5. Grand Canyon 4 Virginia Tech 1 (Virginia Tech eliminated)
6. UCLA 9 Grand Canyon 1 (Grand Canyon eliminated)

UCLA qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.

COLUMBIA REGIONAL

1. Omaha 3 Missouri 1 (9 innings)
2. Washington 8 Indiana 7
3. Omaha 3 Washington 2
4. Missouri 5 Indiana 1 (Indiana eliminated)
5. Missouri 4 Washington 1 (Washington eliminated)
6. Missouri 5 Omaha 1
7. Missouri 1 Omaha 0 (9 innings) (Omaha eliminated)

Missouri qualifies for the Super Regional, 4-1.

STANFORD REGIONAL

1. Stanford 8 St. Mary’s 6
2. Mississippi State 1 Cal State Fullerton 0
3. Stanford 2 Mississippi State 1
4. Cal State Fullerton 6 St. Mary’s 1 (St. Mary’s eliminated)
5. Cal State Fullerton 7 Mississippi State 0 (Mississippi State eliminated)
6. Cal State Fullerton 8 Stanford 1
7. Stanford 4 Cal State Fullerton 2 (Cal State Fullerton eliminated)

Stanford qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-1.

BATON ROUGE REGIONAL

1. LSU 5 Jackson State 0
2. Southern Illinois 5 Cal 4
3. LSU 4 Southern Illinois 1
4. Cal 15 Jackson State 0 (5 innings) (Jackson State eliminated)
5. Southern Illinois 3 Cal 2 (Cal eliminated)
6. LSU 9 Southern Illinois 0 (Southern Illinois elimated)

LSU qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.

DURHAM REGIONAL

1. Duke 6 Morgan State 1
2. South Carolina 2 Utah 1
3. Duke 8 South Carolina 0 (6 innings)
4. Utah 1 Morgan State 0 (Morgan State eliminated)
5. South Carolina 5 Utah 1 (Utah eliminated)
6. Duke 10 South Carolina 1 (South Carolina eliminated)

Duke qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.

ATHENS REGIONAL

1. Georgia 8 UNC Wilmington 0 (5 innings)
2. Liberty 6 Charlotte 3
3. Liberty 7 Georgia 3
4. Charlotte 5 UNC Wilmington 0 (UNC Wilmington eliminated)
5. Georgia 5 Charlotte 0 (Charlotte eliminated)
6. Georgia 14 Liberty 5
7. Georgia 3 Liberty 2 (Liberty eliminated)

Georgia qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.

FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL

1. Arkansas 3 SE Missouri 2
2. Arizona 14 Villanova 3 (5 innings)
3. Arizona 2 Arkansas 1
4. Villanova 4 SE Missouri 1 (SE Missouri eliminated)
5. Villanova 7 Arkansas 2 (Arkansas eliminated)
6. Arizona 9 Villanova 4 (Villanova eliminated)

Arizona qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.

LAFAYETTE REGIONAL

1. Louisiana 8 Princeton 9 (5 innings)
2. Baylor 3 Ole Miss 1
3. Baylor 8 Louisiana 0 (5 innings)
4. Princeton 4 Ole Miss 2 (Ole Miss eliminated)
5. Louisiana 2 Princeton 1 (8 innings)
6. Louisiana 13 Baylor 0
7. Baylor 4 Louisiana 3 (Louisiana eliminated)

Baylor qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-1.

TUSCALOOSA REGIONAL

1. Alabama 1 SC Update 0
2. Southeastern Louisiana 6 Clemson 2
3. Alabama 6 Southeastern Louisiana 3 (9 innings)
4. Clemson 8 SC Upstate 0 (6 innings) (SC Upstate eliminated)
5. Southeastern Louisiana 6 Clemson 0 (Clemson eliminated)
6. Alabama 12 Southeastern Louisiana 2 (Southeastern Louisiana eliminated)

Alabama qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.

TALLAHASSEE REGIONAL

1. Florida State 3 Chattanooga 2
2. UCF 11 Auburn 6
3. Florida State 5 UCF 1
4. Auburn 9 Chattanooga 0 (Chattanooga eliminated)
5. Auburn 2 UCF 1 (12 innings) (UCF eliminated)
6. Florida State 10 Auburn 4 (Auburn eliminated)

Florida State qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION REGIONAL

1. Texas A&M 6 Albany 2
2. Texas State 4 Penn State 2
3. Texas A&M 1 Texas State 0
4. Penn State 9 Albany 3 (Albany eliminated)
5. Texas State 8 Penn State 4 (Penn State eliminated)
6. Texas A&M 8 Texas State 0 (Texas State eliminated)

Texas A&M qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.

SUPER REGIONALS

AUSTIN SUPER REGIONAL

1. Texas A&M 6 Texas 1
2. Texas 9 Texas A&M 8
3. Texas 6 Texas A&M 5

Texas qualifies for the WCWS 2-1.

NORMAN SUPER REGIONAL

1. Oklahoma 11 Florida State 3 (5 innings)
2. Oklahoma 4 Florida State 2

Oklahoma qualifies for the WCWS 2-0.

KNOXVILLE SUPER REGIONAL

1. Tennessee 3 Alabama 2
2. Alabama 3 Tennessee 2 (14 innings)
3. Alabama 4 Tennessee 1

Alabama qualifies for the WCWS 2-1.

GAINESVILLE SUPER REGIONAL

1. Florida 4 Baylor 2
2. Baylor 5 Florida 2
3. Florida 5 Baylor 3

Florida qualifies for the WCWS 2-1.

STILLWATER SUPER REGIONAL

1. Oklahoma State 8 Arizona 0 (5 innings)
2. Oklahoma State 10 Arizona 4

Oklahoma State qualifies for the WCWS 2-0.

LOS ANGELES SUPER REGIONAL

1. UCLA 8 Georgia 0 (6 innings)
2. UCLA 6 Georgia 1

UCLA qualifies for the WCWS 2-0.

COLUMBIA SUPER REGIONAL

1. Duke 6 Missouri 3
2. Missouri 3 Duke 1
3. Duke 4 Missouri 3 (9 innings)

Duke qualifies for the WCWS 2-1.

STANFORD SUPER REGIONAL

1. LSU 11 Stanford 1
2. Stanford 3 LSU 0
3. Stanford 8 LSU 0 (6 innings)

Stanford qualifies for the WCWS 2-1.

REGULAR SEASON INFORMATION

• Honda Sports Award – NiJaree Canady, Stanford
• USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year – NiJaree Canady, Stanford
• NFCA Player of the Year – Jocelyn Erickson, Florida
• NFCA National Pitcher of the Year – NiJaree Canady, Stanford
• Softball America Pitcher of the Year – NiJaree Canady, Stanford
• NFCA National Freshman of the Year – Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State
• Softball America Freshman of the Year – Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State
• NCAA Defensive Player of the Year – Jocelyn Erickson, Florida
• NFCA Catcher of the Year – Jocelyn Erickson, Florida
• NFCA Golden Shoe Award – Megan Delgadillo, Cal-State Fullerton

ALL-AMERICAN FIRST TEAM

P – NiJaree Canady, Stanford
P – Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee
P – Sydney Berzon, LSU
P – Emiley Kennedy, Texas A&M
C – Reese Atwood, Texas
1B – Shaylon Govan, Baylor
2B – Allie Skaggs, Arizona
3B – Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State
SS – Skylar Wallace, Florida
OF – Jayda Coleman, Oklahoma
OF – Claire Davidson, Duke
OF – Jayda Kearney, Georgia
UT/P – Lexi Kilfoyl, Oklahoma State
UT – Sharlize Palacios, UCLA
UT – Jocelyn Erickson, Florida
UT – Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma
UT – Karli Spaid, Miami Ohio
UT – Maya Brady, UCLA

ALL-AMERICAN SECOND TEAM

P – Kayla Beaver, Alabama
P – Kasey Ricard, Boston
P – Jessica Mullins, Texas State
P – Kelly Maxwell, Oklahoma
C – Kinzie Hansen, Oklahoma
1B – Madisyn Kennedy, Mississippi State
2B – Aminah Vega, Duke
3B – Alyssa Brito, Oklahoma
SS – Jess Oakland, Minnesota
OF – Korbe Otis, Florida
OF – Kiki Milloy, Tennessee
OF – Emma Ritter, Virginia Tech
UT/P – Jala Wright, Duke
UT – CC Wong, Wichita State
UT – Angelina Allen, Iowa State
UT -Viviana Martinez, Texas
UT – Dakota Kennedy, Arizona
UT – Payton Gottshall, Tennessee

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM

P – Keagan Rothrock, Florida
P – Teagan Kavan, Texas
P – Maddia Groff, Southern Illinois
P – Bridget Nemeth, Penn State
C – Kennedy Miller, Arkansas
1B – Karli Godwin, Oklahoma State
2B – Rosie Davis, Oklahoma State
3B – Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State
SS – Isa Torres, Florida State
OF – Reagan Shockey, Arizona
OF – Kayden Henry, Texas
OF – Kasidi Pickering, Oklahoma
UT/P – Ava Brown, Florida
UT – Ella Parker, Oklahoma
UT – Kaitlyn Terry, UCLA
UT – Michelle Chatfield, Virginia Tech
UT – Desirae Spearman, New Mexico State
UT – Katie Stewart, Texas