The Sooners are just days from winning their seventh national title and third straight. But it’s never too early to look at what 2024 has in store.
After the incredible 2022 season, many thought the Sooners would take a dip after losing arguably the best of all time, Jocelyn Alo.
Not only did they not take a dip in 2023, they were even better, finishing the year 61-1 and on a 53-game-winning streak.
So, what can fans expect for this upcoming season? Well, it’s not fair to ask the Sooners to be better than that. Can they? Sure, they can. But that would be asking them to do something that’s never been done before.
No team has gone undefeated. To be fair, no team had gone a whole season with only one loss until Oklahoma did it.
Next year is still shaping up to be a great season. The Sooners lose Alex Storako, Grace Lyons, Haley Lee, and Grace Green.
Those are all big losses for the team. Storako was one of the game’s best pitchers. Lyons might be the best shortstop to ever play. Lee was a huge contributor this year after transferring from Texas A&M. Green has been a role player off of the bench who always seemed to get a hit when called upon.
But look for the Sooners to just reload. Kierston Deal was the nation’s number-one player coming out of high school in 2022 and had some really good moments as a true freshman. She’s most likely to replace Storako.
Jocelyn Erickson was ranked as a top 10 player in that same class. She flashed this season as well and will most likely get more playing time in the designated player role and at platooning with Cydney Sanders at first base.
They also return a ton of talent. Tiare Jennings, Jordy Bahl, Jayda Coleman, Kinzie Hansen, Nicole May, Cydney Sanders, Alyssa Brito, and Rylie Boone are returning. That’s each of the five players that were on the NCAA All-Tournament team.
That’s not even including who they’ll add in this upcoming recruiting class or who they’ll add from the transfer portal.
It’s unclear what the Sooners’ record will be next year. But one thing is for sure, softball fans nationwide better get used to it because as long as Patty Gasso is at the helm, the Sooners will be contenders for a long time coming.
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