After 29years Patty Gasso Part Ways With Oklahoma Sooners..
Nothing quite signals the return of the Women’s College World Series like the revival of coaches around the country complaining about playing for a championship Oklahoma in its own backyard.
It is a huge advantage obviously for Oklahoma,” White said in Austin before taking his top-seeded Longhorns to Oklahoma City.
The talking point was nothing new to OU coach Patty Gasso, nor was it a surprise when shew as asked about it at Wednesday’s WCWS Media Day.
“Well, it’s no doubt that Sooners fans come out,” Gasso said with a smile. “If you have it in Omaha, Nebraska fans are going to come out. Where are you going to take it? Who has a 15,000-plus stadium to have it?
Devon Park, formerly USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, has hosted the WCWS since 1990, with only the 1996 WCWS being played elsewhere.
The NCAA also signed a contract extension with Oklahoma City and USA Softball to keep the event entrenched at Devon Park through 2035.
But none of that, Gasso said, is Oklahoma’s problem.
“There’s nothing we can do,” she said. “It’s not our fault. It’s no one’s fault. It’s the people of Oklahoma City that put in the money to make this happen. It’s a celebration of that.
“You can look at it any way you want. Someone’s going to have to put up big bucks to try to get it somewhere else. I know this is a long-term contract, as well.”
The Sooners aren’t the only ones who benefit from the geographical proximity of the WCWS.
Devon Park is situated 59 miles from Cowgirl Stadium, the home of Oklahoma State softball.