Patty Gasso shreds Women's College World Series double header format: 'It should not happen'

Oklahoma softball head coach Patty Gasso shredded the double-header format of the Women’s College World Series following the Sooners’ loss. Gasso and crew were going for a fifth straight national title but fell to Texas Tech 3-2 on Monday, which was their second loss and elimination.

If the Sooners had beaten the Red Raiders, the two schools would’ve had to play again Monday night in order to get to the finals against Texas. Texas won earlier in the day 2-0 over Tennessee.

But, Gasso doesn’t like the fact that the WCWS wants to shoehorn games in over a short period of time. Arguably the greatest softball coach of all time, Gasso argued this sport does it while baseball doesn’t and it could create an imbalance.

“Because I’m old enough, I don’t care what anyone thinks anymore. This isn’t gonna be a bad thing,” Gasso began. “I’ve been in this tournament enough, and there’s one thing that has to change, and I’ve got to say it out loud, and I hope the committee is going to look at this, if we are all about women’s athletics and women’s sports and rah-rah, do not make us play double headers to get to a national championship series. Do not do that. Don’t do that. 

“They don’t do it in baseball. It should not happen. So if we were to win, or if Texas Tech were to lose, and they made it all the way here undefeated, if they were to lose to us, and then we have to play another game right after that is not fair.” 

Gasso has a point. Texas Tech had not lost a game at the WCWS this year but all of a sudden, they’d have to play two games in a row against the same opponent if they lost once. Sure, it gives Oklahoma some juice, but Gasso seemed to honestly be worried about other teams in Texas Tech’s situation.
They earned their way there and had not lost. But all of a sudden, as Gasso pointed out, two losses in one day could end their run.

“It’s not fair to them more than it is not fair to us, because we didn’t get there on the road they did. But we’ve got to make changes,” Gasso said. “We’ve got to put money into this. People will watch. They’ll come back and they’ll watch the next day. I believe that they will, because this is one of the most watched championships in any sport. Softball is one of the top, so why wouldn’t you want to come back and watch that ‘if’ game? 

“Or would you rather watch us have zero energy left and you’re not able to throw your best because you’re just trying to scrap it together? It’s unfair for the athletes at this high level. So that is my soapbox. Please. Let’s try to change that, even if it’s going to cost a little bit of extra money, these athletes deserve it.”