'The athletes deserve it': Patty Gasso lobbies to change double-header format

USA Today

3 days ago

'The athletes deserve it': Patty Gasso lobbies to change double-header format
The college softball world came to a halt on Monday night as the Texas Tech Red Raiders dethroned the Oklahoma Sooners in dramatic fashion with a walk-off sacrifice fly. The Red Raiders rally came after a two-run, game-tying home run from Abigale Dayton in the top of the seventh inning. Before that, Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady was throwing a gem.
The Sooners nearly extended the game to extra innings. Had the Sooners won in extras, the two teams would have turned around 30 minutes later and played again to determine who would face Texas in the Women's College World Series championship. It didn't come to that, but that didn't stop Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso from sharing her opinion on the doubleheader format in the semifinals.
"I've been in this tournament enough, and there's one thing that has to change," Gasso began. "I'm going 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 doubleheaders 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."
The Women's College World Series has become a spectacular event over the last decade. One that's garnered increased exposure on television and led to record ratings over the years. Programs are investing more into their softball programs, and the results are noticeable. The games have been fantastic. In the Women's College World Series, there was only one game decided by more than three runs. That's how tight and dramatic these matchups have been.
It would have been a shame to force a double-header to determine who would play for the national championship. And Gasso wasn't even thinking about the Sooners as she mentions that Tech would have felt maybe a bigger impact.
"If we were to win or if Texas Tech were to lose, and they made it here all the way undefeated and they were to lose to us, and then we have to play another game right after, that is not fair," Gasso continued. "It's not fair to them more than it is not fair to us because we didn't get there on the road that they did. But we've got to make changes."
Canady has thrown every pitch for the Red Raiders in Oklahoma City. And had the Sooners won and forced the winner-take-all game two Monday night, it's likely she would have thrown every pitch in that game. Though one could argue that's the bed Gerry Glasco made by riding his ace throughout the WCWS, it would have been detrimental to the sport not to get a rested Canady in the decider.
Gasso explained that any concerns that fans wouldn't come back to watch are unfounded. The way the game has grown, it has never been more popular. From those watching in person to the traffic it generates on social media, softball has become a national phenomenon every May and June. It's best for the game and, more importantly, as Gasso discusses, for the athlete to allow them to get some rest before playing the second game.
"We've got to put money into this. People will watch. They'll come back, and they'll watch this next day. 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 to the athletes at this high level. That is my soapbox. Let's try to change that, even if it's going to cost a little bit of extra money. These athletes deserve it. And thank you all very much. Thank you for listening."
As Terrance Mann, played by James Earl Jones, said in Field of Dreams, "People will come." The game has grown to such heights that die-hard and casual fans are tuned in for every pitch and every inning.
Though the doubleheader didn't impact who was playing for the national title in 2025, that doesn't mean it's not a worthwhile discussion to be had. And when the Queen of College Softball says something, you have to believe rules committees take notice.