Patty Gasso’s first USA Softball Women’s National Team loaded with former Sooners

The Oklahoma softball program is essentially America’s softball program.

USA Softball released its 15-player roster for this summer’s 2025 World Games in China and it included four former Sooners, as well as OU head Patty Gasso, who will lead USA Softball until the 2028 Olympic Games.

“This is such a tremendous honor for myself, our coaching staff and the exceptional athletes who have been selected to represent the USA at the World Games,” Gasso said in a statement in the press release. “Determining the team is always a tough process, but we are blessed to have a nice mix of veterans and new faces on the roster. These 15 athletes bring power, speed and versatility to the table and I’m very excited to continue working with them as we strive to win gold at The World Games.”

4 former Oklahoma players included on World Games roster

The roster included former OU standouts outfielder Jayda Coleman, infielder Tiare Jennings, pitcher Kelly Maxwell and catcher Kinzie Hansen, who will all get another chance to play for their former college softball coach.

Every Sooner selected just finished their college career last year and won at least one national championship with the Sooners. Coleman, Jennings and Hansen were part of four straight national titles at OU.

Maxwell, a lefty, spent just one season in Norman, but was still vital in the Sooners winning their fourth consecutive national championship in 2024. She transferred from Oklahoma State, where she spent the first four years of her career.

In 2024, her only season at OU, Maxwell had a 1.94 ERA and 23-2 record while being named a finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and Women’s College World Series Most Valuable Player.

Jennings was also a finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year in 2024 and Coleman was Big 12 Player of the Year in 2023.

The 2025 World Games will be from Aug. 13-17 in Chengdu, China. Softball for the 2028 Olympics will be hosted at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, home of the WCWS, so a Team USA roster likely loaded with Sooners and led by Gasso will be playing for a gold medal at the Sooners’ second home.