Patty Gasso believes playing Texas, 'always makes us better'

Patty Gasso knows one reason why Oklahoma always got better during the season and Women’s College World Series: Texas.

The Sooners capped off a fourth straight national title with a two-game sweep of their rivals in the finals this week. But, Oklahoma isn’t this good without Texas pushing the Sooners to their limits. For how great of a coach Gasso is, she even admitted her team started to coach itself throughout the tail end of the year.

“I’m ready to start coaching again because I don’t have to coach this,” Gasso said postgame. “They know it. They’ve got it. They coach each other. I’m really excited about what’s coming.

I love what has happened with our freshmen. Oh, my goodness. I did not anticipate that. So the future is very, very bright.”

Try Fubo for FREE today and don’t miss any of the action!

That’s when she propped up Texas, which joins Oklahoma in the SEC next year.

“I know you haven’t asked the question, but I have to say I respect Texas and that program and what they’ve done,” Gasso said. “They are an elite program, and they’re going to maintain that for a while. They’ve got a lot of very good young players, great coaching. They’ve done a great job with their staff. Their pitching staff is outstanding.

“I would be remiss to make sure I didn’t shout that out because I do tell you we’re both going into a new conference together, but Texas always makes us better. I think that we could both agree that we do that for each other. That’s how we get here. That’s why we’re looking at each other on the national championship stage.”

Gasso dispelled any notion that Oklahoma cruised over the last four years. Teams like Texas and Florida before the Longhorns pushed the Sooners to be their best.

“It’s not like that. It’s very difficult. Everything has to go right,” Gasso said. “The thing about them is they’re resilient. They have a lot of pride in that. With that, it’s hard for me to comprehend. I continue to say this one was the hardest to manage. We lost a lot in the summer. Players through the portal, brought in some great ones.

“I can tell you that Kelly, this season, but this postseason, especially the World Series, Kelly will be changed forever. That is the greatest gift she could give us. Not the championship, but watching this young lady break out of her shell and smile and laugh and just enjoy being a good pitcher with good players who really appreciate and respect her.”