The No. 3 Sooners begin their road to the Women's College World Series at Love’s Field, fueled by record-breaking freshmen and a dominant home record as they host Kansas, Michigan, and Binghamton
NORMAN, Okla. — The Oklahoma Sooners softball team is gearing up to host its 15th consecutive NCAA Regional, welcoming Kansas, Michigan, and Binghamton to Love's Field for the 2026 Norman Regional from Friday, May 15 through Sunday, May 17.
As the No. 3 national seed, OU enters the postseason with high expectations and a powerhouse roster ready to make another deep run.
Head coach Patty Gasso is seeking her ninth NCAA Softball national championship crown, after winning four-straight titles from 2021-2024.
Regional Schedule
Friday, May 15
- 2:30 p.m. — Oklahoma vs. Binghamton (SEC Network)
- 5 p.m. — Michigan vs. Kansas (ESPNU)
Saturday, May 16
- 2 p.m. — Game 3 (Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2)
- 4:30 p.m. — Game 4 (Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2)
- 7 p.m. — Game 5 (Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3)
Sunday, May 17
- 2 p.m. — Game 6 (Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5)
- 4:30 p.m. — If necessary, Game 7 (Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 6)
Team Preview and History
The Sooners earned hosting rights as the third overall seed in the country. Binghamton arrives after a solid 20-25 overall record and a strong 15-5 mark in conference play, culminating in an America East Conference Tournament championship.
Kansas and Michigan secured at-large bids from the Big 12 and Big Ten, respectively.
Oklahoma has no prior history against Binghamton and will face Kansas for the first time in the regional round. The Sooners are 0-2 all-time against Michigan in regional play, having lost both matchups in Ann Arbor back in 2006.
Overall, OU boasts an impressive 89-20 record in NCAA Regional games. The Sooners have won 16 straight regional contests and every regional opener since 2009. At home in Norman, they are a dominant 63-7 in regional action.Oklahoma enters the tournament fresh off a 10-5 loss to No. 13/17 Georgia in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals on May 7.
The Sooners have lost consecutive games only once this season (against Texas and Oklahoma State in April), and they’ve allowed double-digit runs just twice all year.
Their home dominance is undeniable: 24-1 at Love’s Field this season, with the lone loss coming against Arkansas. Since the facility opened in 2024, OU is a perfect 10-0 in NCAA postseason play there.
Offensive Firepower and Record-Setting Freshmen
Oklahoma leads the nation in batting average (.389) and hits (590). The Sooners feature seven players with double-digit home runs, including three with 20 or more: Kendall Wells, Gabbie Garcia, and Ella Parker.
Isabela Emerling sits close behind with 18.Freshman sensation Kendall Wells has been nothing short of phenomenal. She shattered the SEC single-season home run record (previously shared by several stars) in just 37 games on March 31, then broke the NCAA freshman single-season record on April 11 at Texas.
She went on to surpass Jocelyn Alo’s OU single-season record of 34 homers on April 24, finishing with 35. Wells and fellow freshman Kai Minor are the only two underclassmen on the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 list.
The Sooner freshmen class which includes Lexi McDaniel, Kai Minor, Allyssa Parker, and Kendall Wells, has combined for 66 home runs, 177 RBIs, 183 runs scored, and a blistering .401 batting average.
Kai Minor leads the team and the SEC with a .446 average, ranks third in the league in hits (74), and is tied for third in stolen bases (17). Allyssa Parker has 11 homers in limited at-bats and once tripled while throwing a complete game.
Lexi McDaniel excels as a pinch-hitter with eight RBIs and three homers off the bench.
Pitching and Additional Strengths
In the circle, sophomore duo Audrey Lowry and Miali Guachino have been outstanding, combining for a 35-5 record and exactly 200 innings pitched.
Freshman Berkley Zache has contributed with a 2.27 ERA across 12 appearances and hasn’t allowed an earned run since her debut.
Defensively and in leadership, senior Ailana Agbayani recently earned an AUSL Golden Ticket and was drafted in the third round by the Chicago Bandits. She became just the second Golden Glove winner in OU history, following Grace Lyons, and earned SEC All-Defensive honors previously.
Program Legacy and Postseason Outlook
This marks OU’s 32nd NCAA Tournament appearance, with the team advancing every year under legendary head coach Patty Gasso.
The Sooners secured a top-four seed for the eighth straight season and are the No. 3 overall seed for the first time since 2016, when they began a run of back-to-back national titles. They also claimed the SEC regular-season title for the second consecutive year.
Oklahoma is one of 12 SEC teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, the most of any conference. The program aims to advance to its 16th straight Super Regional as hosts.
With a stacked lineup, record-breaking freshmen, veteran leadership, and home-field dominance, the Sooners are poised for another memorable postseason run at Love’s Field.
Fans can expect high-scoring offensive displays, clutch pitching, and the electric atmosphere that has become synonymous with Oklahoma softball in Norman.
The road to the Women’s College World Series starts this weekend right here in Norman.