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This appeared to be the year the Oklahoma softball team was at its most vulnerable.
The Sooners went 61-1 a season ago and won the national championship, going wire to wire as the No. 1 ranked team. The 2024 season has been a change of pace. Oklahoma fell out of the No. 1 spot following a series loss to now-No. 1 Texas in April. The Sooners came into the postseason with six losses on the year, the most since 2019.
So much for vulnerable. Oklahoma beat Texas in the Big 12 championship 5-1 and has lost only one game since reaching the NCAA tournament en route to an eighth straight Women’s College World Series appearance. Standing in the way of this Oklahoma team and a fourth-straight national championship? The only team to win a series against Oklahoma in 13 years.
MORE: Watch the 2024 Women’s College World Series finals live with Fubo (free trial)
For much of this season, a collision course between the two Big 12 powerhouses has felt inevitable as the two rank among the best in nearly every statistical category. In ERA, Texas is sixth (1.86) and Oklahoma is 11th (1.99). In on-base percentage, Oklahoma is first (.470) and Texas is second (.455). In slugging percentage, Oklahoma is second (.649) and Texas is fourth (.621).
The Sooners and Longhorns have won two games apiece against the other in 2024. Oklahoma is looking for its eighth title to tie Arizona for the second most in NCAA history. Texas is looking for No. 1.
Sporting News will be tracking scores and highlights from the first game of the Women’s College World Series finals. Follow for updates from Wednesday’s game.
Texas vs. Oklahoma softball score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | F | |
| Oklahoma | 2 | |||||||
| Texas |
Women’s College World Series live updates, highlights from Game 1
(All times Eastern)
8:21 p.m. End top first: Parker moves up to third on a wild pitch, but Kavan elicits a groundout from Kasidi Pickering to limit the damage to only two runs in the top of the first.
8:19 p.m.: Kinzie Hansen pops out to shortstop for the second out of the frame.
8:17 p.m.: It takes 22 pitches, but Kavan finally has her first out of the frame as she gets Alyssa Brito to pop out to second on a high rise ball.
8:15 p.m.: Ella Parker rips a double to right field that comes a few feet shy of clearing the wall. She slides in just ahead of the tag.
8:11 p.m. Oklahoma scoring play: The Sooners strike first. Texas surrenders runs for the first time in the College World Series as Tiare Jennings rips a two-run homer to center to put Oklahoma on top early. Still no one out for Oklahoma. Oklahoma 2, Texas 0
🤯 @_tiarejennings absolutely crushed her 11th career WCWS home run 👊#ChampionshipMindset | @espn pic.twitter.com/orKm9OoLqf
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) June 6, 2024
8:09 p.m.: Jayda Coleman is hit on the forearm by the 2-1 pitch to give the Sooners a leadoff baserunner.
8:09 p.m.: The first pitch from Teagan Kavan is taken for a ball, and this game is underway.
7:59 p.m.: The national anthem and flyover are all wrapped up. This game is just about to get underway.
7:43 p.m.: Here’s a look at the lineups for the two teams:
Oklahoma
- Jayda Coleman, CF
- Tiare Jennings, SS
- Ella Parker, DP
- Alyssa Brito, 3B
- Kinzie Hansen, C
- Kasidi Pickering, LF
- Rylie Boone, RF
- Cydney Sanders, 1B
- Avery Hodge, 2B
P: Kelly Maxwell
Texas
- Bella Dayton, LF
- Mia Scott, 3B
- Viviana Martinez, SS
- Reese Atwood, C
- Katie Stewart, 1B
- Alyssa Washington, 2B
- Joley Mitchell, DP
- Kayden Henry, CF
- Ashton Maloney, RF
P: Teagan Kavan
7:29 p.m.: The teams are each getting their fans hyped up with videos ahead of tonight’s game.
let’s see how great we can be today 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/yN0hMQz0aF
— Texas Softball (@TexasSoftball) June 5, 2024
The Stage Is Set.#ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/iRifoXZ4rL
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) June 5, 2024
7:07 p.m.: The logos are getting applied to the dirt at Devon Park as the NCAA gets ready for the final softball games of the year.
The finishing touches 🖌️#WCWS pic.twitter.com/8uahupWyhE
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) June 5, 2024
How to watch 2024 Women’s College World Series finals Game 1
- Start time: 8 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. CT
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: ESPN+ | Fubo
The final three games of the 2024 NCAA Division I softball season will all be carried by ESPN, each broadcast at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT).
Beth Mowins will handle play by play, with Jessica Mendoza and Michele Smith joining her in the booth to provide analysis. Holly Rowe will be reporting from the dugouts. This marks the 17th time the quartet has worked together for the Women’s College World Series, and it will be Mowins’ 30th edition.
Those hoping to stream the series can find it on ESPN+ or Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Women’s College World Series schedule 2024
Wednesday, June 5
| Game 1 | Time (ET) | TV channel/live stream |
| No. 1 Texas vs. No. 2 Oklahoma | 8 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN+, Fubo |
Thursday, June 6
| Game 2 | Time (ET) | TV channel/live stream |
| No. 1 Texas vs. No. 2 Oklahoma | 8 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN+, Fubo |
Friday, June 7
| Game 3* | Time (ET) | TV channel/live stream |
| No. 1 Texas vs. No. 2 Oklahoma | 8 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN+, Fubo |
* – If necessary