The start of 2026 could not have went any better for Patty Gasso. The legendary Oklahoma softball head coach, her program's own alumni Kelly Maxwell, Alyssa Brito and Tiare Estrem (Jennings), and 13 other players representing the United States Women’s National Team, defeated Australia 4-0 at the USA Down Under Series last week in Brisbane.
While the location of the four-day event meant starting the new year 16 hours ahead of the Norman faithful, the GOAT showed why she deserved to become the head coach of the USWNT with four consecutive shutout 9-0, 14-0, 7-0 and 8-0 victories that all ended in a mercy rule for each game.