OU softball coach Patty Gasso has been named head coach of the USA Softball Women's National Team and will lead the team through the cycle that includes the 2028 Olympic games in Los Angeles.
Gasso’s appointment marks a historic moment for the USA Softball National Teams program, as she becomes the seventh female head coach of the Women’s National Team (WNT). Previous female head coaches include Rosalie Sorenson (1970), Marge Ricker (1982), Carol Spanks (1987), Shirley Topley (1991), Margie Wright (1998), and Heather Tarr (2021).
“USA Softball is proud to announce that Coach Gasso will lead our Women’s National Team for the 2025-2028 quad,” said Craig Cress, Chief Executive Officer of USA Softball. “Throughout her career, Coach Gasso has made a significant impact on the softball community and has greatly contributed to the development of the sport. We are confident that her skills, knowledge, and experience will enhance our program and we look forward to supporting Coach Gasso and the Women’s National Team as they strive to represent the U.S. with pride on the highest stage in the coming years.”
Gasso, head coach at the University of Oklahoma, has been involved with the USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) program since 2018, as she led the U.S. Women’s Elite Team during the World Cup of Softball. Additionally, Gasso has participated in various USA Softball training camps and selection trials, further demonstrating her commitment to fostering excellence within the sport and contributing to the development of aspiring athletes.
“It is truly a remarkable moment in my career and a dream come true to be asked to coach Team USA,” said Gasso. “This is the highest honor I could ever receive, and I’m humbled by and thankful for the confidence USA Softball has in me. I have an intense passion to make Team USA the best it can be to help win the gold medal in 2028.”
An esteemed NFCA Hall of Fame head coach, Gasso is entering her 31st season at the helm of Oklahoma Softball. She recently concluded a remarkable run at the 2024 Women’s College World Series (WCWS), where the Sooners achieved their fourth consecutive National Championship, a historic milestone that distinguishes them as the only softball program in history to accomplish this feat. In her impressive 30-year tenure, Coach Gasso has secured eight NCAA Division I National Championships and has led her teams to 17 appearances in the WCWS. She has consistently guided her teams to postseason play each season, boasting an outstanding career record of 1,676 wins, 411 losses, and 3 ties. Following the 2024 NCAA conference realignment, Coach Gasso completed her successful tenure in the Big 12 as the league’s all-time winningest coach (men and women’s), having claimed 15 regular season conference titles and nine postseason league crowns.