OU Softball Extends Historic Win Streak: Inside the Sooners’ Record-Breaking Run & Road to Another NCAA Title

Oklahoma City — The four-time defending national champion Oklahoma Sooners opened their 2025 Women’s College World Series run Thursday afternoon against the No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers, and the early drama at Devon Park is matching the pre-tournament hype. Midway through the fifth inning the Vols held a 3-1 edge behind ace Karlyn Pickens’ six strikeouts, while OU sophomore slugger Ella Parker provided the Sooners’ lone run with her 14th homer of the season. OU softball seeks historic 5-peat No Division I softball program has ever won five straight NCAA titles, but head coach Patty Gasso’s dynasty is two series wins from rewriting the record book. Oklahoma (50-7) steam-rolled the Norman Super Regional, out-scoring Alabama 16-2 and mashing four homers in the clincher. Anchored by All-America pitcher Sam Landry (0.88 postseason ERA) and a lineup that ranks first nationally in slugging, the Sooners remain the tournament favorite despite Thursday’s early deficit. Live score tracker: OU vs Tennessee • Bottom 5th: Tennessee 3, Oklahoma 1 – Pickens strands the tying run on second with a clutch line-out. • Top 5th: Center fielder Hannah Coor fires a laser to first for a momentum-shifting double play. • Top 3rd: Vols tack on an insurance run after a one-out walk came around to score. Follow real-time stats on ESPN or the NCAA live scoreboard. How to watch & stream • TV: ESPN (game replays on ESPNU) • Streaming: ESPN+ and FuboTV (free trial available) • First pitch: Approximately 1:52 p.m. CDT; game length may shift WCWS evening matchups. What’s next in the WCWS bracket? The winner advances to Saturday’s winner’s bracket showdown versus No. 6 Texas, which blanked No. 3 Florida 3-0 in Thursday’s opener. The loser faces Florida in an elimination game Friday night. Sooners to watch • Sam Landry, RHP – Five complete-game wins this postseason, 150+ strikeouts on the year. • Ella Parker, OF – Batting .431 with 20 extra-base hits since April 1. • Kasidi Pickering, CF – Leadoff spark plug; leads OU with 24 stolen bases. Volunteers to watch • Karlyn Pickens, RHP – Clocked at a record 76 mph in super regionals; 11-strikeout performance vs Nebraska last week. • Sophia Nugent, C/1B – Former Sooner hitting .365 with 18 HR for UT. Why OU softball dominates search trends A pursuit of an unprecedented fifth straight championship, local proximity to Oklahoma City, and a roster loaded with star power keep “OU softball,” “Sooners WCWS schedule” and “Oklahoma vs Tennessee softball live” among the most-searched phrases every postseason. Fans nationwide tune in not only for the high-octane offense but also to witness whether Gasso’s group can cement itself as the greatest dynasty in college softball history. Road to a record: key dates • May 29 – WCWS Game 2 vs Tennessee • May 31 – Winner’s bracket (if OU wins) or elimination game (if OU loses) • June 4-6 – Championship series (best-of-three) Ticket information Limited tickets remain on NCAA.com and secondary markets; prices start near $150 for outfield seating and climb past $400 for lower-bowl chairbacks. Bottom line Even trailing early, Oklahoma’s veteran core has proven resilient all season. If the Sooners’ bats awaken against Pickens’ heat, a path to softball immortality — and a fifth straight national title — still runs straight through Norman.