WCWS 2022 - Jocelyn Alo and Oklahoma softball cement themselves as the GOATs

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Patty Gasso finally broke. For the first time in 364 days — when Oklahoma last won a national championship — the architect of college softball's premiere program found herself at a loss for words.

She survived the final out of the Women's College Worlds Series win over Texas on Thursday night, marking four titles in the last six tournaments, without letting her emotions get to her.

She survived Jocelyn Alo's curtain call, a touching last goodbye to the best hitter the sport has ever seen.

She survived the confetti, the trophies, the hugs and the team photo in center field.

But after she made her way through the dugout, left the locker room and sat down for the postgame news conference, it began to sink in what happened, which is when the tears finally came pouring out.

And it was a question about the D-word — dynasty — that got her. She blinked hard when a reporter asked, «When you hear this program talked about in the same sentence as UConn women's basketball, Alabama football, those sorts of other programs, what does that do in your head?»

«I guess I don't believe it,» she said.

She paused, trying and failing to regain her composure.

«I don't know how to answer,» she continued tentatively. «I don't think that way.»

It was all so surreal, she said. She found herself watching the postgame celebration like a fan.

«They don't realize how good they are,» she said. «I don't realize how good they are.»

How good? How about the best ever?

Gasso put the onus on the media for that one, saying, «You guys all have the stats.»

Fifty-nine wins and the best batting average and the best ERA in college softball this season speaks for itself. But looking at the WCWS on its own, Oklahoma set a record for home runs (17)