Gasso suggested that the NCAA needs to eliminate the "if necessary" doubleheader in the semifinals. She asked reporters in the room if she could "go on a soapbox for a minute," before sharing her idea.

Here's what Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso had to say after the Sooners were eliminated from the WCWS for the first time in five years.

Texas Tech, in its first trip to the WCWS, will play Texas in the best-of-three championship series starting Wednesday. The Longhorns reached the finals for the third time in the past four years. They lost to Oklahoma in 2022 and 2024. Oklahoma had won nine straight elimination games.