Game 1 of the 2024 Women's College World Series was a nail-biting affair, packed with home runs and heart-stopping moments between the top-seeded Texas Longhorns and the No. 2 seed Oklahoma Sooners.
The Sooners showcased their strength right from the start, scoring first with a powerful two-run homer from Tiare Jennings. However, Texas didn't back down, swiftly responding when Mia Scott hit a homer out of Devon Park.
Undeterred, Oklahoma continued their impressive performance with another two-run homer from Kenzie Hansen, forcing Texas to make a pitching change. Mac Morgan stepped in for the Longhorns' Teagan Kavan on the mound, but the Sooners' Kasidi Pickering wasn't done yet, adding another home run to the scoreboard.
Texas remained competitive and gained momentum in the sixth inning by scoring two runs, narrowing the Sooners' lead to 8-3. Despite attempting to mount a comeback, Oklahoma secured the victory over Texas in Game 1 of the Women's College World Series, setting the stage for a must-see Game 2 in the best-of-three series on Thursday night.
Here are all the best moments from the WCWS Game 1 at Devon Park.
2024 Women's College World Series:Oklahoma-Texas odds to win national title
Oklahoma vs. Texas: Game 1 highlights
Oklahoma vs. Texas: Game 2 TV, Streaming and how to watch
- Date: Thursday, June 6, 2024
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Devon Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN+, fuboTV
How to watch:Catch the Women College World Series with a ESPN+ Subscription
Oklahoma wins Game 1 of the WCWS final series
Texas couldn't continue the momentum in the 7th against Kelly Maxwell, and the Oklahoma Sooners won Game 1 with a score of 8-3. The Sooners are now one win away from a four consecutive national championship.
Maloney makes a must-see catch
Ashton Maloney made an incredible catch that would have been Kasidi Pickering's second home run. Texas is up to bat in the bottom of the 7th in their last chance to make a comeback in Game 1.
Brito scores for Oklahoma in the 7th
Citlaly Gutierrez is now pitching for Texas, which marks their fourth pitching change of the game. Alyssa Britto hits to right center, reaches second base, and steals third. Britto then reaches home plate after another Texas error.
Oklahoma gets out of the jam
Kelly Maxwell strikes out Victoria Hunter, preventing Texas from adding to the score. Oklahoma is up to bat at the top of the 7th.
Texas is gaining momentum in the 6th
Joley Mitchell connects with the ball, hitting a single to right field, allowing Alyssa Washington to reach home plate and score another run for the Longhorns in the bottom of the 6th. Oklahoma leads 7-3 against Texas.
Martinez adds run on the board for Texas
Vivi Martinez finds home plate after Katie Steward singled to the right, giving Texas a much-needed run. Oklahoma leads 7-2 against Texas.
Martinez gets on 3rd for Texas
Vivi Martinez hit the ball hard to the right and safely reached third base, sliding headfirst. Texas is attempting to score and inject some energy into the game.
Oklahoma leading Texas 7-1
Estelle Czech is on the mound for Texas and catcher Reese Atwood mistook a strikeout to Alynah Torres as the final needed, allowing Avery Hodge to advance to third base. Tiare Jennings then hit a single to left, allowing Hodge to score. As a result, the Sooners are leading 7-1, with the Longhorns up to bat in the bottom of the 6th inning.
Another 1,2,3 for Maxwell
Kelly Maxwell retired three consecutive Longhorns batters in the bottom of the 5th for the second time in Game 1. Oklahoma is now at bat in the top of the 6th.
Is there a mercy rule at the women’s college World Series?
According to the NCAA, if a team is leading by eight or more runs after five or more complete innings, the plate umpire may declare the run-ahead rule. This rule applies to both the NCAA Tournament and the Women's College World Series, including the championship series.
Sooners score off Texas error
Kenzie Hansen adds another run for the Sooners after an overthrow error by Texas opened the way to home plate. Oklahoma is now leading 6-1 against Texas, and the Longhorns are up to bat in the bottom of the 5th inning.
Oklahoma keeps Texas at one run
Kelly Maxwell continued her dominant pitching for the Sooners, holding Texas to the lone run scored in the 1st. It's the Sooners' turn to bat in the top of the 5th.
Texas holds Oklahoma in the 4th
Oklahoma couldn't capitalize on any solid chances against Mac Morgan in the top of the 4th inning. Texas is up to bat in the bottom of the 4th.
Texas couldn't answer in the 3rd
Despite consecutive walks, the Longhorns were powerless against Kelly Maxwell and couldn't narrow the gap. Oklahoma is up to bat at the top of the 4th.
Home-run derby for the Sooners
Another home run for Oklahoma as Kasidi Pickering hits it out of Devon Park, forcing Texas to make a pitching change. Mac Morgan is now on the mound for Texas.
Two-run home run for Sooners in the 3rd
Kenzie Hansen hit a two-run homer for the Sooners in the top of the 3rd, giving the Sooners a 4-1 lead over Texas.
1,2,3 for Maxwell
It was a quick three Texas batters up and three Texas batters down for Kelly Maxwell. The Sooners are up to bat in the bottom of the 3rd.
Kavan keeps Oklahoma at 2
Longhorns Pitcher Teagan Kavan held Oklahoma scoreless in the 2nd. Texas is up to bat in the bottom of the 2nd inning.
Oklahoma 2-1 Texas, heading into the 2nd
The Oklahoma Sooners remain ahead with two runs while holding the Texas Longhorns to 1 run. The Sooners are up to bat at the top of the 2nd inning.
Longhorns answers back in the 1st
Mia Scott hit a one-run home run out of Devon Park, getting Texas on the scoreboard.
Ella Parker doubled to deep right
Ella Parker smacked a hard ball into the deep right outfield, making it to second base. The Sooners currently have one out.
Sooners lead early in the 1st
The Oklahoma Sooners were the first to bat in Game 1 of the Women's College World Series. Tiare Jennings hit a two-run home run early to get the Sooners going.
Oklahoma vs. Texas: Game 1 TV, Streaming and how to watch
- Date: Wednesday, June 5, 2024
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Where: Devon Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN+, fuboTV
2024 WCWS Oklahoma vs. Texas: Schedule and how to watch
Wednesday, June 5:
Game 1: 8 p.m. ET pm ESPN or stream on ESPN+
Thursday, June 6:
Game 2: 7:30 p.m. ET pm ESPN or stream on ESPN+
Friday, June 7:
Game 3(if necessary): 8 p.m. ET on ESPN or stream on ESPN+
2024 Women's College World Series starting lineups
The Oklahoma Sooners lineup:
The Texas Longhorns lineup:
2024 Women's college world series bracket
Bracket according to NCAA.
May 30:
- Game 1:(6) UCLA 4, (14) Alabama 1
- Game 2:(2) Oklahoma 9,(10) Duke 1
- Game 3:(1) Texas 4,(8) Stanford 0
- Game 4:(4) Florida 1,(5) Oklahoma State 0
May 31 - Loser's bracket (elimination games)
- Game 5:Alabama 2,Duke 1
- Game 6:Stanford 8,Oklahoma State 0
June 1 - Winner's bracket
- Game 7:Oklahoma 1,UCLA 0
- Game 8:Texas 10,Florida0
June 2
- Game 9:Florida 6,Alabama 4
- Game 10:Stanford 3,UCLA 1
June 3
- Game 11:Florida 9,Oklahoma 3
- Game 13:Texas 1,Stanford 0
June 4
- Game 12:Oklahoma6,Florida 5
Oklahoma offense: Sooners’ leading hitters
Oklahoma Sooners leading hitters in 2024:
According to ESPN:
- Brito: .491 OBP, .810 SLG, 18 HR, 60 RBI
- Jennings: .470 OBP, .831 SLG, 24 HR, 64 RBI
- Parker: .517 OBP, .713 SLG, 12 HR, 58 RBI, 17 SB
- Coleman: .491 OBP, .810 SLG, 18 HR, 60 RBI
- Pickering: .511 OBP, .669 SLG, 10 HR, 45 RBI
- Hanson: .470 OBP, .664 SLG, 10 HR, 39 RBI
- Sanders: .461 OBP, .635 SLG, 14 HR, 43 RBI
- Torres: .415 OBP, .606 SLG, 9 HR, 35 RBI
- Boone: .451 OBP, .509 SLG, 1 HR, 26 RBI
Texas offense: Longhorns' leading hitters
Texas Longhorns leading hitters in 2024:
According to ESPN:
- Atwood: .502 OBP, .880 SLG, 23 HR, 92 RBI
- Scott: .486 OBP, .698 SLG, 11 HR, 57 RBI
- Stewart: .490 OBP, .691 SLG, 13 HR, 58 RBI
- Mitchell: .483 OBP, .636 SLG, 8 HR, 35 RBI, 11 SB
- Washington: .422 OBP, .634 SLG, 10 HR, 34 RBI
- Martinez: .443 OBP, .607 SLG, 5 HR, 52 RBI
- Dayton: .471 OBP, .566 SLG, 3 HR, 33 RBI, 13 SB
- Henry: .419 OBP, .587 SLG, 9 HR, 35 RBI, 26 SB
- Maloney: .434 OBP, .397 SLG, 21 RBI
2024 WCWS Oklahoma vs. Texas: History between the programs
Since 2005, the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns have faced each other 56 times. The Sooners have emerged victorious in 43 of these meetings, while Texas has won 13.
Their most recent matchup was on May 11, when the Sooners defeated the Longhorns 5-1. Before that, the Longhorns won the other two matchups of 2024 with a score of 2-1, which were in Austin, Texas.
Road to the 2024 WCWS finals: Oklahoma vs. Texas
May 30:
Oklahoma 9-1 Duke: The Oklahoma Sooners eased to a opening round win, defeating Duke 9-1 in six innings.
Texas 4-0 Stanford: The Texas Longhorns were too much for the Stanford Cardinals in the first game, defeating Stanford 4-0 in their first game at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
June 1:
Oklahoma 1-0 UCLA: The Oklahoma Sooners battled it out against the UCLA Bruins to edge past the Bruins 1-0.
Texas 10-0 Florida: The Texas Longhorns showed their dominance over the Florida Gators to move on in the Women's College World Series.
June 3:
Texas 1-0 Stanford: The lone run by freshman Teegan Kavan punched the Texas Longhorns ticket to the 2024 Women's College World Series finals.
Florida 9-3 Oklahoma: The Florida Gators were too much for the Oklahoma Sooners and forced a second game to determine who will advance to the 2024 Women's College World Series final and face the Texas Longhorns.
June 4:
Oklahoma 6-5 Florida: It was ultimately the defending champions, the Oklahoma Sooners, with a run-off homerun to earn the bid to the 2024 WCWS and face familiar foe, the Texas Longhorns.
Oklahoma vs. Texas: Odds, spread and lines for Women's College World Series
The Oklahoma Sooners are favored to win the Women's College World Series, according to the FanDuel odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting appsoffering 2024 sports betting promos.
Odds listed as of Wednesday.
- Moneyline: Oklahoma Sooners (-130); Texas Longhorns (+102)
2024 WCWS Oklahoma vs. Texas predictions
The Oklahoman: Oklahoma 2, Texas 1
Jeff Patterson writes: "What's the Ric Flair line? More or less to be the champion, you have to beat the champion. The Sooners are three-time defending champs for a reason. Even when they're faced with the pressure of trailing in an elimination game, they rarely rattle. While the Longhorns are a deserving No. 1 seed, they didn't overpower the Sooners in winning two of three games in Austin in the regular season. (The Sooners outscored the Longhorns 7-6 in the series, after all.) And OU looked very impressive in a 5-1 win against UT in the Big 12 Tournament title game."
Heartland College Sports: Texas in a three-game thriller
Staff writes: "I legitimately can’t decide which team will win this series. But what I will say is this: Don’t make any plans for Friday night because this series is going to take three games to decide, and that final game of the 2024 WCWS is going to be something that we’ll be talking about for years to come. If you forced me to choose, I’d say Texas is better situated to take the series, but picking against Oklahoma just feels dumb. So, with that, get to your seats and bust open that popcorn. This one is going to be fun."
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.
