Oklahoma’s legendary coach is bringing her expertise to USA Softball to improve life for her athletes across the board.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso is hoping to bring more than just her on-field expertise to USA Softball.
The newly minted coach of USA Softball will demand the highest standards for her team between the white lines, and she hopes to raise the level of support for her athletes off the field.
“I’m also passionate about generating finances for these athletes. They give up their career to celebrate the United States, and the goal and dream of every little girl is to be an Olympian,” Gasso said during her USA Softball introductory press conference at Devon Park on Tuesday. “… Financial support for our athletes and creating a program that enables fans to contribute to the success over the last four years is really important. So not only do I want to really push these athletes to the point of excellence but I want to do everything I can to help them financially not feel like they’re giving up their world and struggling. They deserve this, and I’ll fight for that, and we can get it done.”
Gasso is no stranger to fighting for her athletes bending the scenes.
As Name, Image and Likeness conversations have dominated college athletics, the eight-time national champion has evolved how she looks at the business side of softball.
“I’m always trying to help these athletes with raising money for NIL,” Gasso said during Oklahoma softball’s media day two weeks ago. “And whatever it is I can legally do I’m doing it because I want them to have a life when they leave here with a nice little bank account that has a nice little nest egg in there for whatever it is they choose.
“… I think of Jocelyn Alo and what she’s doing now, she’s doing well. But if she was a man she would be the first pick I would expect in the draft and make millions of dollars. So why are we — why would anyone look at — women are not making millions of dollars. They’re making hundreds of dollars. And there’s a big difference. So why not help them.
Things will be no different when it comes to the 15 athletes who will represent USA Softball at the Olympics.
Gasso wants to conduct a professional training camp leading into the 2028 Olympic Games to give her team the best chance of recapturing the gold medal.
That will require immense sacrifices by every player who pushes to chase their dreams alongside Gasso.
“These athletes are giving up their careers to spend the next four years training and working,” Gasso said. “Some of them can stay in their careers, some of them cannot. But we can get closer, they’re gonna have to give up their jobs to do this, and that’s different.”