[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 31, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S5688]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 787--CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 
 SOFTBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2024 WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES, THE 
                EIGHTH NATIONAL TITLE IN PROGRAM HISTORY

  Mr. LANKFORD (for himself and Mr. Mullin) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 787

       Whereas the 2024 University of Oklahoma softball team 
     (referred to in this preamble as the ``Sooners''), under the 
     direction of head coach Patty Gasso, swept rival University 
     of Texas at Austin Longhorns in the Women's College World 
     Series championship to win its record fourth consecutive 
     National Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in this 
     preamble as ``NCAA'') title;
       Whereas the Sooners, over the 50-year history of the 
     University of Oklahoma softball program, have won 8 national 
     championships, including an unprecedented 6 in the past 8 
     seasons and 7 in the past 11 seasons, and have competed in 17 
     Women's College World Series tournaments, including 12 of the 
     last 13;
       Whereas the Sooners opened the state-of-the-art softball 
     stadium Love's Field on March 1, 2024 and drew an NCAA single 
     season record of 108,156 fans for an average crowd size of 
     4,326 per game;
       Whereas a Nation-high 5 Sooners players were named 2024 
     National Fastpitch Coaches Association (referred to in this 
     preamble as ``NFCA'') All-Americans, including Alyssa Brito 
     and Tiare Jennings, who received first-team honors;
       Whereas the Sooners won their ninth conference tournament 
     by winning the 2024 Big 12 Softball Championship in Oklahoma 
     City, defeating rival University of Texas at Austin Longhorns 
     in the title game;
       Whereas Head Coach Gasso earned her 1,500th NCAA Division I 
     win and became the first Big 12 coach in any sport, men's or 
     women's, to record 400 conference victories;
       Whereas the Sooners placed 9 student-athletes on the 2024 
     All-Big 12 teams, including a league-high 5 on the first 
     team;
       Whereas Oklahoma student-athletes received numerous honors, 
     including--
       (1) Kinzie Hansen, who was named 2024 Big 12 Defensive 
     Player of the Year;
       (2) Ella Parker, who was recognized as a top 3 finalist for 
     the 2024 Tucci/NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year;
       (3) Alyssa Brito, who was named College Sports 
     Communicators Academic All-America Team Member of the Year; 
     and
       (4) 5 Sooners, more than any other team, who were among the 
     26 finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the 
     Year award; and
       Whereas the University of Oklahoma 2024 senior class of 
     softball players closed its career with the most wins in a 4-
     year stretch in NCAA softball history, recording 235 
     victories to just 15 losses, including 73 victories to 7 
     losses in Big 12 Conference play and 41 victories to 4 losses 
     in the NCAA tournament: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses profound appreciation to Head Coach Patty 
     Gasso and the 2024 University of Oklahoma softball team for 
     the excitement and pride they bring to the University of 
     Oklahoma, the State of Oklahoma, and to Sooners everywhere; 
     and
       (2) expresses profound appreciation for the exemplary 
     manner in which the 2024 University of Oklahoma softball team 
     represents the University of Oklahoma and its tradition of 
     excellence.

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