OU Softball Faces Duke in Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

Sooners look to continue strong start to season against ranked Blue Devils squad

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The third-ranked Oklahoma Sooners softball team will take on the 14th-ranked Duke Blue Devils on Friday as part of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic tournament in Cathedral City, California. The Sooners are coming off a close 6-5 extra-innings win over Cal State Fullerton in their tournament opener on Thursday.

Why it matters

This matchup between two highly ranked programs will be an early-season test for the Sooners as they look to build momentum and make a run at the Women's College World Series. The Nutter Classic features some of the top teams in the country, providing valuable experience for OU ahead of Big 12 conference play.

The details

The Sooners and Blue Devils will square off at 3:30 PM PT on Friday at the Big League Dreams Sports Park in Cathedral City. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Oklahoma is led by veteran head coach Patty Gasso, while Duke is guided by first-year head coach Marissa Young.

  • The Sooners faced Cal State Fullerton and San Diego State late Thursday, winning 6-5 over the Titans in extra innings.
  • OU and Duke will play at 3:30 PM PT on Friday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Patty Gasso

The longtime head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners softball team.

Marissa Young

The first-year head coach of the Duke Blue Devils softball team.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to take on another tough opponent in Duke. These early-season tournaments are great preparation for the challenges we'll face later in the year.”

— Patty Gasso, Head Coach, Oklahoma Sooners (The Oklahoman)

What’s next

The winner of the OU-Duke matchup will advance to face the winner of the Arizona-UCLA game on Saturday in the tournament semifinals.

The takeaway

This early-season clash between two top-15 programs will provide valuable experience for the Sooners as they look to make another deep postseason run under the guidance of veteran head coach Patty Gasso.