Oklahoma softball is back in familiar territory as the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, set to host the Norman Regional beginning Friday at Love's Field. While the Sooners have dominated the sport in recent years, this marks the third straight season they haven't claimed the top spot—a distinction that went to Alabama this year.

The Sooners (48-8) will open their postseason journey against Binghamton (20-25) at 2:30 p.m. Friday, with the game airing on SEC Network. Michigan (34-20) and Kansas (35-19) round out the regional field, setting the stage for what promises to be a competitive weekend.

Head coach Patty Gasso, celebrating her 31st NCAA Tournament appearance at OU, isn't losing sleep over the seeding. "Don't care. I can't control it," she said last week. "As long as we're home for the next two weekends, we're OK." That home-field advantage has been a fortress for the Sooners, who haven't lost a regional game since 2019 and have won 15 consecutive regionals.

Despite an early exit in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals against Georgia, OU's regular-season resume speaks volumes. The Sooners captured their second straight SEC regular-season title, winning all eight conference series. Six SEC teams earned top-eight national seeds, underscoring the league's depth.

The roster is loaded with talent, including SEC Freshman of the Year Kendall Wells and first-team selections Gabbie Garcia, Kai Minor, and Ella Parker. After falling in the Women's College World Series semifinals to Texas Tech last season, this group is hungry to reclaim the national championship.

Adding intrigue to the bracket: longtime OU assistant Melyssa Lombardi's Oregon Ducks secured the No. 14 overall seed, potentially setting up a future showdown if both teams advance. For now, the Sooners' focus is squarely on Binghamton and extending a streak of nine consecutive WCWS appearances.

Friday's first pitch at Love's Field is just the beginning of what Sooners fans hope will be another deep postseason run.