STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State softball team is No. 3 in the D1Softball Preseason Top 25, tying the highest preseason ranking in the history of the program.
The Cowgirls have advanced to each of the last three Women's College World Series and return six starters – including All-Americans Kelly Maxwell and Katelynn Carwile – from last year's team that advanced to OKC and finished the 2021 season ranked third in the nation.
The 2023 preseason ranking is further validation of how the Cowgirls have earned a spot among the sport's elite in recent years.
Oklahoma State joins Arizona, Oklahoma and UCLA as the only teams to appear in each of the last three Women's College World Series.
Including the last three seasons, Oklahoma State now has 14 Women's College World Series appearances all-time; only UCLA, Arizona, Oklahoma, Arizona State and Cal have more.
Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 25 of the NFCA poll in each of its last 203 games played.
Oklahoma State's 42-12 record (77.7%) is second in the Big 12 Conference over the last three seasons, trailing only Oklahoma. The Cowgirls have finished no lower than third in the Big 12 standings in each of the last six seasons.
The Cowgirls open the season February 10 when they take on Oregon at the Puerto Vallarta Challenge in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
D1Softball Preseason Top 25
Team (2022 Record and Finish)
1. Oklahoma (59-3 National Champion)
2. UCLA (51-10 WCWS Final 4)
3. Oklahoma State (48-14 WCWS Final 4)
4. Florida State (53-7 NCAA Regional)
5. Florida (49-14 WCWS)
6. Alabama (44-13 NCAA Regional)
7. Northwestern (45-13 WCWS)
8. Arkansas (48-11 NCAA Super Regional)
9. Clemson (42-17 NCAA Super Regional)
10. Georgia (43-18 NCAA Regional)
11. Stanford (39-22 NCAA Regional)
12. Tennessee (41-18 NCAA Regional)
13. Virginia Tech (46-10 NCAA Super Regional)
14. Texas (47-22-1 WCWS Runner-up)
15. UCF (49-14 NCAA Super Regional)
16. Kentucky (37-19 NCAA Regional)
17. LSU (34-23 NCAA Regional)
18. Arizona (39-22 WCWS)
19. Auburn (40-17 NCAA Regional)
20. Louisiana (48-13 NCAA Regional)
21. Washington (38-17 NCAA Regional)
22. Duke (44-11 NCAA Regional)
23. Oregon (33-19 NCAA Regional)
24. North Texas (38-15 NCAA Regional)
25. Mississippi (41-19 NCAA Regional)
