Major Sports Weekend Ahead in Oklahoma City

The eyes of the college and professional sports worlds will center on the same place this weekend: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with one event that has become an annual staple and another that is looking like it might follow suit.

First up: the Women’s College World Series, which got underway on Thursday with a powerhouse field of eight teams — and one very notable absence.

Oklahoma had reached the WCWS 13 times from 2011 through 2025 and won four straight national championships from 2021–2024, but a bid for another crown came up short during the Super Regionals where the third-seeded Sooners were upset by unseeded Mississippi State. The top two seeds, No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Texas, remain alive.

Even without the homestate favorites, a huge crowd will pack Devon Park throughout the duration of the event, which concludes on June 5. More than 120,000 fans are expected over the week-long event, which would top the record set in 2025, when 119,778 fans showed up, averaging 11,978 per session.

All those visitors provide a boon to local hotels, which drives downtown occupancy rates past 90 percent during the opening weekend. It’s become one of the most popular events in collegiate sports on television as well, with last year’s title game won by Texas over Texas Tech ranking as ESPN’s most-watched NCAA softball game ever with 2.4 million viewers.
The WCWS has been calling OKC home since 1991 and the park will step onto the global stage in 2028 when it hosts softball during the 2028 Olympic Summer Games.

“Women’s collegiate softball isn’t just a sport to Oklahoma; it’s a part of our identity,” said Adam Wisniewski, vice president of sports development of Visit Oklahoma City. “Oklahoma City has proudly supported women’s sports for decades, and being recognized as the softball capital of the world is a privilege earned through decades of dedication to the sport. We were here at the beginning, and we are just as charged up today to welcome the world’s best athletes and fans.”
Nor is this the last time Devon Park will host a major softball event this year. It will be one of three hosts for the 2026 World Baseball Softball Confederation Women’s World Cup Group Stage, joining Lima, Peru, and Prague.

Thunder Rolling

Just like in 2025, the WCWS isn’t the only game in town this time of year. The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are the reigning NBA champions and are storming through the NBA playoffs once again. The top seed in the Western Conference has been pushed to a decisive Game 7 in the conference finals by the San Antonio Spurs. Should the Thunder survive Saturday night’s showdown, the NBA Finals would begin right where they ended a year ago: at Paycom Center.

Last year the Thunder won the franchise’s first title by taking out the Indiana Pacers. This year they would be taking on the New York Knicks, making their first Finals appearance in 27 years.

The city also has its eye on the future. In 2028, the city will be the home of an expansion team in the United Football League.