Therapy dogs could be X-factor for Women's College World Series finalists Oklahoma and FSU

Being one of eight teams at the Women's College World Series can be stressful. The double-elimination tournament means a week full of intensity and focus to win a national championship.

That's where Ripley, a 115-pound Rottweiler therapy dog, steps to the plate.

She's no "Air Bud," but she's one of the therapy dogs proving to be a game changer for teams at the Women's College World Series. During a time when softball is the only thing on the minds of players and coaches, A New Leash on Life, a therapy dog and service dog training program, is giving teams a break from the game to enjoy some furry company — and sometimes a victory after the visit.

WCWS PREVIEW:Oklahoma's bid for history against Florida State

Why therapy dogs at the Women's College World Series?

David Rudkin, scheduling coordinator for A New Leash on Life and Ripley’s owner, has coordinated therapy dog visits in and around the Norman, Oklahoma in recent years. But last year, Rudkin thought about whether he could make visits to Oklahoma City, where the WCWS takes place.

“These teams are coming from all over the country. They're leaving their home, their place of comfort,” Rudkin told USA TODAY Sports. “Not only is it stressful enough being a student, but it's super stressful being a DI athlete, and these are the elite athletes of the entire softball world."

So Rudkin reached out to teams in the 2022 WCWS to see if they wanted a visit from therapy dogs, thinking “the worst thing they can do is say no.” Six teams ended up saying yes, kickstarting a new activity for softball teams in the state.

Since visiting teams at last year’s tournament, Rudkin expanded his outreach once the NCAA softball tournament began. He coordinated visits during this year’s Norman Regional with Hofstra and Missouri. For the super regional, dogs visited Clemson when they played the Sooners. 

For this year’s WCWS, therapy dogs visited three teams. 

'When people are petting the dogs, they forget about everything else'

Anywhere from three to six dogs will visit teams, including Ripley. The visits are not coordinated with the NCAA, and are typically done either in hotel lobbies or in conference rooms. Rudkin said he enjoys the reactions players have when they see the dogs. It usually comes as a surprise, and the response is the reason Rudkin said he continues to do it.

“Their mouths drop, their eyes get real big, they just get excited. You can literally see stress leave a person's body when they see the dogs. The excitement goes crazy,” Rudkin said. “When people are petting the dogs, they forget about everything else that's going on in the world.”

Rudkin and other dog owners also get to talk to the players about the dogs they have at home. Instead of a softball story, it becomes one about people who love dogs. 

“It's fun for me. I enjoy it, and my dog enjoys it,” he added.

A good luck charm?

The play in Oklahoma City has been nothing short of spectacular, as Oklahoma and Florida State begin the championship series Wednesday night. But despite the Sooners' and Seminoles' dominant performances, Ripley could be the X-factor.

The three teams Ripley visited this year were Washington, Florida State and Oklahoma. When Ripley visited Washington, the Huskies beat Utah. When Ripley visited Florida State, the Huskies beat Washington. And when Ripley visited Oklahoma, the Sooners defeated Stanford to punch their ticket to the championship series.

“Ripley is 3-0 this year,” Rudkin said. 

Ripley and the other therapy dogs don’t have any planned visits with Florida State or Oklahoma during the championship series, but if there’s teams want an edge to reach the WCWS next season, Rudkin may be the person to call.