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We've had a thrilling Women's College World Series highlighted by two one-run games in the championship matchup. That has led to this: Texas vs. Texas Tech in tonight's Game 3 to decide who will claim its first-ever national championship.
How Texas won Game 1. How Texas Tech won Game 2. And here we are with one game for the national title. It doesn't get much better than that.
The schedule:
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Why Texas trusts in ‘guarded’ Teagan Kavan to bring the fire in deciding WCWS game
Justttt in case you guys haven’t seen it enough, there’s plenty of time to admire this awesome play from Nija Canady last night.
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Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco talks pregame about the key to victory, saying his team needs to try and keep Texas at or below three runs in seven innings.
"Our mission is to keep the score really low, and then score one more than they do," he said.
Thirteen months ago, Jayna Bardahl and I wrote about college softball’s rising popularity, with NiJaree Canady (then at Stanford) as its next breakout star.
Tonight, Canady and Texas Tech play for the national title. Expect more viewership records.
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Exposure, popularity and stars. Is college softball on the brink of a breakthrough?
This WCWS continues to break records. You love to see it.
Back in Lubbock, the Red Raiders football team will be locked in tonight:
I think we all know both of these pitchers will bring things to another level tonight. But until I see the big hit from the Red Raiders with runners in scoring position, rather than capitalizing on an error, I think I have to go with Texas here. I feel l like I can't be the only one who is really stuck between the beautiful story we've seen from Texas Tech going all-out for a star, with otherworldly support from coach Gerry Glasco's late daughter, Geri Ann, supporting the Red Raiders throughout the way. But it's also so hard for me to deny that these Longhorns have come so close so many times in the past couple of years – same with coach Mike White – and that this might be their turn.
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I've been putting off making my pick because I genuinely don't know which team will end up hosting the championship trophy at the end of the night. But, soon enough, we'll all know who came out of the Women's College World Series on top, so I'll give it my best shot.
It literally pains me to pick against NiJaree Canady, the biggest name in the sport. But I can't look past the fact that Teagan Kavan has won every single matchup against Canady when she starts in the circle. I can't look past the part that these Longhorns batters were starting to make some really good contact off of Canady last night and the fact that she's more than likely to be in the circle again. …
Players look back on their favorite WCWS memories.
Every pitch Teagan Kavan throws follows a similar routine. She stretches her right foot ahead of her left, bends her knees, raises her left arm to check the pitch call on her watch as her right hand bobbles the ball. Her gloved left hand meets her right one, she winds up and lets it fly.
It’s a symphony of movement — everywhere but her face, where her muscles are static. The hitter has no idea what she’s thinking, and that’s exactly how she wants it.
“I always try to have good composure for my team and stay strong for them, but also just growing up my mom has wanted me to keep my composure through everything,” Kavan told The Athletic. “I like to stay locked in and be what my team needs from me. I like to show some emotion every now and then, but just let it out when it needs to.”
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Why Texas trusts in ‘guarded’ Teagan Kavan to bring the fire in deciding WCWS game
Championship series shots.
I woke up this morning thinking about G3 & gotta say: I have no idea what’s going to happen!
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Friday's Game 3 will be the first Game 3 in the Women's College World Series since 2021 when Oklahoma beat Florida State. According to the broadcast on Thursday, this is the sixth deciding Game 3 in the 20 years of the three-game championship series.
Maybe there is something in the air at this Women’s College World Series causing close and wild games.
But on Thursday, the last remnants hanging in the wind were the “Guns Up” hand gestures of Texas Tech fans.
With Texas knocking, climbing back from a three-run hole to bring the game within a score, NiJaree Canady delivered three rise balls on the outside corner to strike out Kayden Henry and ice the 4-3 victory in the top of the seventh for Texas Tech.
Stomp, stomp.
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Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady snuffs Texas comeback attempt to even WCWS
It was supposed to be ball 4.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, NiJaree Canady’s first pitch drifted close to the strike zone. Trailing 1-0 and runners on second and third, Texas’ Reese Atwood decided if she saw another ball like it, she’d take the risk.
Atwood took the second and third balls, and then seeing the ball over the plate, she swung. Her two-run single put No. 6 Texas up 2-1 on No. 12 Texas Tech, and the Longhorns proceeded to steal Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series.
“The first pitch she left a little and I was like, ‘Oh,’” Atwood said postgame. “Then after that I was just looking for something, just a little bit. That game’s really tight.”
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Texas rallies past Texas Tech to win WCWS Game 1 as Atwood refuses to take intentional walk
This Women's College World Series has had a little bit of everything, and that has added up to a lot of close games. Seven of those games have ended up in one-run decisions, including Texas' 2-1 win in Game 1 and Texas Tech's 4-3 win in Game 2.
One more of those tonight would be the perfect way to wrap up this event.
The two championship games both have been decided by a single run.
Other than Tennessee beating Florida 11-3 on the second day of the event, every game in this Women's College World Series has been decided by three or fewer runs.
The other 13 games have been decided by 21 runs. This week has been so much fun.
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The two teams combined for only 11 hits in Game 2, but they turned those into seven runs. Texas Tech had four runs on five hits, and Texas had three runs on six hits.
That's what it takes sometimes in a championship setting. Will we see more of that tonight?
With a win today, not only would Teagan Kavan earn a long-awaited championship for the Texas Longhorns, but she also would surpass Texas great and Olympian Cat Osterman for the most WCWS wins in program history. Osterman seems perfectly fine with that, posting this on social media before Game 2.
Mike White is coaching in the Women's College World Series for the eighth time, including the third time with Texas (he reached the WCWS five times as Oregon's coach). This year marks his third time in the championship in the past four years.
He has 750 career wins, including 315 with Texas. But he doesn't have a national title. Is tonight the night? If not, when?