Red dirt, sunflower seeds, and the unique tension of a season nearing its end are all mixed together in the late May air of Devon Park. The Women’s College World Series has been held in Oklahoma City for so long that the players who travel there find the location to be practically legendary. Last Thursday, eight teams showed up. There are still two. And for the second consecutive year, it comes down to Texas and Texas Tech in a tournament full of ranked contenders and record-breaking offenses.
Just that fact warrants a pause. The WCWS finals will feature an exact rematch of the previous year’s championship series for the first time since the best-of-three championship format was implemented. Texas, the reigning champion, will play No. 11 Texas Tech on Wednesday at 8 p.m. on ESPN. Even if the average viewer hasn’t noticed yet, you get the impression that college softball fans are subtly aware they’re witnessing something unusual take place.
Texas had to work hard to get here. The Longhorns advanced through the elimination round after losing their first game to Tennessee. On Monday alone, they defeated the Lady Vols twice and outscored them 9-2 in both games. Katie Stewart, a junior first baseman, hit a home run in both games. If that doesn’t sound like much, keep in mind that Stewart is hitting.429 this season with a slugging percentage of just under.989, 30 home runs, and 77 RBIs. At Texas, that home run total is a program record for a single season. She is from Frankfurt, Illinois, and she appears completely unfazed by the fact that she is playing on the biggest stage in college softball.
If anything, Texas Tech’s journey was even more dramatic. Before turning around and defeating top-ranked Alabama on Monday, the Red Raiders had to defeat UCLA in a thrilling game on Sunday that went into extra innings after a two-run shot by Jordan Woolery almost gave the Bruins new life. In the tournament, that Alabama team had a 7-0 record. In no single game had their pitching staff given up more than three runs. Mia Williams’ solo home run in the seventh inning allowed Texas Tech to walk them off, but NiJaree Canady’s complete-game shutout helped them win 2-0 the following game.
It’s worth staying in Canady. Pitching in the WCWS for the last time in her career, the highest-paid college softball player is doing what the best players usually do: preserving the purest version of herself for the most crucial moment. In Game 2 against Alabama, there were six strikeouts, one hit, and one walk. She struck out UCLA to win the game earlier in the tournament. Observing her gives me the impression that she knows something about pressure that most people have to discover the hard way.
At least from the outside, Tennessee’s departure hurts. The Lady Vols had defeated Texas earlier in the tournament and had the best pitching staff in the nation. Instead of starting ace Karlyn Pickens in the semifinal opener, head coach Karen Weekly decided to hold her back for an if-necessary game. Looking back, this decision gave Texas just enough time to gain momentum. Pickens was unable to stop the Longhorns when it mattered most, despite writing an incredibly sincere letter to softball that went viral on social media this week. It was a narrow margin. It is at this level all the time.
And there’s UCLA. With 42 home runs at the end of the season, Megan Grant set a new NCAA single-season record. In a single season, the Bruins broke all previous records for home runs, runs scored, RBIs, and extra-base hits. Texas Tech still defeated them 8–7. The most statistically dominant offensive team in college softball history might have needed one more out, but it just didn’t happen. Nebraska and UCLA gave the Big Ten real championship hopes going into the tournament, but they left empty-handed once more. It was last won by Michigan in 2005. That disparity continues to grow.
Every June, Devon Park provides something that college athletics seldom does well: real stakes, top players, and narratives that don’t need to be explained by a marketing department. The first game is on Wednesday. NiJaree Canady versus Teagan Kavan. burned orange in contrast to black and red. If you haven’t been following college softball, now would be a good time to start.
