NCAA softball super regionals recap: Texas Tech's million-dollar investment pays off

Yahoo

26-05-2025

Last summer, Texas Tech made a dazzling million-dollar move in hopes of making it to its first-ever Women's College World Series.
It paid off.
On Friday, No. 12 Texas Tech swept No. 5 Florida State in the Tallahassee super regionals behind star ace NiJaree Canady, who threw every pitch for the Red Raiders in the historic back-to-back wins. Florida State's hitters went 5-of-49 (.102) in the series.
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Canady — the 6-foot junior transfer from Stanford who accepted a $1,050,024 name, image and likeness offer to transform the Red Raiders' program — will now compete in her third straight WCWS after leading Stanford there in 2023 and 2024, and Texas Tech's first.
The Red Raiders were the first to secure a WCWS bid. Previously, they made just six NCAA tournament appearances and never advanced out of the regional round. Florida State, however, has made the super regionals at minimum 11 straight times, winning it all in 2018.
This year, the Red Raiders won their first Big 12 regular-season and conference titles, thanks in large part to Canady's nation-leading 0.81 ERA.
Super regionals winners
Eugene: No. 16 Oregon
After taking down No. 1 Texas A&M in a dramatic regional round, Liberty fell to Oregon in two straight games in its first-ever super regional appearance.
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The Flames pushed the Ducks into extra innings in their first meeting, where the Ducks prevailed 3-2. A 13-1 drubbing in Game 2 sent Oregon to its first WCWS since 2018.
Norman: No. 2 Oklahoma
The reigning champions cruised through another round of the postseason, shutting No. 15 Alabama out 3-0 in Game 1 before claiming its super regional with a 13-2 thrashing in Game 2.
The Sooners now advance to their ninth straight WCWS.
Gainesville: No. 3 Florida
The Gators won Game 1 6-1, but the Bulldogs evened the series with a 2-1 lead in Game 2. It was Florida that won the day in Game 3 with a 5-2 win, sending the Gators to their 13th WCWS.
Fayetteville: Ole Miss
Ole Miss pulled off another big upset in the super regional, taking down No. 4 Arkansas in Game 3 to make its first-ever WCWS.
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The Rebels took a 5-4 lead in the fourth inning and never looked back, conquering the series with a 7-4 victory over the No. 4-seeded Razorbacks in Game 3.
Tallahassee: No. 12 Texas Tech
Canady's dominance caught the attention of perhaps Texas Tech's most famous alum, Patrick Mahomes, who was also reportedly a part of Canady's recruitment to Texas Tech, per ESPN.
Austin: No. 6 Texas
It was a 10-inning affair between Texas and No. 11 Clemson in Game 2, which ended with the Longhorns staving off elimination with a 7-5 triumph.
One day later, Texas punched its ticket to its eighth WCWS after another narrow 6-5 win.
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The Longhorns were ahead by three runs entering the bottom of the seventh. A single and a homer quickly brought the game within reach for the Tigers, but Marian Collins grounded out to Texas pitcher Mac Morgan.
Knoxville: No. 7 Tennessee
One run proved all the difference, twice.
Tennessee outlasted Nebraska in the last two of three games, recovering with 3-2 and 1-0 wins after dropping the first.
The Volunteers reached their ninth WCWS after Ella Dodge hit the winning, first-inning homer in Game 3. SEC Pitcher of the Year Karlyn Pickens was dominant, pitching all but three innings in the series. She gave up just two hits, walked one and struck out 10 batters to advance to Oklahoma City for the second time in three years.
Jordy Bahl threw every pitch for Nebraska, recording 16 hits, 16 strikeouts and a 2.0 ERA in 20 innings.
Columbia: No. 9 UCLA
No. 8 South Carolina was one out away from Oklahoma City in Game 2 of the Columbia super regionals. Then Jordan Woolery happened.
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The UCLA junior was struggling, going 0-for-6 across the two games. But she saved her best for her last at-bat of the day, blasting her 23rd home run of the season for the walk-off win to force a Game 3, which UCLA won 5-0.
The Bruins now advance to the WCWS for an NCAA-record 33rd time in program history.
Women's College World Series schedule
The eight teams that reach the WCWS compete in a double-elimination format. The final two teams then play in a best-of-three series for the national championship.
All eight teams begin the double elimination round on May 29. All times in ET.
Bracket 1
Florida vs. Texas, noon.
Tennessee vs. Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m.
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Bracket 2
Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss, 7 p.m.
Oregon vs. UCLA, 9:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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