Women's College Softball World Series championship series Game 3 history
The saying is "There's nothing like Game 7 in sports." The same is true of Game 3 of the championship series in the Women's College World Series.
The 2025 season will conclude on Friday at Devon Park in Oklahoma City with a rare treat for college softball fans: a Game 3. For the seventh time since the WCWS adopted the best-of-three-game series format in 2025, everything will come down to a winner-take-all game.
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No. 6 Texas will take on No. 12 Texas Tech at 8 p.m. ET to determine which of the programs from the Lone Star State will collect their first national championship in the sport.
Here's what you need to know about the history of Game 3s in the WCWS:
How many Game 3s have there been in WCWS finals history?
The Texas-Texas Tech Game 3 on Friday will be the seventh WCWS in championship series history since the format was adopted in 2005. This will be the first one since Oklahoma stormed back from a 1-0 deficit against Florida State to win two straight to begin their dynastic four-peat.
The first Game 3 occurred the same year the new format was put in place. UCLA defeated Michigan 5-0 in Game 1, but the Wolverines earned 5-2 and 4-1 wins to win the national title. That Game 3 actually lasted 10 innings before Michigan pulled away late.
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The 2007, 2012, 2015 and 2016 Women's College World Series also went the full three games. The winner of Game 1 only won the national championship in just 2015 and 2016 WCWS.
Texas-Texas Tech 2025 WCWS
Texas opened with a 2-1 victory over Texas Tech on a clutch hit from catcher Reese Atwood. The Red Raiders were carried by NiJaree Canady in Game 2 to force the winner-takes-all Game 3.
Game 1: Texas 2, Texas Tech 1
Game 2: Texas Tech 4, Texas 3
Game 3: Texas vs. Texas Tech, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Oklahoma stuns Florida State in 2021 WCWS
Florida State's offense broke out for eight runs in Game 1 to down Oklahoma in the opener. However, Giselle Juarez and the Sooners limited the Seminoles to just three runs over the next two games to win the fifth national championship in program history.
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Game 1: Florida State 8, Oklahoma 4
Game 2: Oklahoma 6, Florida State 2
Game 3: Oklahoma 5, Florida State 1
Oklahoma defeats Auburn in 3 games for 2016 WCWS title
After taking a close victory in Game 1, the Sooners jumped out to a 7-0 lead through two innings against Auburn in Game 2 of the 2016 WCWS. However, the Tigers scored 11 consecutive runs, including four on a grand slam by Emily Carosone in the eighth inning. Paige Parker limited Auburn to one run in a gem to win Game 3.
Game 1: Oklahoma 3, Auburn 2
Game 2: Auburn 11, Oklahoma 7 (8 innings)
Game 3: Oklahoma 2, Auburn 1
Florida defeats Michigan to repeat as champions in 2015 WCWS
Michigan made Florida earn a repeat in the 2015 WCWS. The Gators took Game 1 3-2, but the Wolverines earned a 1-0 win in Game 2 to force Game 3. That's when Florida ace Lauren Haeger took over in a 4-1 Gators' win. She limited Michigan to one run on five hits in her complete game bid. She struck out five and walked one.
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Game 1: Florida 3, Michigan 2
Game 2: Michigan 1, Florida 0
Game 3: Florida 4, Michigan 1
Alabama overcomes 1-0 deficit to win first SEC softball championship in 2012
Alabama won the first-ever softball national championship in school history and the first for the SEC after falling behind the Sooners at multiple points. The Sooners took Game 1, but Alabama bounced back with an 8-6 Game 2 win. In Game 3, the Crimson Tide trailed 3-0 but scored four runs in a rain delay extended fourth inning to pull off the comeback.
Game 1: Oklahoma 4, Alabama 1
Game 2: Alabama 8, Oklahoma 6
Game 3: Alabama 5, Oklahoma 4
Arizona takes down Tennessee in 2007 WCWS
Arizona did not score a run until the 10th inning of Game 2 of the championship series in the WCWS in 2007, but the Wildcats still took the series. After winning 1-0 in 10 innings in Game 2 to even the series, Taryne Mowatt delivered a gem with 11 strikeouts in a 5-0 Arizona Game 3 win.
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Game 1: Tennessee 3, Arizona 0
Game 2: Arizona 1, Tennessee 0 (10 innings)
Game 3: Arizona 5, Tennessee 0
Michigan knocks off UCLA to win 2005 WCWS for first title
In the very first WCWS championship series, three games were not nearly enough for UCLA and Michigan. After splitting the first two games, the third and deciding game went to extra innings. Samantha Findlay hit a three-run home run in the top of the 10th to help the Wolverines win their first national championship in school history. She actually drove in all four runs for Michigan in the championship game.
Game 1: UCLA 5, Michigan 0
Game 2: Michigan 5, UCLA 2
Game 3: Michigan 4, UCLA 1 (10 innings)
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Women's College World Series championship series Game 3 history
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