
Why Oklahoma's elimination from the 2025 Women's College World Series is so shocking
Why Oklahoma's elimination from the 2025 Women's College World Series is so shocking
A dynasty's absolutely staggering Women's College World Series run has officially come to a halt.
During Monday night's WCWS semifinal game in Oklahoma City, Texas Tech stunned Oklahoma in a 3-2 victory to make it to this year's NCAA softball championship series.
Believe it or not, Oklahoma has actually won the last four Women's College World Series outright, making Monday's elimination all the more shocking for softball fans around the world.
Since there was not a WCWS in 2020, the last non-Oklahoma winner was 2019's UCLA. The Sooners have won every title in this decade.
Only three other schools (UCLA, Florida State and Florida) have won WCWS titles since 2013 since Oklahoma has won seven national titles in that span.
Texas Tech will now contend for the Women's College World Series, while Oklahoma will watch its complete domination over the sport come to a temporary close.
However, we have a feeling the Sooners will be back in contention in 2026.

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New York Times
32 minutes ago
- New York Times
NBA's small markets come with an advantage: A closer connection between team, fans
OKLAHOMA CITY — There is another side to the discussion of this being the 'small market NBA Finals,' one that has nothing to do with concerns over potentially low TV ratings. The players and coaches who live and work in Oklahoma City and Indianapolis, well, they seem to really like it. They feel supported by seemingly familiar faces and sense a lack of cynicism and expectation that seems to go with playing in the big cities like New York and Los Angeles. Advertisement The Thunder and Pacers, who met reporters Wednesday for NBA Finals Media Day, want the charm of their, colloquially speaking, small hometowns to come across to what they hope is a viewing audience of millions. The series, which features a team in the United States' 47th-largest TV market, Oklahoma City, playing against another in the nation's 25th-largest market in Indianapolis, starts at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Thunder's PayCor Arena. 'To be in a market where everybody is rooting for you, everybody is supporting you, everybody is encouraging you, and you feel that at the games and in the community, I honestly think that has an impact on our player development,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. The population of Oklahoma City is about 700,000. The Thunder is the state's only major professional sports franchise (though the Oklahoma and Oklahoma State college teams command great attention). The state of Oklahoma is the 20th largest in the U.S. in terms of land mass, at nearly 70,000 square miles. The Thunder last played in the finals in 2012 and went through a brief but major rebuild following the 2020 season that ended in the Disney Bubble. Daigneault said that while the Thunder were losing 50-plus games and giving their young players a chance to learn, the benefits of playing in front of a smaller, more supportive fan base were obvious. Jalen Williams, an All-Star and All-NBA selection this season who went to high school in the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert, Ariz. (population, about 275,000), was drafted 12th in 2022 after the Thunder lost 58 games the season before. He remembers fans gathering outside his hotel when he first flew to Oklahoma City from New York following the draft — and the welcoming atmosphere hasn't stopped. 'I always compare it to, like, a small local high school football team being really good, and the city around them kind of gathers around them,' Williams said. 'That's how Oklahoma is. But it's (like) that with the whole state. Everywhere we go, I've been met with love since I've been out here. It's a really cool experience.' Advertisement About 740 miles to the northeast, in Indianapolis, the Pacers beat the Knicks in Game 6 on Saturday night to clinch the Eastern Conference finals. Coach Rick Carlisle took the microphone during the trophy presentation and said to 17,000 delirious fans: 'In 49 other states, it's just basketball. But this is Indiana.' The scene on the streets downtown after the game was reminiscent of a big homecoming win for Carmel or Munster or Speedway Senior high schools, or for Hickory High (OK, that one's made up, but how could we talk about this without mentioning 'Hoosiers'?). The streets were clogged with cars, their drivers jubilantly honking horns. A crowd surrounded the players' parking garage, which is across the street from the arena, chanting 'MVP' and wishing congratulations upon either Pascal Siakam (the actual conference MVP) or Tyrese Haliburton (the face of the franchise) as they pulled out. Indianapolis is larger than Oklahoma City (but only by some 180,000 people) and the Colts of the NFL occupy the stadium a couple of blocks away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Indianapolis 500 is one of the most popular racing events in the world, and the state of Indiana has Notre Dame (college football runner-up, bruh), Indiana University and Purdue competing for attention. Also, of course, Caitlin Clark lives there, starring for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA — a league that is exploding in popularity with Clark at the seat of it. There remains a synergy between Indianapolis residents and their teams, and also with the players on the teams themselves. There were countless Colts and Fever stars on hand for the Pacers' conference finals against the Knicks, and the Pacers are often there for Fever games. 'Our home-court advantages are different because people are really passionate about our teams,' Haliburton said. 'Their parents were passionate about the team, and their parents before that were passionate about the team. I think that's a different type of home-court advantage or different type of fan than like a bigger city, if that makes sense.' Advertisement Haliburton grew up in Oshkosh, Wis., and went to college at Iowa State in Ames, two cities with nearly identical population sizes (about 66,000). He said 'Indy is a much bigger place than I'm even accustomed to. 'I know people say it's a small market,' Haliburton said. 'Like, I didn't grow up somewhere where it was much bigger, have more to do. So, I love being in Indy. Indy has been a great place for me and my family. My whole family lives there now. We love being there. It's a lot of fun for me. I don't need, like, the glitz and glamour of a large city or anything. 'I really like the hometown, small-town feel from our fans. I think OKC can relate to that, as well. … That's why I enjoy being a part of it, why I want to be a part of it for the rest of my career. I really enjoy being a Pacer.' Carlisle has basically been in the NBA since 1984 when the Celtics drafted him. He has played for or coached teams in every market size imaginable. He said, 'When you have a good situation, you're working with great people, and your team is good, that's a great place to live.' Carlisle apparently didn't want to espouse the benefits of coaching a team in Indianapolis specifically. He told a story instead of meeting Thunder general manager Sam Presti when Presti was an intern in San Antonio in 2000, and he credited Presti and Indiana general manager Kevin Pritchard as two of the best team builders in the league. 'This series should celebrate those two guys, their staffs, what they've done,' Carlisle said. 'As far as the markets, I understand that there would be concern for how many people would watch because they're smaller markets. But if we're celebrating the game and we're putting game above all, which is one of the things that Adam Silver said when he became commissioner, then it really shouldn't matter. It really shouldn't matter. 'So I know that we're going to do our very best to represent our city, our state at the best possible level. Thunder will do the same.' (Photo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signing autographs for Thunder fans: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)


USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Texas vs Texas Tech softball lookback: How WCWS finalists fared in regular season
Texas vs Texas Tech softball lookback: How WCWS finalists fared in regular season Show Caption Hide Caption Why Texas Tech, Texas will win 2025 WCWS It's a Lone Star State Women's College World Series this year, and reporter Jenni Carlson breaks down one reason Texas Tech will win and one reason Texas will win the WCWS. When Texas and Texas Tech likely deploy ace pitchers Teagan Kavan and NiJaree Canady on June 4 for Game 1 of the national championship series, it won't be the first time either arm has faced off this season. Kavan and Canady, who have led the Longhorns and Red Raiders, respectively, to undefeated showings at the Women's College World Series this season, met early in the regular season. Texas got the best of Texas Tech in both of their meetings, coming away with a 2-1 win and an 11-0 run-rule two days later. Kavan and Canady have been paramount to their teams' success in the postseason: Kavan has allowed two runs in 17 innings at the WCWS, whereas Canady has surrendered three in 21 innings. Both programs are looking for their first national championship in program history in 2025, and their early season-matchup proved to be a preview of the title series nearly four months later. Here's a look back at Texas and Texas Tech's regular season matchups in February: Texas vs Texas Tech regular season matchups Texas and Texas Tech's first of two matchups during the regular season was quite the pitchers' duel, as the Longhorns needed nine innings to come away with a 2-1 win. Kavan and Canady both pitched complete games in the extra-innings duel on Feb. 14, with Kavan edging out Canady behind perhaps the best performance of her college career so far. Kavan tossed nine innings with a whopping 18 strikeouts, allowing one run on four hits against the Red Raiders lineup. Nine of her 18 strikeouts came against Texas Tech's 1-2-3 hitters of Mihyia Davis, Alana Johnson and Lauren Allred, who have all been huge contributors during the Red Raiders' postseason run. Canady, meanwhile, pitched eight innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits with 11 strikeouts. Texas walked off Canady and Texas Tech in the ninth inning after Joley Mitchell and Leighann Goode led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Mitchell scored the game-winning run on a fielder's choice and a throwing error later in the frame. Texas Tech took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on a single by Anya German, before Texas tied the game at 1-1 in the fifth inning on a double from Mia Scott. Two days later on Feb. 16, Texas defeated Texas Tech 11-0 in five innings, although Canady didn't pitch in the game. Canady has pitched nearly every inning in the postseason, including every pitch from the super regionals onward. It doesn't seem like the former National Player of the Year is going to let anyone else pitch in the national championship series.


USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Why does Teagan Kavan wear No. 17? Texas softball ace honoring late grandmother
Why does Teagan Kavan wear No. 17? Texas softball ace honoring late grandmother Show Caption Hide Caption Why Texas Tech, Texas will win 2025 WCWS It's a Lone Star State Women's College World Series this year, and reporter Jenni Carlson breaks down one reason Texas Tech will win and one reason Texas will win the WCWS. As the Women's College World Series championship series begins June 4 in Oklahoma City, Teagan Kavan has Texas two wins away from reaching the college softball mountaintop for the first time in program history. The sophomore right-hander has once again dazzled at the WCWS, posting a 2-0 record with a 0.41 ERA in 17 innings of work while recording her fourth career save in Texas' semifinal win vs. Tennessee. That clinched the Longhorns' first back-to-back appearance in the championship series in program history. Kavan's dominance this season in Oklahoma City has also come with a heavy heart, as she has had to deal with the loss of her grandmother, who was a passionate and dedicated Longhorns fan over the last two seasons. REQUIRED READING: Teagan Kavan-Caitlin Clark connection: What to know of Texas ace, basketball star The West Des Moines, Iowa native is expected to have the start for the Longhorns in Game 1 of the WCWS championship series on June 4 at 8 p.m. ET against No. 12 Texas Tech and NiJaree Canady in Oklahoma City at Devon Park. Here's what you need to know on the meaning behind Kavan's jersey number: Why does Teagan Kavan wear No. 17 for Texas softball? Kavan wears the No. 17 on her jersey because of her late grandmother, Anna, who died before the Longhorns' WCWS game on May 31 vs. Oklahoma. Her grandmother was 97 years old. "I wear 17 for my grandma, who was born on Nov. 17, 1928. She is 97 years old, and softball is her favorite part of most days. Her love and support for me knows no bounds," Kavan said in a statement released on Texas' official X (formerly Twitter) account. "Though many miles separate us, she is with me every pitch. She doesn't miss a game, and while she sometimes gets too nervous to watch live, she will replay the recordings of my games over and over. Through the No. 17, I honor her, her love for the game, and her love for life itself." Pitching with a heavy heart on May 31 vs. the Longhorns' longtime rival, Kavan delivered perhaps one of her best outings of the season, pitching her 16th complete game of the year while striking out eight OU hitters. She only gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks. Following Texas' 4-2 win against Oklahoma — its first win against the Sooners in the WCWS — Kavan told reporters at Devon Park in Oklahoma City that there was no thought of her skipping her start. "No," Kavan said. "They told me it was my ball if I wanted it. I said, 'Yeah.' That was it." Added Kavan on ESPN to Holly Rowe after the game: "My grandma has the best seat in the house. This is where she wants me. She's rooting for us all the way, and this is where she wants us." In that same interview with Rowe, Kavan credited her teammates for being there for her and "having her back" as a way she was able to get through the start pitch by pitch. The ability to come through for her team stood out to her coach, Mike White, and several teammates. "When Teagan told us this morning, it was honestly my worst nightmare. I was scared that's what it was when she texted us this morning," said Longhorns infielder Joley Mitchell. "But she told us, the first thing she said she's good and she's ready to go today. So Teagan Kavan is my hero today."