Why does Teagan Kavan wear No. 17? Texas softball ace honoring late grandmother

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Why does Teagan Kavan wear No. 17? Texas softball ace honoring late grandmother
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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.
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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."