Latest news with #SummittBlue
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Why does Tennessee softball wear blue? What to know about 'Summitt Blue' uniforms
Why does Tennessee softball wear blue? What to know about 'Summitt Blue' uniforms Show Caption Hide Caption Karen Weekly on Tennessee softball beating Nebraska to advance to WCWS Tennessee softball coach Karen Weekly talks about the Lady Vols' 1-0 win over Nebraska to advance to Women's College World Series. Tennessee softball rallied after a Game 1 loss to Nebraska in the super regionals, winning Games 2 and 3 to advance to the Women's College World Series. The No. 7 Lady Vols wore their all-blue uniforms for the series-clinching win on Sunday, setting up a first-round WCWS matchup with No. 2 Oklahoma. Tennessee might bring back the all-blue uniforms again in Oklahoma City, which might be unusual for some college softball fans not aware of the Lady Vols' history. WCWS bracket 2025: Full schedule, matchups for NCAA softball tournament All of Tennessee's women's sports programs wear "Summitt Blue" uniforms in honor of Pat Summitt, the legendary Lady Vols basketball coach. Here's everything to know about Tennessee softball's blue uniforms, and how they came about: Why does Tennessee softball wear blue? Tennessee softball started wearing blue jerseys in 2022, as part of the "Summitt Legacy" collection of uniforms for Vols women's sports. Lady Vols soccer, volleyball, softball and basketball all have blue uniform options. Lady Vols softball stepped it up in 2025, however, introducing a full blue uniform for the first time. Previously, the team wore white or orange pants with their blue jerseys. The "Summitt Blue" collection launched in 2022 as part of the 50th anniversary of Title IX. It was then when Tennessee officially renamed the blue accents that are part of the school's colors in honor of Summitt. "Well, I think I finally got over the idea that we'd look like North Carolina if we wore all Summitt Blue," Lady Vols softball coach Karen Weekly told the Knoxville News-Sentinel earlier this year. "The little touches to it, like the Summitt legacy patch on it, because Pat Summitt is a big part of our program, a big part of me and Ralph (Weekly). We wouldn't be here, we wouldn't have the success we've had here if it wasn't for Pat Summitt." Summitt coached at Tennessee from 1974-2012 and won eight national championships and went to 18 Final Fours. She was gifted the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama and was a part of the inaugural Women's Basketball Hall of Fame class in 1999. Summitt retired from coaching in 2012 after being diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. She died in 2016 at the age of 64.
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the uniforms in the Women's College World series
Ranking the uniforms in the Women's College World series The Women's College World Series gets underway on Thursday in Oklahoma City, with eight teams hoping to put their best foot forward in hopes of securing a national championship. The Oklahoma Sooners are hoping to become the first team to win five straight national titles but will face significant challenges from Texas, Florida, Texas Tech, Tennessee, Oregon, UCLA, and Ole Miss. It's one of the best events in college sports, as over the next week and a half, softball will take center stage. As the teams take the field, so will some iconic uniforms. From classics to alternates, there will be some fantastic fits on display in Oklahoma City. Who has the best? 8. Florida Gators When you think of the Florida Gators, this is what you picture. It's a uniform that looks like something you'd expect out of a team from Florida. It's a solid look but not quite as nice as some of the others in the Women's College World Series. 7. Oregon Ducks The Oregon football team has some of the best looks in college sports. This is the softball team's best uniform. It looks like a storm's brewing and with the way the Ducks have played this season, it's fitting. The only knock is that the all-green and all-yellow looks don't come together quite like some of the other solids in Oklahoma City. 6. Ole Miss Rebels Powder Blue There's a lot of blue on the list, but the Ole Miss Powder Blue is about as good as it gets. 5. UCLA Blue and Gold UCLA is one of the blue bloods of the sport and their UCLA Blue evokes memories of a long history of success in college softball. They get the blue bump over Ole Miss simply out of respect for what UCLA Blue and Gold have meant to the sport. 4. Texas Longhorns' Icy White The all-whites are a great look, and not only because it minimizes the amount of burnt orange one has to see, but it's reminiscent of their best football look as well. 3. Texas Tech's All Black Few athletic programs wear black as well as Texas Tech. With red script and accents, it's an ominous look, especially when the best pitcher in the game, NiJaree Canady, is standing in the circle. 2. Oklahoma Sooners All-Crimson The Oklahoma Sooners have a lot of really good looks, but none as clean as their all-crimson fit. It's strong and powerful, much like this team. 1. Tennessee Volunteers 'Summitt Blue' When you think of Tennessee, you may not think of the blue they wore to clinch their super regional over Nebraska, but their "Summitt Blue," named after the Lady Vols legendary women's basketball coach Pat Summitt, is fantastic. The white accents, along with the orange lettering, are a great look. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
