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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
WCWS 2025: Texas Tech coach says focus on NiJaree Canady NIL deal is 'insulting'
Shortly after his Texas Tech softball team lost to Texas 10-4 in game three of the championship series of the 2025 Women's College World Series, Gerry Glasco was asked about a familiar subject. Throughout the Red Raiders' run in the NCAA tournament and WCWS, there was a significant amount of attention paid to NiJaree Canady, the Stanford transfer whose pitching excellence helped Texas Tech improve from an eighth-place finish in the Big 12 in 2024 to the precipice of a national title the following year. Most any conversation around Canady inevitably turned to her name, image and likeness deal with the school's collective, which reportedly paid her more than $1 million. When Canady and her NIL payments were mentioned in a question during Glasco's post-game news conference, the first-year Texas Tech coach pushed back. 'Why is it different for a female athlete to be paid a million dollars than a male football player getting three million or four million for a male basketball player?' Glasco asked rhetorically. 'I think that's an interesting question because the value of NiJa Canady to our program is, I think, unbelievable. I'm not an expert. Somebody could really do an in-depth study. But I have no doubt it would exceed a million dollars of value. I think it was of great value for our school.' Canady sent shockwaves through the sport after the 2024 season, when the reigning national player of the year left Stanford and got a seven-figure deal from the Red Raiders, who had never even made the super regional round of the NCAA tournament and were coming off a season in which they went 8-16 in Big 12 play. Along with Glasco and a handful of players he brought with him from Louisiana, Canady immediately improved the program's fortunes, leading it to Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles, a school-record 54 wins and its first-ever WCWS appearance. This season, Canady went 34-7 with a 1.11 ERA and was one of three finalists for USA Softball player of the year honors. She was also one of the Red Raiders' best power hitters, with a team-high 11 home runs. Until she was pulled early in Friday's loss, she had thrown every pitch for Texas Tech since the beginning of the super regional round, a run of seven consecutive games. While her NIL deal was the largest ever for a college softball player, Glasco said he believed the rate at which it was brought up during broadcasts of Texas Tech games was 'almost insulting' to Canady. Canady's NIL arrangement with the school was cited constantly by television crews throughout the WCWS. It highlights what Glasco believes is a double standard between how highly-paid female college athletes are treated versus their male counterparts. 'I think it's interesting, you watch Ohio State in the men's football game, national championship game, you don't hear any announcers talking about NIL,' he said. 'They just don't talk about it. And yet, you know Ohio State had one of the highest two or three NIL payrolls last year in college football. I wonder why we talk about it for a female athlete.' Glasco added that the exposure she brought to a previously overlooked program was invaluable. When Canady transferred to the Red Raiders, he was told there were 700,000 stories that mentioned Canady, Texas Tech and Stanford. He estimated that after Friday, the team had played 10 or 11 games on national television. Though Canady struggled in her final game of an otherwise stellar season, giving up five earned runs in one inning while pitching her third game in as many days, she has one more season of eligibility remaining and is well-positioned to keep the Red Raiders in national title contention. In the hours before the first pitch of the final WCWS game, ESPN reported that Canady had signed another seven-figure deal to stay at Texas Tech. If her coach has his way, it might not be the same kind of talking point next season that it was throughout this one. 'Personally, I'm thrilled for NiJa,' Glasco said. 'I found it almost insulting to her at times when I listened to broadcasts, how much they talked about it because, like I said, I don't hear it when we watch a men's basketball game or a men's football game. And to me that's not right. That shouldn't be that way.'
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
How to Watch Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech: Live Stream College Softball World Series, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The semifinals of the College Softball World Series have arrived. In the day's second matchup, Texas Tech and Oklahoma meet to vie for a spot in the championship. Texas Tech needs just one win to advance, while an Oklahoma victory in this game would force a deciding game on Monday night. Tiare Jennings #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates after turning a double play in the second inning against the Florida State Seminoles during Game One of the NCAA Division 1 Softball Championship at USA Softball... Tiare Jennings #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates after turning a double play in the second inning against the Florida State Seminoles during Game One of the NCAA Division 1 Softball Championship at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium on June 07, 2023 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. More Photo byHow to Watch Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech: Date: Monday, June 2, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM EDT Channel: ESPN2 Stream: Fubo (Try for free) Oklahoma is 52-8 on the year, but its chances of winning a fifth consecutive championship hinge on this game. The team can't afford another loss. OU opened the WCWS with a 4-3 win over Tennessee, but a 4-2 loss to rival Texas put the team in a bad spot, forcing it to a winner-takes-all game on Sunday against Oregon, which the Sooners won 4-1. Each run for OU came on a home run. Isabela Emerling hit a solo shot in the second to tie the game at one, while Cydney Sanders hit the first of her two homers in the third, a two-run shot to left. Texas Tech is 52-12 and might be the hottest team in the country, winning 11 in a row. The team opened the World Series with a 1-0 win over Ole Miss and followed with a 3-1 win over UCLA. Pitcher Nijaree Canady has been the key to the team's success. If Oklahoma wins, the second game between these two teams will take place at 9:30 PM on ESPN2. Live stream the Texas vs Tennessee on Fubo: Start your free trial now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jordy Bahl batting stats: How Nebraska softball star has fared at the plate in 2025
This week, Nebraska softball will aim to advance to the Women's College World Series for the first time in 12 years when it takes on Tennessee in the super regional round of the 2025 NCAA softball tournament. Regardless of whether they're able to topple the Lady Vols, the No. 7 national seed in the tournament, the Cornhuskers have had a stellar run getting as far as they have. Heading into its best-of-three series with Tennessee, Nebraska is 42-13, a 12-win improvement over the previous season and the program's most wins in a season since 2014, which marked the last time before this year that it made it to the super regionals. A number of factors have gone into the Cornhuskers' accomplishments over the past three months, but one stands out more than the others: Jordy Bahl has been one of the best players this season not only in the Big Ten, but the entire country. A star both in the pitchers' circle and at the plate, Bahl was a consensus first-team All-American in 2022 and 2023 for a pair of national championship teams at Oklahoma before the Nebraska native transferred after the 2023 season to the Cornhuskers, whose campus is located only about 50 miles from Bahl's hometown of Papillon, Nebraska. After suffering a season-ending ACL tear just 2 1/3 innings into her 2024 season, which prompted her to redshirt, Bahl has come back strong in 2025, earning Big Ten player of the year honors and being named one of three finalists for the USA Softball player of the year award. As her team prepares to square off against Tennessee with a spot in the WCWS on the line, here's a closer look at Bahl: Jordy Bahl batting stats While notable for herself and her team, Bahl having the kind of season that she has as a pitcher hasn't been surprising given her track record. What has been more eyebrow-raising is how she has excelled at the plate. Bahl was almost exclusively a pitcher in her two seasons at Oklahoma, logging just 40 at-bats in that time. In her first full season at Nebraska, though, she has quadrupled that mark, with 160 at-bats. She's made the most of those plate appearances, as well, with a .475 batting average, 23 home runs, 66 RBIs, 16 doubles and 165 total bases, all of which are team highs. Here's a look at Bahl's year-by-year batting numbers: 2022 (Oklahoma) : 8 at-bats, .125 average, 1 RBI : 8 at-bats, .125 average, 1 RBI 2023 (Oklahoma) : 32 at-bats, .406 average, 8 RBIs, 2 doubles, 15 total bases, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts : 32 at-bats, .406 average, 8 RBIs, 2 doubles, 15 total bases, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts 2025 (Nebraska): 160 at-bats, .475 average, 23 home runs, 66 RBIs, 16 doubles, 2 triples, 165 total bases, 26 walks, 14 strikeouts Jordy Bahl pitching stats Since the moment she first stepped foot on a college softball field as a freshman in 2022, Bahl has been one of the best pitchers in the country. At Oklahoma, she was a two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection and was named the conference's pitcher of the year in 2023. She twice pitched in the championship series of the WCWS, including throwing 10 scoreless innings and striking out 13 batters across two appearances in a sweep of Florida State in 2023. This season at Nebraska, she has continued her dominance, winning Big Ten pitcher of the year honors while recording a 25-6 record, a 1.50 ERA, 21 complete games and 270 strikeouts against 72 walks. Here's a look at Bahl's year-by-year pitching production: 2022 (Oklahoma) : 22-1 record, 1.09 ERA, 205 strikeouts, 34 walks, 14 complete games : 22-1 record, 1.09 ERA, 205 strikeouts, 34 walks, 14 complete games 2023 (Oklahoma) : 22-1 record, 0.90 ERA, 192 strikeouts, 37 walks, 12 complete games : 22-1 record, 0.90 ERA, 192 strikeouts, 37 walks, 12 complete games 2025 (Nebraska): 25-6 record, 1.50 ERA, 270 strikeouts, 72 walks, 21 complete games Why did Jordy Bahl transfer to Nebraska? For all of her triumphs on the diamond at Oklahoma, Bahl reached those achievements while nursing an overbearing case of homesickness. In a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Bahl wrote in June 2023 that her decision to leave the Sooners was 'bittersweet' and that she had 'decided to return home and play the game I love, closer to the things that have made me who I am and that have always been more important to me than this game." "The most important thing in my life after my faith, is my family,' Bahl wrote. 'Through the constant battles that the outsiders do not see, my teammates and coaches were always understanding, love, and nothing but supportive. ... I am excited to return home and be Jordy Bahl the softball player, but more importantly the person.' She later added that "I am excited thinking about growing the game that has provided me so many opportunities for growth, in the home state, a current overlooked state for girls in softball at all ages, and I am excited to finish the softball journey right where it began." Jordy Bahl grade Bahl is a redshirt junior, having been in college four years, but only competing in three of those. She was granted a medical redshirt for the 2024 season, which was cut short by an ACL tear in her first outing of the year. Though she still has a year of eligibility remaining after this season, Bahl earned her bachelor's degree in May in child, youth and family studies.
USA Today
11-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
When does 2025 NCAA Softball Tournament start? Regional schedules, venues
When does 2025 NCAA Softball Tournament start? Regional schedules, venues Show Caption Hide Caption SEC teams facing pressure ahead of NCAA softball tournament Missouri must win it all, while Georgia and Alabama need deep SEC runs to stay in the mix. The mad dash for college softball's national championship will soon be underway. The 64-team bracket for the 2025 NCAA softball tournament will be unveiled Sunday night, with seeds determined and matchups set for the event's regional round. Over the following three weeks, that field will be narrowed down, with eight teams making it to Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series and just one getting to triumphantly lift the NCAA championship trophy during the first week of June. REQUIRED READING: OU softball pitcher Sam Landry selected No. 1 overall by Volts in AUSL College Draft This year's tournament should have no shortage of storylines. Can Oklahoma and coach Patty Gasso extend their remarkable run and win a fifth consecutive national title? How many programs from the SEC, which has the top six teams in the latest USA Softball poll, will make it to Oklahoma City? Can Texas A&M, the nation's No. 1 team, capture its first title in nearly 40 years? Or will teams such as Tennessee, Texas, Arkansas or Oregon break through for their first national championship? Here's a look at what awaits over the next three weeks in the 2025 NCAA softball tournament, including the schedule, venues, national seeds and more: When does 2025 NCAA softball tournament start? The 2025 NCAA softball tournament begins on Friday, May 16 with the start of the regional round. NCAA softball tournament schedule 2025 Regionals: May 16-18 May 16-18 Super regionals: May 22-25 May 22-25 Women's College World Series: May 29-June 6 May 29-June 6 WCWS finals: June 4-5/6 The 2025 NCAA softball tournament will begin on May 16. The 64 teams will be divided into 16 four-team pods, with the highest seed serving as the host. The regional round will take place over three days and give way to the super regional round, in which champions of two regions face off in a best-of-three series at the site of the higher-seeded squad. The super regionals will be held from May 22-25. The winner of each super regional moves on to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma, which will begin on May 29 and wrap up on June 5 or June 6, depending on whether the best-of-three championship series goes two or three games. Here's a look at the schedule for the 2025 NCAA softball tournament: Regionals Friday, May 16 This section will be updated when matchups are announced Sunday. Saturday, May 17 This section will be updated when matchups are announced Sunday. Super Regionals Thursday, May 22 This section will be updated when matchups are announced Sunday. Women's College World Series The Women's College World Series will run from May 29 through June 5 or 6, with winners of the eight super regionals advancing to the event. NCAA softball tournament locations 2025 This section will be updated when the NCAA softball tournament national seeds and bracket are revealed Sunday. The venues are determined by which teams earn top 16 national seeds. NCAA softball tournament 2025 bracket This section will be updated when the NCAA softball tournament bracket is unveiled Sunday. NCAA softball tournament 2025 seeds This section will be updated when the NCAA softball tournament bracket is revealed Sunday. Watch NCAA softball bracket reveal with Fubo (free trial) What channel is NCAA softball tournament selection show? TV channel : ESPN2 : ESPN2 Live stream: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial) The 2025 NCAA softball tournament selection show will air Sunday on ESPN2. Streaming options for the show include the ESPN app — with a cable login — and Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers. What time is NCAA softball selection show? Date : Sunday, May 11 : Sunday, May 11 Time: 7 p.m. ET The 2025 NCAA softball tournament selection show is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 11.
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Washington softball head coach Heather Tarr steps down from USA Softball
Washington softball head coach Heather Tarr steps down from USA Softball For almost three decades, Heather Tarr and the Washington Huskies softball team have become synonymous. Whether it be as a player or a coach, softball on Montlake has had her stamp on it. Tarr started her career at Washington in 1994, where she was named an All-Pac-10 honorable mention three times. Now heading into season No. 20 as the Huskies' head coach, she holds an 820-313-1 record, highlighted by a 51–12 season in 2009 that culminated in a Women's College World Series victory, the only national championship in the program's history. The Husky lifer has also been on the coaching staff for Team USA since 2019, where she worked as an assistant in 2019 and 2020 before returning as the national team's head coach in 2022. On Thursday, the winningest coach in school history made a bold choice, announcing that she would step down from her position with USA Softball to focus solely on Washington. 2025 will be a big challenge from Tarr, who saw 12 players depart at the end of the 2024 season, four who graduated, and eight for the transfer portal, including most of her starting lineup from 2024 and her entire pitching staff, highlighted by All-American Ruby Meylan, who signed with Oklahoma State. But, Tarr has an eye for talent and has rebuilt. Not only did she bring in another former Husky and two-time NFCA All-Amercian Jenn Salling as an assistant coach, but she also added promising outfielder Ava Carroll from the junior college ranks, and local infielder Riley Pesheck, one of the top infielders available in the transfer portal. She also bolstered her pitching staff with former top recruit Stevie Hansen from Oregon, Sophia Ramuno, an All-Big West Player at Cal Poly, and Madi Balk from Florida State. While she admitted there may be some growing pains early in 2025, things are heading in the right direction for Tarr and the Huskies ahead of their first season in the Big Ten. Her team is set to take the field for the first time in the Candrea Classic in Tuscon, Arizona on February 7, where they'll take on the No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide and No. 17 Arizona Wildcats.
