The Lady Raiders play on a very busy day.

Valentine’s Day in Lubbock is absolutely stacked. You’ve got the 74th Annual Lubbock Lions Pancake Breakfast flipping hotcakes all day, Rodney Carrington lighting up Buddy Holly Hall, and the annual “Love Bites” event at Nightmare on 19th Street. That’s just the tip of the heart-shaped iceberg. Folks will be packed into restaurants, filling movie theaters, and raising a Valentine’s toast all across town.

And right in the middle of all that? The Texas Tech Lady Raiders tip off at 2:30 p.m on ESPN+.

Valentine’s Day Belongs to the Lady Raiders, Too

Now I get it — that’s a tough sell on a day built for roses and reservations. But here’s the thing: this team is absolutely cooking, and they deserve your attention.

Head Coach Krista Gerlich just secured her 100th win, and she did it in pink glitter pants that deserve their own banner in the rafters. She’s 99% business, 1% whimsy — and 100% Texas Tech. She embodies that West Texas grit with just enough sparkle to keep it fun. If anyone on campus deserves a throne, it’s Coach Gerlich. Build it. Let her sit. Let us admire.

Of course, she’ll deflect every bit of praise right back to her team — because that’s what leaders do. And this squad has earned it. They’re sitting at #16 in the AP Poll and #18 in the USA Today rankings, boasting a 10–3 conference record and a 23–3 mark overall. That’s not hype. That’s hardware-level performance.

Is a women’s basketball game the most traditional way to start a Valentine’s date? Maybe not.

But imagine this: you start your day cheering on a nationally ranked team on TV, surrounded by energy and pride. Then you roll into dinner, maybe a movie, maybe a cocktail, maybe a haunted house with a love-themed twist. Romance and basketball? That’s a full-court press kind of day.

Lubbock can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can eat pancakes, laugh with Rodney, get spooked at Love Bites — and still show up loud for the Lady Raiders.

Read More: Why Texas Ranks Third For Singles In 2026 Dating Report

Let’s make that 2:30 tip feel like a prime-time event. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+❤️🏀

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