OKLAHOMA CITY — Texas is one win away from a repeat championship over its rival.
The Longhorns rode an early scoring outburst and shaky Texas Tech defense to a 7-3 win in Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series championship series. It’s a rematch of the 2025 series that secured the Longhorns’ first national championship with victories in the first and third games.
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Game 2 is on Thursday (8 p.m. ET) back at Devon Park. Game 3, if necessary, is on Friday.
Texas broke out for an early 5-1 lead in the first inning and commanded the rest of the game. Katie Stewart, Viviana Martinez and Ashton Maloney each had two RBI. Kaiah Altmeyer brought in another. Junior righty Teagan Kavan, the 2025 WCWS Most Outstanding Player, pitched a complete game, allowing 3 runs off 3 hits with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks.
The Red Raiders didn’t receive the same standout performances from their All-American pitchers, and head coach Gerry Glasco didn’t play games with re-inserting them for each other. Kaitlyn Terry and NiJaree Canady faced six batters apiece before Glasco turned deeper into his bullpen for the first time in Oklahoma City. Terry, who took the start, had to come back in with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth and Texas Tech trailing by three.
Stewart jumpstarted the Texas offense with her fourth home run in as many games to bring around leadoff batter Kayden Henry’s single in the bottom of the first.
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It prompted Glasco to make his first pitching swap, handing the ball to Canady with runners on the corners and two outs. After a dominant showing in Game 2 of the semifinals, she was listed as the starting pitcher 30 minutes before first pitch. Terry took the circle instead, allowing four runs off four hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Canady gave up an RBI single to Altmeyer, her first batter, and Maloney’s two-RBI triple to left field. Canady’s lone strikeout came against No. 9 hitter Jaycie Nichols to end the inning. She allowed one run off two hits.
Glasco went deeper into his bullpen in the third by inserting sophomore Samantha Lincoln and pulling Canady out of the batting order. Lincoln last pitched in the super regional Game 2 loss to Florida and came into the day having pitched 17% of Texas Tech’s innings this season. Martinez’s single up the middle scored Nichols in the fourth and a sac-fly brought her home in sixth.
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Texas Tech center fielder Mihyia Davis opened the game’s scoring with a home run to left as the second batter of the game. Kavan faced 16 more batters before allowing another hit. Mia Williams went deep to center to score Jasmyn Burns’ lead-off walk in the fifth that cut the deficit 6-3.
But the Red Raiders came up short in any comeback bid.
See how Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series between Texas Tech and Texas played out below.
Live coverage is over28 updatesWed, June 3, 2026 at 7:59 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 7:48 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 7:22 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Katie Stewart’s early 2-run blast gave the Longhorns the lead and they never looked back.
The Red Raiders will have to rally tomorrow in Game 2 to stay alive.
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 7:14 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Longhorns added a run in the top half of the 7th, so the Red Raiders have some work to do with their last opportunity.
Texas 7, TTU 3
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 7:08 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The TTU starter who got yanked in the first couple outs is back in and she’s facing a bases-loaded, one-out situation.
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 7:00 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Longhorns still hold a 6-3 lead and will only need three more outs to take the first game of the WCWS after their own turn at the plate.
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 6:42 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Red Raiders are still alive after Mia Williams rips a low shot over center field.
Game on in OKC!
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 6:41 PM PDT
Cassandra Negley
That home run to Mia Williams was the first hit Teagan Kavan allowed since the first inning.
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Longhorns have added another run to their lead on a Viviana Martinez RBI. They’re firmly in control of this one ahead of the fifth.
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 6:27 PM PDT
Cassandra Negley
Texas Tech learned its lesson, albeit a little too late. They’ll put Katie Stewart aboard on four straight balls rather than let her take a pitch yard and score another two again. Texas scores ANOTHER run on two outs to go up 6-1
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 6:10 PM PDT
Cassandra Negley
Through three innings, Texas Tech is 1-for-10 at the plate whereas Texas is 6-for-15. The Longhorns are an impressive .500 (3-6) on two outs, .400 (4-10) with runners on and .667 (2-3) with runners in scoring position. Clutch.
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 6:06 PM PDT
Cassandra Negley
Don’t think any of us expected Samantha Lincoln pitching in Game 1 of the World Series! Last time Lincoln pitched was 3 1/3 innings in the second game of the super regionals against Florida on May 23. Gave up five on nine hits, three walks and one strikeout. Quite the move to put her in in the third. You have to wonder if Glasco is giving up this game already and saving his aces for two more, or if something is up with either Canady or Terry.
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 6:02 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Red Raiders got a runner on base, but couldn’t do anything with it. It’s still 5-1 Texas with the Longhorns’ Leighann Goode coming up.
NiJaree Canady has subbed out for Samantha Lincoln. It’s safe to say Glasco is regretting his decisions so far.
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 5:49 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Canady has settled in and the Longhorns who she hadn’t seen already didn’t have much luck.
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 5:44 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Red Raiders weren’t able to get much going in the top half of the 2nd, so it’s still 5-1 as the Longhorns step back up to the plate.
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 5:36 PM PDT
Cassandra Negley
What a truly a shocking way to start this game. Texas Tech commits a guffaw at first, and then the left fielder horribly misjudges the ball. There’s no sun rays on her side; looks like she came in off the crack of the bat. We’ve seen bonkers things here this week, but a 5-1 lead is going to be difficult to overcome.
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 5:32 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Glasco’s last-minute pitching change has not worked, and now Canady is in but the Longhorns teed off in the opening inning.
Texas 5, TTU 1
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 5:24 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Katie Stewart, aka the “Cookie Monster,” bites back with a shot in the same area and the Longhorns have the lead in the bottom half of the first inning.
Texas 2, TTU 1
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 5:20 PM PDT
Cassandra Negley
It’s also intriguing because Texas Tech listed Canady as the starter in their pre-game lineup.
Wed, June 3, 2026 at 5:18 PM PDT
Cassandra Negley
Given how strong NiJaree Canady pitched the other day to secure Texas Tech this berth, it’s an interesting choice for Gerry Glasco to hand the ball to Kaitlyn Terry. He might be playing the game of trying to save Canady for what they hope is a Game 2 clinch opportunity tomorrow night.