Only one team stands in between Texas softball and a trip to Oklahoma City.
Arizona State traveled for the College Station Regional last weekend and upset Texas A&M in a 9-1 run-rule win. The Sun Devils went back Sunday to Phoenix and arrived in Austin earlier this week for a three-game series against the Longhorns.
Article continues below this ad
The Austin Super Regional will also serve as a reunion of sorts for head coaches Mike White and Megan Bartlett, the latter of whom was on the coaching staff when Texas went to the 2022 Women’s College World Series. Bartlett left to coach Arizona State that summer. Bartlett explained that there was nothing but love between the two coaches.
“I taught him how to talk to 18 to 22-year-old girls and he taught me a lot about winning at an elite level,” Bartlett said in a Thursday news conference.
Texas Longhorns outfielder Kayden Henry (21) celebrates a home run during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
No strangers to the postseason, this is the Longhorns’ sixth straight super regional; ASU hasn’t been to the supers since 2022. But Bartlett is confident in her team and its momentum.
Article continues below this ad
“This group is dangerous, they are talented, driven and feisty,” she said.
But with Texas looking to go back to the Women’s College World Series and avoid an 0-1 start like last year’s super regional against Clemson, the Longhorns are hoping to be in control of the weekend.
“Yes they have momentum and they’re hot right now, but so are we,” catcher Reese Atwood said Thursday afternoon.
Article continues below this ad
Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) celebrates a home run during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Leighann Goode (43) celebrates an out during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) steps up to pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorn outfielder Kayden Henry (21) slides to second during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns short stop Viviana Martinez (23) grabs a ground ball during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns head coach Mike White meets Baylor head coach Glenn Moore ahead of the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Jaycie Nichols (24) bunts the ball during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns associate head coach Kristen Zaleski celebrates a hit for a single by infielder Jaycie Nichols (24) during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns short stop Viviana Martinez (23) throws the ball to first during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) catches a fly ball during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns short stop Viviana Martinez (23) throws the ball to first during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Kayden Henry (21) runs home after a home run during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) catches the ball at first during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) throws the ball to first during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Leighann Goode (43) throws the ball to first during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Jaycie Nichols (24) steps up to bat during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) runs home after a home run during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) celebrates a home run during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns head coach Mike White meets with players during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood (14) waits to bat during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Ashton Maloney (7) slides to second during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Leighann Goode (43) throws the ball to first during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) smiles after a third strikeout during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) gives the ball to pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Leighann Goode (43) slides to second during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Alisa Sneed (9) catches a fly ball during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Jaycie Nichols (24) runs to second during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Alisa Sneed (9) smiles after a catch for a third out during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood (14) runs home after a home run during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood (14) runs home after a home run during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Leighann Goode (43) walks back to the dugout after getting tagged out during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) catches the ball at first during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) celebrates a third out during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (2) and pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) celebrate after beating Baylor in the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder MaTaia Lawson (3) holds up a playoff bracket after beating Baylor in the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Bats bring the heat
The Sun Devils knocked off Texas Tech in the conference tournament with a strong offense led by No. 9 hitter Tiare Ho-Ching, who had two home runs to help beat the Red Raiders. The salami over A&M was hit by Brooklyn Ulrich, who bats eighth. That power, plus ASU being second in on-base percentage in the Big 12 with .420, equals an explosive offense.
But the same could be said about Texas. Outside of record-holding slugger Katie Stewart and the impact of Hannah Wells, the Longhorns saw big swings from slapper Kayden Henry and Atwood. Henry and Atwood each hit homers against Wagner and Wisconsin.
Article continues below this ad
Texas Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood (14) hits a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional game against Wisconsin at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 16, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
“If your leading home run hitter in UT history (Atwood) gets hot again, that’s a good thing for us,” White said Thursday afternoon.
To make sure his batters stay hot, White made an appearance during practice for the Longhorns and used his “dirty” riseball to help the Longhorns’ quick reaction time ahead of the weekend. Reese explained that White got close enough for his players to get uncomfortable and adjust to still make big swings.
“He threw to us from… I don’t know how close and he was just humming the ball in at us,” Atwood said.
Article continues below this ad
If the Longhorns faced White and Teagan Kavan in practice, that could help against Arizona State ace Kenzie Brown.
Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) throws a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
‘Carbon copies of each other’
Aces Kavan and Brown have a lot more in common in the circle than some may realize; White called them “carbon copies.”
Article continues below this ad
“They hide the ball well, they move the ball up and down with a good changeup,” White said Thursday.
Kavan is second in the SEC in strikeouts (220) and holds a 2.47 ERA.
Brown did not start Sunday afternoon in the College Station Regional, but she forced her way in when she saw her Sun Devils in a bit of a jam. Taking the circle in the third inning, after two Arizona State pitching changes, Brown dominated the Aggies.
“When your first-team All-American says, ‘I want want the ball,’ you say yes ma’am and pretty much get out of the way,” Bartlett said Sunday.
Article continues below this ad
FROM CEDRIC GOLDEN: Battle-tested Texas softball stays hungry after latest NCAA regional win
MORE: When does Texas softball play Arizona State in NCAA Tournament?
Brown leads the Big 12 in strikeouts (246) and is fourth in ERA (2.23). She and Kavan were named first-team all conference as well.
ASU will rely on Brown for the postseason but risks wearing Brown down. The pitcher with the second-most innings (115⅓) this season for ASU is Meika Lauppe who has a 3.76 ERA.
Article continues below this ad
“She can get in the tendency to throw a lot of pitches, so that’s going to be Plan A to get a lot of pitches out of her,” White said. “I know she can get into some trouble, but we got to take the most of those opportunities.”
Kavan has a bullpen with her that will help share the responsibilities of the circle. Through three games in the regional, Wells recorded seven strikeouts against Wagner and Citlaly Gutierrez had four.
“We can bounce so many ideas off of each other of how to attack people, it’s like five of our brains and just one person’s doing it,” Kavan explained.
Article continues below this ad
The first game of the Austin Super Regional will be at 8 p.m. Friday at McCombs Field.