Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan and catcher Reese Atwood celebrate after winning Game 3 of the super regional against Arizona State on Sunday in Austin.
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The Texas Longhorns celebrate winning the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
The Texas Longhorns celebrate winning the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) holds the ticket to the Women’s College World Series after winning the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood (14) puts on a super regional championship hat after winning the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) celebrates after winning the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood (14) holds up the super regional championship trophy after winning the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Viviana Martinez (23) holds up the ticket to the Women’s College World Series after winning the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood (14) holds the super regional championship trophy after winning the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood (14), pitcher Teagan Kavan (17), infielder Katie Stewart (20) and infielder Leighann Goode (43) celebrate after winning the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood (14) misses a catch behind home plate during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) talks to catcher Reese Atwood (14) during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) celebrates a hit for a single during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns fans cheer during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) hits a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Arizona State head coach Megan Bartlett disputes a call during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Texas at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Jaycie Nichols (24) throws the ball to first during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Jaycie Nichols (24) hands the ball to pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) throws the ball in the air during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Arizona State pitcher Meika Lauppe (27) enters the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Texas at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood (14) celebrates a score by outfielder Kayden Henry (21) during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood (14) celebrates a hit for a triple by short stop Viviana Martinez (23) during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Leighann Goode (43) reacts to an out during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Arizona State pitcher Kenzie Brown (10) leaves the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Texas at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns short stop Viviana Martinez (23) celebrates a hit for a triple during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns short stop Viviana Martinez (23) slides to third after a hit during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns short stop Viviana Martinez (23) rounds third after a hit during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns short stop Viviana Martinez (23) swings at a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Kayden Henry (21) bunts the ball during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Jaycie Nichols (24) catches the ball for an out during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Leighann Goode (43)celebrates a throw to first for an out during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Leighann Goode (43) grabs a ground ball during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Leighann Goode (43) grabs a ground ball during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) catches the ball at first during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Kaiah Altmeyer (44) celebrates a walk during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) celebrates a strikeout during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Leighann Goode (43) reacts to a missed catch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Leighann Goode (43) misses a catch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Leighann Goode (43) misses a catch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Jaycie Nichols (24) slides home for a score during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Kayden Henry (21) celebrates a catch for an out by Kaiah Altmeyer (44) during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood (14) celebrates a score by infielder Jaycie Nichols during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) hits a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns head coach Mike White talks to his players during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Jaycie Nichols (24) celebrates a hit for a single during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Ashton Maloney (7) celebrates a hit for a single during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 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 Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Kaiah Altmeyer (44) catches a fly ball during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns short stop Viviana Martinez (23) grabs a ball during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) throws a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
The Texas Longhorns hudle in the circle during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) watches the batter from first during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns short stop Viviana Martinez (23) grabs a ball during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) steps up to throw a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Kaiah Altmeyer (44) throws the ball to the infield during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Leighann Goode (43) celebrates a strikeout during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) throws a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Kaiah Altmeyer (44) grabs a ball during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Kaiah Altmeyer (44) grabs a ball during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) throws a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
The Texas Longhorns and Arizona State line up for the National Anthem ahead of the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) throws a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) talks to pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) throws a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional final against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
AUSTIN — When in doubt, give the ball to your ace.
That’s the formula Texas head coach Mike White followed, and his star pitcher Teagan Kavan did the rest.
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After struggling in her first two appearances of the super regional, Kavan returned to her All-America form and threw a five-hit shutout against Arizona State to send the defending national champions back to the Women’s College World Series for the third consecutive year.
The junior right-hander (25-5) had been hit hard by the surging Sun Devils and had been rocked for 11 hits and six runs in just seven innings.
White even said he was deliberating four hours before the game whether to start Kavan or go with freshman right-hander Hannah Wells.
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“You want to know the truth?” White said. “It was either her or Wells, but I believed in Teagan. She’s the one with the experience and mindset, and she didn’t disappoint.”
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The irrepressible Kavan showed her grit as well as her game when she pitched in and out of trouble Sunday and still posted her seventh shutout of the season and 17th of her career in a 5-0 blanking at McCombs Field in the biggest game of the year.
“Every day is a new day, and each performance is its own,” Kavan said. “I just trusted in myself and kept feeding my defense. And I tried to stay in it mentally longer than I did before.”
The national No. 2 seed Longhorns (47-11) will face fellow SEC team Tennessee and Volunteers ace Karlyn Pickens and her 80-mph fastball in a first-round game Thursday in Oklahoma City.
The unseeded Sun Devils, who finished in sixth place in the Big 12 before winning the conference tournament, sweeping Texas A&M in the College Station Regional and upsetting the Longhorns 4-1 in Game 1, ended their season at 45-18.
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“It’s a gut punch right now,” said Arizona State head coach Megan Bartlett, a former Longhorn assistant under head coach Mike White. “They were the better team. We threw everything we possibly could at UT. But they had to take it. We made them take it and they did.”
The Longhorns were better but not by a lot.
They capitalized on Kavan’s brilliance and SEC Player of the Year Katie Stewart’s clutch hitting to win their fifth NCAA postseason contest in six games. They were similarly dominant last season, when they went 10-2 in the playoffs en route to the school’s first softball national championship.
Texas made the most of its nine hits with four of its first five hits coming in a pivotal two-run third inning that broke the ice. Stewart was doing Katie Stewart things, driving in four of the Longhorns’ five runs with a pair of two-run singles and hiked her postseason numbers to eight hits in 18 at-ats with nine RBI.
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Her bloop single fell in against diving ASU center fielder Kaylee Pond to score two runs in the third inning after a bunt single by Ashton Maloney and a single by Jaycie Nichols, but it could have been much more.
Viviana Martinez singled sharply to right field, and Reese Atwood was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Leighann Goode grounded into an inning-ending force at third.
Texas put the wraps on its ninth win in its past 10 games when Martinez, in an epic plate appearance, tripled down the right-field line on the marathon 17th pitch of her at-bat. The junior shortstop’s second hit of the game scored Kayden Henry from first for a 3-0 cushion.
ASU senior ace Kenzie Brown, pitching for the third straight day, had just struck out Stewart for her 20th punch-out of the super regional before giving up the rocket to Martinez and leaving the game after 93 pitches on a sultry afternoon.
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“She was relentless, to say the least,” Brown said. “A very tough opponent. I’m the queen of high pitch counts. That was a very relentless at-bat. I tip my hat to her. She earned that triple.”
She did, electrifying the crowd of 2,472 and keeping Texas’ momentum.
It was an even more special moment for Martinez because she blew out her knee in a fall practice and missed all of last season, including the Women’s College World Series. White became a bit emotional in discussing her journey.
“I hate throwing batting practice to Vivi,” White said. “She smokes the ball up the middle. Like rockets.”
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Stewart got another measure of revenge later when she added her second two-run single in the seventh.
Texas will be joined at the Women’s College World Series by four other SEC teams, including top-seeded Alabama. One team will be missing, and its rare absence is glaring.
Dynastic Oklahoma will not be in Oklahoma City for the first time since 2015 as the eight-time champion Sooners were shut out 6-0 Sunday by upstart Mississippi State, which will make its first WCWS appearance in school history. Patty Gasso’s club had won four straight titles from 2021-24 before the Longhorns ended that streak last June.
OU hadn’t even been shut out since a 2019 WCWS game against Alabama and not shut out in its home ballpark since Baylor run-ruled the Sooners in 2015.
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Tennessee swept Georgia in its super regional, and Arkansas knocked off Duke to advance to the WCWS. The other three teams will be UCLA, Nebraska and Texas Tech.
So will Texas miss OU being in the field?
“I’m happy WE’RE in it,” Kavan said.
Interjected White diplomatically to his two players at the dais, “Tennessee.”
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The Volunteers weren’t on the Longhorns’ regular-season schedule, and the two didn’t meet in the SEC Tournament, where Texas beat Alabama for the title.
“This is more a matter of relief than anything else,” White said. “Brown was tough as nails and a real warrior. But Teagan was lights-out.”
Kavan was hit hard at times but played sterling defense herself by fielding two hard-hit comebackers, including one in the fourth to leave runners at the corner after Yannixa Acuña’s triple into right field and a walk.
On the day, Kavan struck out five, allowed three hits in the first two innings but then didn’t give up a hit after the fourth inning until there were two outs left in the game. In one of the most pivotal moments of the game, Kavan was in trouble the first two innings but stranded four batters, including the bases loaded in the second when she got Tanya Windle on an easy groundout to first.
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The two teams had split the first two games, ASU winning 4-1 and Texas with a 4-3 comeback victory Saturday, but this was all Texas on Sunday.
And does this make Texas the team to beat in Oklahoma City?
“Every team is the team to beat,” White said. “All eight teams. Anybody can win this.”
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Except Oklahoma, that is.