LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – exas Tech softball is back in Oklahoma City, looking to bring the Women’s College World Series trophy to Lubbock.
After coming one win away from winning the Women’s College World Series in 2025, Texas Tech entered the 2026 season ranked as the No. 1 team in the country.
Head coach Gerry Glasco said the ranking didn’t change the team’s approach.
“The mentality should be exactly the same as if we weren’t ranked at all or if you were ranked No. 10 or No. 20,” Glasco said. “The mentality every day is to take the field, work as hard as you can, do everything you can to be prepared and get as good of a ball club as we can at the end of the year.”
The team added players through the transfer portal ahead of opening day, including pitcher and utility player Kaitlyn Terry from UCLA, catcher Jasmyn Burns from Ohio State and second baseman Mia Williams from Florida.
The campaign began Feb. 5 and the Red Raiders’ 10-0 start included a win over then-No. 11 ranked Texas A&M. They lost their first game against Nebraska but finished with a 21-3 non-conference record before starting Big 12 play against Houston.
Third baseman Taylor Pannell said the team’s resilience stood out.
“I would go to battle with this team every single day,” Pannell said. “I love the way we fight back. Coach Glasco says best comeback team in America when we’re down 1-0 in the first inning and haven’t even gotten a chance to hit.”
The new additions performed in big ways this season. Williams hit 24 home runs and collected 84 runs batted in. Terry hit .457 at the plate while going 24-1 with a 1.68 ERA.
Heading into the Big 12 Tournament, the Red Raiders carried confidence, but that confidence was shaken when they lost the Big 12 Tournament final against Arizona State. The team knew things needed to change.
“We just need to take whatever momentum we can get,” said Lauren Allred, who plays first base and outfield. “Whether it’s somebody even just taking a pitch or fouling off a good pitch like, we just need to get a little bit scrappier with that and just try to use anything and everything we can just to know like we are this good and we don’t get shutout.”
The regionals and super regionals featured dramatic action. Texas Tech came back from an 8-run deficit in the seventh inning to stun Ole Miss. The team also won an emotional three-game series against Florida that saw Williams respond in a big way against her former team.
The Red Raiders now have a chance to step back into Oklahoma City and finish the story.
“When I got to Texas Tech, it was made clear to me we’re trying to develop one of the top programs in the country, and we’ve made a loud statement the last two years,” Glasco said. “We want to be at Oklahoma City every year and we want our fans to show up and show out and enjoy it.”
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