The Division I softball championship comes down to a redemptive rematch.<\/p>\n
Intrastate enemies Texas and Texas Tech are once again battling in the Women\u2019s College World Series finals. With a second consecutive triumph, Texas can establish itself as this sport\u2019s new standard-bearer. But with a dethroning of the champs, Texas Tech can vindicate its struggle and validate its huge NIL push<\/a>. This is an intriguing matchup with emotions flaring from both sides.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to catch every at-bat of the best-of-three series, which starts on Wednesday night and extends through Friday if needed.<\/p>\n How to watch Texas vs. Texas Tech in the Women\u2019s College World Series GameTime (ET)TVStream<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n 8 p.m., Wed.<\/p>\n ESPN<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n 8 p.m., Thu.<\/p>\n ESPN<\/p>\n 3*<\/p>\n 8 p.m., Fri.<\/p>\n ESPN<\/p>\n *if necessary<\/p>\n ESPN is also available with an ESPN Unlimited subscription.<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s series led to the Longhorns\u2019 first national title in program history. Games 1 and 2 were tense, one-run affairs. The win-or-go-home rubber match was anything but \u2014 the burnt orange opened up a stunning 10-0 lead and closed out the Red Raiders by a 10-4 final. These familiar rivals kick up more Devon Park dirt 12 months later, and most of the central figures are still in tow.<\/p>\n Texas\u2019 Teagan Kavan, the most outstanding player of the 2025 series, arrives on the heels of a shutout pitching performance in the semifinal round. And Nijaree Canady, a superstar presence in the Texas Tech circle, sent her school to the championship with a shutout of her own.<\/p>\n On ESPN, Beth Mowins is handling the play-by-play call, with Jessica Mendoza and Michele Smith joining for analysis. Holly Rowe reports from the baseline. Together, this team has called 19 Women\u2019s College World Series. Mowins is the crew\u2019s veteran, now on her 32nd WCWS broadcast.<\/p>\n How Texas got here<\/p>\n The reigning champions began their title defense with a dominant run in the Regionals. As the No. 2 overall seed, Texas tallied three wins in Austin by a combined mark of 25-1.<\/p>\n The team was met with much more resistance in the Super Regionals, though. Arizona State upset Texas in the first game, as Kavan was uncharacteristically knocked around for eight hits and three earned runs across five innings.<\/p>\n The Longhorns were on the brink of elimination as they trailed in the second game as well. Then Victoria Hunter delivered a go-ahead pinch-hit home run<\/a> in the penultimate frame. Remarkably, it was Texas\u2019 first lead of the series.<\/p>\n More nerves were in store for the national stage. The Longhorns took a 6-3 loss to Tennessee, only to flip the fates and win the next four trials. Kavan tossed a four-hit shutout to eliminate Mississippi State; Kaiah Altmeyer and Kayden Henry both homered in support.<\/p>\n Texas\u2019 ace followed up with another gem versus Nebraska and allowed just one run in the full seven innings. Katie Stewart provided all of the squad\u2019s offense with a lone clutch swing, her three-run shot down the left-field line<\/a> in the bottom of the sixth.<\/p>\n Full of momentum, Texas went on to sweep Tennessee in Monday\u2019s doubleheader. Citlaly Gutierrez won her start in the 5-2 opener, while Kavan notched yet another complete game in the 4-0 rematch.<\/p>\n How Texas Tech got here<\/p>\n Texas Tech brought its bats out to the Lubbock Regional and went off for 34 runs in three wins. But one of them was a heart-racing eye-popper that won\u2019t soon be forgotten.<\/p>\n The Red Raiders trailed Ole Miss 8-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning and were down to their last out \u2026 then somehow won 10-9 in extras. Before that, teams behind by eight or more runs had been 0-640 since 2000. It was truly a rally for the ages. Lauren Allred\u2019s grand slam<\/a> became the improbable equalizer.<\/p>\n Unlike its championship opponent, No. 11 seed Texas Tech had to go on the road for the Super Regionals. The Red Raiders hit Gainesville and immediately produced another classic, this time against No. 6 overall seed Florida.<\/p>\n Mia Williams, a former Gator, spurned her former team with a two-run home run for the 10-8 win. Florida evened the ledger in the second game, but Texas Tech prevailed with a 16-7 thumping in the finale. Jackie Lis paced the offense with five RBIs, four runs scored and two homers in a 3-for-3 breakout.<\/p>\n With Canady in the circle, the Red Raiders blanked Mississippi State to start the next round. Chaos ensued from there. They lost a 2-1 nine-inning stinger to Tennessee and fell into elimination territory versus UCLA.<\/p>\n So began another all-timer in OKC, as the Bruins slugged a game-tying long ball one out from defeat. This time, however, the ninth inning belonged to Texas Tech. And yet another talented transfer burned her former program: Kaitlyn Terry went from UCLA great to UCLA villain with her tie-breaking RBI double.<\/p>\n As if this tournament run hadn\u2019t been wild enough, Texas Tech then pulled off consecutive tension-wrapped upsets of No. 1 Alabama in the semis. Williams belted a walk-off moonshot<\/a> for a 5-4 win, and Canady slammed the door shut for a 2-0 clincher.<\/p>\n Last year, Texas\u2019 inaugural national championship came at Texas Tech\u2019s expense. The Red Raiders can now even the score and get a first title of their own \u2026 or become another runner-up to a budding dynasty.<\/p>\n Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process, and do not review stories before publication.<\/p>\n
\nVenue: Devon Park \u2014 Oklahoma City
\nDates: June 3-5<\/p>\n