NCAA Softball Tournament: Texas faces big test in Women's College World Series opener
Texas Longhorns softball will defend their national title at the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, starting with a Thursday matchup against Tennessee. The team secured its third consecutive WCWS appearance by defeating Arizona State 5-0 in the Austin Super Regional, while Mississippi State advanced after upsetting Oklahoma in Game 3.
The Texas Longhorns softball team will begin its defense of the national title at the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City on Thursday, facing Tennessee in their opener. Texas earned its third straight WCWS trip by defeating Arizona State 5-0 in Game 3 of the Austin Super Regional at McCombs Field. Four SEC teams—Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi State—along with Nebraska, Texas Tech, and UCLA, will join the Longhorns in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma, the eight-time champion, will miss the tournament for the first time since 2015 after being eliminated by Mississippi State in Game 3. The Longhorns will rely on a strong pitching rotation, including Teagan Kavan, who threw three scoreless innings in relief during their Super Regional win. Last season, Texas defeated Tennessee 2-0 in the WCWS, with pitcher Mac Morgan (now an assistant coach at UTSA) leading the charge. Tennessee’s ace, Karlyn Pickens, struck out nine Longhorns in their previous meeting, while Texas managed to limit her to five hits and one earned run in six innings. Vivi Martinez, who missed last season due to a knee injury, will look to adjust to Pickens’ hard-throwing style, having faced her in 2024. Martinez went 4-for-9 in the Super Regional series against Arizona State and emphasized the importance of timing against elite pitchers. Game times for all first-round matchups will be announced later this week, setting the stage for Texas’ title defense.
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