It’s a rematch between Lone Star State powers in the 2026 Women’s College World Series Final.
No. 1 seed Texas (51-12, 16-8 in SEC play) and No. 3 seed Texas Tech (61-8, 21-3 in the Big 12) begin their three-game series at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday in Oklahoma City. Each game will air on ESPN.
The Longhorns, first-time champions in 2025, look to defend their crown after they defeated Texas Tech in three games last year. The Red Raiders, meanwhile, seek not only to avenge last year’s loss but also to earn their first national title.
Stars will be on full display as an exciting season in college softball comes to an end. Here are three storylines to watch heading into the series.
We meet again…
While Texas and Texas Tech have yet to square off in 2026, they shared a quintet of epic matchups in 2025. Three of the five, including two World Series games, were decided by one run.
The season series started in February’s University of Texas Tournament, when the Longhorns needed nine innings to close a 2-1 win over the Red Raiders. Texas walked it off via an unearned run, receiving aid from a throwing error. The Longhorns then punished Texas Tech in their second meeting of the invitational, an 11-0 win in five innings.
Things followed a similar script in the World Series. Texas won 2-1 in Game 1 thanks to a two-run rally with two outs in the sixth. Then Tech battled back in Game 2, winning 4-3 and staving off a seventh-inning push from Texas.
But the Longhorns, the preseason No. 1 team and a top-five squad all season, pulled away when it mattered most. They put up five first-inning runs in Game 3 and never looked back in a 10-4 win.
Can the upstart Red Raiders, behind second-year coach Gerry Glasco, knock off the powerhouse Longhorns this time around?
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Star talent will pepper the diamond this week on both sides, including a trio of selections in this year’s AUSL Draft: Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady, Texas catcher Reese Atwood and Texas infielder Leighann Goode.
Canady, the No. 2 overall pick to the Texas Volts, started all three World Series games for Texas Tech last year and has been absolutely dominant in 2026. She owns a 1.84 ERA with 249 strikeouts in 182 1/3 innings.
Canady will work on quieting the potent Texas offense, which includes her future teammate Goode, the No. 8 overall pick this year by the Volts. Goode has posted a 1.050 OPS with 12 home runs. Meanwhile, Atwood -- the No. 7 pick to the Carolina Blaze -- holds a 1.113 OPS with 19 long balls.
Other names to watch include Texas junior Katie Stewart (30 home runs), Texas Tech junior Mia Williams (26 homers) and Texas Tech senior Jackie Lis (21 homers).
In the spotlight
Williams has been the Red Raiders’ best hitter all year, rocking those 25 homers while batting .438 with an unbelievable 1.449 OPS. She’s also caught some extra attention in this year’s Women's College World Series.
Williams transferred to Texas Tech this offseason from Florida, which she and the Red Raiders downed in the Gainesville best-of-three Super Regional this year. Williams was hit by a pitch five times in the three games, and the Gators didn’t leave their dugout to shake hands at the end of Game 3.
Notably, Williams is the daughter of former NBA star Jason Williams, a Florida alumnus himself. But after the dust-up on the diamond, Williams went on "Wake Up Barstool" and said he’d only step foot on Florida’s campus if “my daughter plays softball there again.”
Whether we see extracurriculars again in the finals this week, it’s a good bet that Mia Williams will create some fireworks with her bat. Get your popcorn ready.