In a thrilling display of resilience and skill, Texas Tech has forced a decisive Game 3 in the 2025 Women’s College World Series (WCWS) championship series with a nail-biting 4-3 victory over the Texas Longhorns on Thursday night at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. This marks a historic moment for the Red Raiders, who recorded their first-ever WCWS game win and are now on the brink of claiming their first national softball title.
Under the guidance of head coach Gerry Glasco, who was hired just last June at a modest salary of $250,000, Texas Tech has transformed into a powerhouse. Glasco’s recruitment strategy, aided significantly by oil billionaire John Sellers and his wife Tracy—herself a Texas Tech softball alumna—helped assemble a formidable roster highlighted by nine transfers, including star pitcher NiJaree Canady. Canady, who inked a groundbreaking $1 million NIL (name, image, and likeness) contract in her first year at Lubbock, has been the linchpin of the Red Raiders’ success. She boasts a program-best regular-season ERA of 0.89 and the second-most single-season wins with 30, leading Texas Tech to both the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles, as well as their inaugural WCWS appearance.
Despite entering the postseason as the 12th seed, Texas Tech has defied expectations, dismantling the Oklahoma Sooners dynasty en route to the championship series against their in-state rivals, the Texas Longhorns. The series has been a back-and-forth battle, with Texas narrowly claiming Game 1 thanks to a clutch two-run single from Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood off a rare misstep by Canady during an intentional walk attempt.
Game 2, however, showcased Canady's redemption and tenacity. She pitched a complete seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks, demonstrating her poise under pressure. The Red Raiders broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the fifth inning, capitalizing on Texas pitcher Cambria Salmon’s misfortune, who hit Texas Tech’s Alana Johnson with the bases loaded and then yielded a wild pitch that scored Mihyia Davis from third base.
Texas cut the lead to 2-1 in the sixth inning on a solo home run by senior third baseman Mia Scott, marking her fourth career home run at the WCWS—a program record for Texas. However, Texas Tech responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, aided by a costly error from Texas pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez and a sacrifice fly by Bailey Lindemuth that scored Makayla Garcia. Mihyia Davis then delivered a key RBI with a ground ball that Texas first baseman Joley Mitchell couldn’t field cleanly, allowing Victoria Valdez to score and extend the lead to 4-1.
Texas rallied in the seventh inning, putting the tying run on third base after Leighann Goode’s RBI double and a sacrifice fly from pinch hitter Katie Cimusz brought the score to 4-3. Nevertheless, Canady held her nerve, striking out Texas outfielder Kayden Henry to seal the victory and send the series to a decisive Game 3 scheduled for 7 p.m. Central Time on Friday, broadcast on ESPN.
Coach Glasco praised his team’s mental toughness and ability to control momentum, saying, “I thought controlling the emotion and controlling the momentum in the first two to three innings was critical. I thought we had to really be careful in the early innings and not let any momentum get in their dugout because they took plenty from last night at the end.” He singled out Victoria Valdez’s defensive play and Canady’s pitching as pivotal to the win.
Offensively, Mihyia Davis was a standout performer, batting 3-for-4 with an RBI, continuing her multi-hit streak against Texas. Meanwhile, Texas’s pitching staff struggled with uncharacteristic errors and free passes, which ultimately proved costly. Texas coach Mike White’s decision to rely on his pitching depth saw senior right-hander Mac Morgan start strong with two shutout innings before freshman Cambria Salmon entered the game. Salmon pitched three innings, allowing two runs and taking the loss, while Citlaly Gutierrez and Teagan Kavan also saw time on the mound.
The atmosphere at Devon Park was electric, with over 12,000 fans in attendance despite the lingering effects of severe weather earlier in the week, including eight tornadoes touching down around Oklahoma City on June 4. Among the crowd was Texas Tech alum and NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes, who signed Canady to her NIL deal and showed support by sending merchandise to the team. His presence underscored the growing prominence and investment in the Red Raiders’ program.
The Matador Club, Texas Tech’s NIL collective, reported $6 million in payouts across the athletic department in the 2022–23 school year, reflecting significant financial backing, particularly for softball. Athletic director Kirby Hocutt acknowledged the Sellers family’s substantial contributions and noted that Canady has reportedly agreed to another seven-figure contract to remain with Texas Tech next season.
However, the future of such lucrative NIL deals remains uncertain due to the pending House v. NCAA settlement, set to take effect in the 2025-26 academic year. The settlement would cap revenue-sharing at $20.5 million per school, with most funds expected to prioritize football and men’s basketball, potentially limiting NIL opportunities for other sports like softball.
The 2025 WCWS championship series thus stands at a thrilling crossroads. Texas Tech, fueled by Canady’s brilliance and a roster shaped by strategic recruiting and investment, aims to clinch their first-ever national title. Meanwhile, Texas seeks to capitalize on their early momentum and depth to claim the crown. The stage is set for an epic finale that promises to captivate softball fans nationwide.
As the sun sets over Oklahoma City on Friday night, all eyes will be on Devon Park where history could be made. Will Texas Tech’s Cinderella story culminate in a championship, or will Texas rally to seize the crown? The answer awaits in Game 3, where every pitch, hit, and catch will count in this high-stakes showdown.
