The Lady Raiders continue to stun the softball world with grit, talent, and a little West Texas swagger on their path to the championship in Oklahoma City…
Texas Tech has made history by advancing to the Women’s College World Series (WCWS) finals for the first time, ending Oklahoma’s dominant four-year championship streak with a dramatic 3–2 walk-off victory in the semifinals. The Red Raiders’ star pitcher, NiJaree Canady, played a pivotal role in this achievement, delivering a complete game with eight strikeouts and allowing only two runs. Canady, a transfer from Stanford who secured a $1 million NIL deal, has been instrumental throughout the tournament, boasting a 33–5 record and a nation-leading 0.90 ERA.
The New York Post has more on Tech’s breathtaking victory over Oklahoma, ending their rivals’ chance for a fifth consecutive title:
The game was one of the most anticipated of the year, with the two-time NFCA Pitcher of the Year Canady on the hill against Oklahoma, which had won the Women’s College World Series the past four years.
Canady has been one of the most dominant pitchers in Division I college softball and she continued that stretch in Monday’s game against the Sooners.
Canady pitched all seven innings of Monday’s semifinal game, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out eight of the 28 batters she faced.
The Red Raiders starter didn’t allow a hit until the middle of the second inning.
The championship series features an all-Texas showdown between No. 12 Texas Tech and No. 6 Texas, marking the first intrastate final since 2004. Texas, seeking its first national title after previous runner-up finishes, enters the series with momentum, having defeated Tennessee 2–0 in the semifinals. Their ace, Teagan Kavan, has been dominant, posting a 26–5 record and a 0.53 ERA in the tournament.
Game 1 of the best-of-three series is scheduled for Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. The matchup promises a compelling duel between Canady and Kavan, with both teams vying for their first national championship.