Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady and Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens lead WCWS players to watch
The Oklahoman’s Jenni Carlson highlights several Women’s College World Series key players to watch.
For the third time in four years, Texas softball has made it to the Women’s College World Series finals.
The Longhorns will play the winner of No. 2 Oklahoma vs No. 12 Texas Tech. The Sooners will need to win two games on Monday, whereas the Red Raiders − behind superstar pitcher NiJaree Canady − are looking to advance to the finals in their first WCWS appearance
Texas advanced with a 2-0 win over Tennessee Monday afternoon, with Mac Morgan and Teagan Kavan throwing a combined gem against the Vols. Karlyn Pickens went the distance for Tennessee, but a solo home run and an insurance run off an error later proved to be the difference.
The Longhorns are looking to get a Sooner-sized monkey off their backs. Mike White’s squad has already notched a win over Oklahoma in this year’s tournament, but has lost to the Sooners in its previous two appearances (2022, 2024). The winners Monday will get a one-day respite before beginning the final best-of-three series on Wednesday.
Who’s in WCWS finals? Updated NCAA softball bracket
Texas defeated Tennessee to advance to the WCWS finals. Texas Tech needs one win over Oklahoma Monday to secure its spot for an intrastate matchup.
WCWS scores
- No. 6 Texas 2, No. 7 Tennessee 0 (Texas advances to WCWS)
- No. 12 Texas Tech vs. No. 2 Oklahoma | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN (ESPN+)
- No. 12 Texas Tech vs. No. 2 Oklahoma | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN (ESPN+) *
* If necessary
When are WCWS finals?
- WCWS finals start date: Wednesday, June 4
- WCWS finals end date: Thursday, June 5 or Friday, June 6
The Women’s College World Series championship series will begin on June 4 and end on either June 5 or June 6, depending on whether the finals are decided in two games or three.
Women’s College World Series finals schedule
- Wednesday, June 4: No. 6 Texas vs No. 2 Oklahoma/No. 12 Texas Tech (Game 1) | 8 p.m. ET | ESPN (ESPN+) *
- Thursday, June 5: No. 6 Texas vs No. 2 Oklahoma/No. 12 Texas Tech (Game 2) | 8 p.m. ET | ESPN (ESPN+)
- Friday, June 6: No. 6 Texas vs No. 2 Oklahoma/No. 12 Texas Tech (Game 3) | 8 p.m. ET | ESPN (ESPN+) *
* If necessary
How to watch WCWS finals?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+
The three-game WCWS championship series will air on ESPN. Streaming options for each game include the ESPN app (with a cable login) and ESPN+, the latter of which is ESPN’s subscription service.
