CBS News VERIFIED: Lubbock, Texas — Wreck Em!! Congratulation Rock Red Raiders, For the first time in school history, Texas Tech is headed to the Women’s College World Series! See full details

CBS News VERIFIED: Lubbock, Texas — Wreck Em!! Congratulation Rock Red Raiders, For the first time in school history, Texas Tech is headed to the Women’s College World Series! See full detail

Here’s a detailed rundown of Texas Tech’s historic women’s softball season—now culminating in their first-ever trip to the Women’s College World Series (WCWS)—in over 600 words:

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🏆 Historic Season & Trailblazing Firsts

1. Dominating the Big 12

Texas Tech claimed its first-ever Big 12 regular-season title, finishing with a dominant 20–4 conference record .

They followed that up with their first Big 12 Tournament championship, sweeping opponents 26–0 in the postseason bracket .

 

2. NCAA Tournament Milestones

For the first time in program history, Tech hosted an NCAA Regional at Lubbock in May 2025, emerging triumphant to advance to the Super Regionals .

In a stunning performance, they swept No. 5 Florida State in Tallahassee, winning both games of the Super Regional series—including a tense 2–1 victory—to punch their ticket to the WCWS .

 

 

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Key Players & Coaches

NiJaree Canady – The Ace

A transfer from Stanford, Canady signed a historic $1 million NIL deal, the highest ever for a college softball player .

She registered a nation-leading ERA of 0.89 (also listed as 0.97 in some records), with 34–7 or 30–5 win-loss figures depending on context .

Canady pitched both games of the Super Regional: a complete-game shutout in Game 1 and a tight 2–1 win in Game 2, finishing with season stats of 317 strikeouts and the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year award .

Offensive Standouts

Mihyia Davis, a junior outfielder, provided speed and power—batting for four errors, posting a career-high with five home runs, 10 doubles, 6 triples, and stealing 26 bases. She earned All-Big 12 First Team and All-Defensive honors .

Demi Elder, a senior, lifted Texas Tech’s offense massively: since she returned to the lineup, the team was 27–3, with her reaching base in 26 of 30 games .

Hailey Toney (freshman, shortstop) and Bailey Lindemuth (freshman, third base) each started nearly every game—Toney started every contest, a rare feat—and were named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team .

Head Coach Gerry Glasco

Hired in June 2024 after a successful tenure at Louisiana, Glasco (66) instantly turned the program around .

He recruited an elite transfer and NIL class, transforming Tech into a national contender within one season .

 

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Road to the WCWS & Performance in OKC

1. Oxford & Tucson Journey
Texas Tech began the WCWS with victories over Ole Miss and UCLA, advancing to the semifinals .
In the semifinals, they stunned No. 2 seed Oklahoma, winning 3–2 with a dramatic walk-off—ending the Sooners’ bid for a fifth title in a row . Patrick Mahomes (Texas Tech alumnus) even celebrated their upset online .

2. Championship Showdown vs. Texas
In the best-of-three finals, underdogs Texas Tech battled the Longhorns:

Game 1: Texas edged out a close 2–1 win .

Game 2: Tech fought back to win 4–3, keeping the series alive .

Game 3: Texas dominated with a 10–4 victory, unleashing five first-inning runs (including Leighann Goode’s three-run homer) and a grand slam by Mia Scott. Canady was pulled early, ending her streak of 686 consecutive pitches .
Texas claimed its first national softball title, while Tech finished as runner-up—an astonishing achievement for a debut year at this level .

 

 

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Broader Impact & Community Celebration

Lubbock erupted upon the team’s return: fans packed Rocky Johnson Field for a free-welcome rally on June 7 .

Their semifinal win over Oklahoma made national headlines, even drawing praise on social media from Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes .

The success story emphasizes how strategic NIL investments—notably Canady’s mega-deal and a stronger recruits package—paid off under Glasco’s recruitment vision .

 

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What Lies Ahead

Coach Glasco—named Big 12 Coach of the Year—aims to build sustained success, leveraging current momentum and NIL momentum contracts .

This WCWS run, trailing only behind the big fish but with flashes of brilliance, signals a bright future—and sets a high bar for next season and beyond.

 

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In Summary

Texas Tech’s softball program transformed from Big 12 underdogs (29–21 in 2024) into national contenders in one year—thanks to:

Elite coaching hire (Gerry Glasco)

Breakthrough NIL investments (anchor transfer NiJaree Canady)

Record-setting regular season & postseason performance

Historic upsets in the NCAA Tournament – culminating in their first WCWS finals appearance

Despite a tough final loss to Texas, the Red Raiders’ inaugural WCWS campaign marks one of the most dramatic single-season turnarounds in college softball history—setting the stage for what’s next in Lubbock.

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Would you like game-by-game stats, player interviews, or coverage of their welcome rally next? Just say the word!