Latest news with #TeaganKavan
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Texas Longhorns light the tower with first College World Series championship
The post Texas Longhorns light the tower with first College World Series championship appeared first on ClutchPoints. After years of heartbreak and near-misses, the Texas Longhorns softball team finally completed the climb. With a dominant 10-4 win over Texas Tech on Friday night in Game 3 of the Women's College World Series championship series, the Longhorns captured their first-ever national title and put an emphatic end to years of waiting. Advertisement It was Texas' eighth trip to the WCWS and the third time in the past four seasons they'd reached the championship round. But unlike in 2022 and 2023—when they fell to Oklahoma—this time, they refused to be denied. Texas came out swinging early and never looked back. The offense exploded for five runs in the first inning, capped off by a three-run blast from Leighann Goode. Mia Scott delivered the knockout punch just an inning later with a grand slam, a moment that sent the Texas dugout into a frenzy. On the mound, sophomore ace Teagan Kavan once again showed why she's been the heart and soul of the Longhorns this postseason. She tossed 31 2/3 innings in the WCWS without allowing an earned run, a tournament record, and went 4-0 with a save along the way. Her dominance earned her the WCWS Most Outstanding Player award. Texas softball brings a National Championship to Austin © DOUG HOKE/THEOKLAHOMAN 'It means the world,' Kavan said on ESPN after the game. 'I'm so happy for this team. We did it.' Advertisement The title is also a monumental achievement for head coach Mike White. After coming up short twice in the finals, White finally got his Gatorade bath and the national recognition he has long deserved. 'It's surreal,' White said in a postgame interview. 'We've worked so hard to get to this point. These girls showed so much fight, and I couldn't be prouder.' Scott, whose impact throughout her career has been immense, delivered one of the most clutch performances of her life in the final. Her grand slam not only padded the lead but also put an exclamation mark on an already stellar WCWS run. Texas Tech, meanwhile, was forced to pull star pitcher NiJaree Canady after just one inning. After throwing 686 consecutive pitches dating back to the start of Super Regionals, she simply ran out of gas at the worst possible time. Not even the support of Patrick and Brittany Mahomes in the stands could swing the momentum back in the Red Raiders' favor. Advertisement With the win, Kavan also surpassed Longhorn legend Cat Osterman for the most wins in WCWS history for Texas. And with Kavan only a sophomore, she's just getting started. After years of falling just short, the Longhorns have finally reached the mountaintop—and lit the tower in championship gold. Related: Former NCAA athletes to be paid $2.8 billion for lost NIL earnings Related: NCAA conference commissioners applaud House settlement that 'prioritizes fairness'
USA Today
11-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas WCWS final win sets ESPN record with most-watched College softball game ever
Texas WCWS final win sets ESPN record with most-watched College softball game ever ESPN reported that the decisive Game 3 of the championship series averaged 2.4 million viewers and peaked at 2.7 million, making it the most-watched NCAA softball game ever. The Texas Longhorns made history at the 2025 Women's College World Series, capturing their first-ever national championship and setting new television viewership records across all three games of the finals. ESPN reported that the decisive Game 3 of the championship series averaged 2.4 million viewers and peaked at 2.7 million, making it the most-watched NCAA softball game ever. Games 1 and 2 also broke records, each averaging 2.1 million viewers—the highest ever for the opening two games of a WCWS final. Game 1 peaked at 2.8 million viewers, while Game 2 reached a peak of 2.6 million. The all-Texas matchup between the Longhorns and Texas Tech Red Raiders marked the first time since 2004 that both championship participants hailed from the same state, reviving the storied rivalry from their Big 12 days. The series spotlighted a marquee pitching showdown between Texas ace Teagan Kavan and Texas Tech's NiJaree Canady. Kavan, who entered the finals with a perfect 3-0 record against Canady, extended her dominance to 5-0 after two more victories in the championship series. Fans were treated to a dramatic three-game set. Game 1 delivered a classic pitchers' duel, featuring a controversial obstruction call and a bizarre game-winning hit for Texas in the sixth inning. The Red Raiders bounced back in Game 2, capitalizing on Texas errors to force a decisive Game 3. In the winner-take-all finale, the Longhorns erupted for five runs in the first inning, forcing Canady out of the game. A grand slam sealed Texas' commanding victory and their first national title in program history.
Reuters
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Record 2.4 million watched Texas win WCWS over Texas Tech
June 10 - It wasn't just Texas celebrating a historic win in the Women's College World Series over the Texas Tech last week. The deciding Game 3 on Friday averaged 2.4 million viewers on ESPN and ESPNU, peaking at 2.7 million, making it the most-watched NCAA softball game ever. In total, the three-game championship series averaged 2.2 million viewers, another record for the WCWS finals. It represents a 13 percent uptick from 2024, when Oklahoma beat Texas in two games to become the first program to win four straight softball national championships. That finals previously set the viewership record, topping the prior mark set in 2015 (Florida over Michigan). On top of it all, ESPN set viewership records for each WCWS game: The first and second games each drew 2.1 million viewers to set Game 1 and Game 2 records of the WCWS championship series. Making its third WCWS finals appearance in four years, Texas beat its in-state rival for the program's first-ever national championship in softball. Teagan Kavan led the way, allowing no earned runs over 31 2/3 innings at the WCWS en route to being named the Most Outstanding Player. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Record 2.4 million watched Texas' win over Texas Tech in Game 3 of WCWS
The viewership numbers for women's softball, much like the right arm of Texas star Teagan Kavan, continue to be a rocket. Texas' 10-4 win over Texas Tech in Game 3 of the Women's College World Series averaged 2.4 million viewers on ESPN and ESPNU. That's the most-watched NCAA college softball game ever. The game peaked at 2.7 million viewers. Advertisement The entire Women's College World Series Finals averaged 2.2 million viewers to make it the most-watched WCWS Finals in history. That's up 13 percent from last year, which was the previous all-time high. ESPN set viewership records for each game of the WCWS. Game 2 was the most-watched Game 2 Finals on record (2.1 million viewers), as was Game 1 (2.1 million viewers). ESPN will have more detailed Series numbers Tuesday, including streaming numbers and which cities drew the highest household ratings. What is clear is that 2025 will come in as the most-watched Women's College World Series postseason (including all games) in history, topping the prior high in 2021. This year's Women's World Series also included the most-watched non-finals WCWS game on record since 2015, when 2.2 million viewers tuned in for UCLA-Tennessee. Advertisement Last year's WCWS Finals between Oklahoma and Texas averaged 2 million viewers. That was up 24 percent from 2023 and up 3 percent from the previous all-time high in 2015 (Florida/Michigan). The win was Texas' first national title in softball after the Longhorns reached the championship stage three times in the last four years. It featured two of the sport's most prolific pitchers — Kavan and Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady. Kavan allowed no earned runs throughout 31 2/3 innings pitched in the WCWS. She improved to 5-0 against Canady and was named Most Outstanding Player. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Sports Business, College Sports, Women's College Sports, women's sports 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
09-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Record 2.4 million watched Texas' win over Texas Tech in Game 3 of WCWS
The viewership numbers for women's softball, much like the right arm of Texas star Teagan Kavan, continue to be a rocket. Texas' 10-4 win over Texas Tech in Game 3 of the Women's College World Series averaged 2.4 million viewers on ESPN and ESPNU. That's the most-watched NCAA college softball game ever. The game peaked at 2.7 million viewers. Advertisement The entire Women's College World Series Finals averaged 2.2 million viewers to make it the most-watched WCWS Finals in history. That's up 13 percent from last year, which was the previous all-time high. ESPN set viewership records for each game of the WCWS. Game 2 was the most-watched Game 2 Finals on record (2.1 million viewers), as was Game 1 (2.1 million viewers). ESPN will have more detailed Series numbers on Tuesday, including streaming numbers and which cities drew the highest household ratings. What is clear is that 2025 will come in as the most-watched Women's College World Series postseason (including all games) in history, topping the prior high in 2021. This year's Women's World Series also included the most-watched non-finals WCWS game on record since 2015, when 2.2 million viewers tuned in for UCLA-Tennessee. Last year's WCWS Finals between Oklahoma and Texas averaged 2 million viewers. That was up 24 percent from 2023 and up three percent from the previous all-time high in 2015 (Florida/Michigan). The win was Texas' first national title in softball after the Longhorns reached the championship stage three times in the last four years. It featured two of the sport's most prolific pitchers — Kavan and Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady. Kavan allowed no earned runs throughout 31 2/3 innings pitched in the WCWS. She improved to 5-0 against Canady and was named Most Outstanding Player. (Photo of Texas celebrating its national title: Sarah Phipps / The Oklahoman / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
