After a shaky start, the Texas Longhorns are back in the Women's College World Series final. They are facing none other than the Texas Tech Red Raiders, whom the Horns defeated to clinch last year's National Championship.
Now on a 4-0 hot streak, after losing to Tennessee in the opening game of the WCWS, Texas head coach Mike White has to clamp down on any possible flaws still lingering in his lineup.
1. Relying on game-saving homers from Katie Stewart
Over the last few games, even with Texas securing the wins, the Horns have had to either come from behind or maintain a minimal lead.
In a lot of those matchups, even the commentators were expecting Texas first baseman Katie Stewart to hit a multi-run home run. When she couldn't, you could almost see the nerves build in the Longhorns' dugout.
While it isn't entirely Stewart's responsibility (obviously), Texas cannot rely on one or two players to produce the offensive push if the Longhorns want to get past the Red Raiders. It must be a group effort, especially against the elite Texas Tech recruiting staff.
2. Doubting Texas Tech will pull NiJaree Canady from the circle
The first-ever million-dollar collegiate softball player was NiJaree Canady, who joined the Red Raiders in 2025 after a year with the Stanford Cardinal.
Unsurprisingly, she is the pitcher that Texas Tech head coach Gerry Glasco is opting to start the series in the circle. However, the Longhorns can't only study Canday's pitching arsenal.
The WCWS is a battle of the aces‼️
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) June 3, 2026
Texas Tech's NiJaree Canady and Texas' Teagan Kavan have gone head-to-head five times, but Kavan has dominated, winning all five games and throwing two shutouts 😤
🍿 WCWS Game 1 | 8 PM ET on ESPN and the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/wueep7pOab
Canady is one of a few elite pitchers coming out of Lubbock this season. Even last season, Glasco didn't hesitate to rotate multiple pitchers into the game as the Red Raiders tried to slow down the Longhorns.
White has to prepare his team for every possible matchup when they walk up to the plate, or we could see even more of Texas swinging and missing while at bat.
3. Refusing to take Teagan Kavan out of the game
Just like Texas Tech has Canady, the Horns have pitcher Teagan Kavan, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of last year's Women's College World Series final.
While Kavan is an undeniable star, a few cracks in her previously unshakable foundation have shown themselves this postseason. Yes, Kavan has helped lead the Longhorns to their last four wins, but White must be ready to rotate her out of the circle if her pitching doesn't have its usual juice at any point of this series.
"We fought so hard, we've had so many key players step up in different places, different roles," senior catcher Reese Atwood said about the Horns' journey through the WCWS. "I mean, it's Texas Fight, it's what we do."
Also read: Texas has the most unlikely 'creature' to thank for making it back to the WCWS
The Longhorns and the Red Raiders are scheduled to throw out the first pitch of Game 1 at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday, June 3, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Add us as a preferred source on Google