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OKLAHOMA CITY — The Texas Longhorns were fantastic.
And now, dynastic.
“Back to back, baby,” said coach Mike White before leaving the postgame interview room with the big trophy under his arm Thursday night. White joined volleyball’s Jerritt Elliott as the latest two Texas coaches of traditional team sports to repeat in the modern era.
Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) and infielder Katie Stewart (20) hug after winning game two of the NCAA Women’s College World Series against Texas Tech at Devon Park on Thursday, June 4, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
The 4-1 win and dismissal of Texas Tech for the second straight year in the Women’s College World Series finale has placed the Horns as the big dog on the block with a chance for a three-peat in the cards with the battle-tested talent returning in 2027.
Devon Park is the house the Oklahoma Sooners built with eight championships but the Longhorns have taken up residence not only atop the softball world but in the heads of the Sooners dynasty and any would-be contenders to the throne.
And they will be back after posting a 53-12 mark.
Texas Longhorns head coach Mike White talks to infielder Viviana Martinez (23) during game two of the NCAA Women’s College World Series against Texas Tech at Devon Park on Thursday, June 4, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
MORE CED:Cleveland/Muhammad Ali Summit provided lessons that still resonate
“I have so much faith in this program,” said catcher Reese Atwood, who leaves as a two-time national champion and one of the most decorated players in the sport’s history. “I believe that they can three-peat. I believe they can four-peat. I believe with the standards this program has set and just with the culture and the love that our support staff and everybody gives us that anything we want is possible.”
This isn’t hyperbole because the talent is there to do it again, starting with staff ace Teagan Kavan who became the first player to earn consecutive Most Outstanding Player awards.
A team with championship DNA needs only a sliver of a break to make an opponent pay and the Horns took advantage of Tech shortstop Hailey Toney’s throwing error to erase a 1-0 deficit with a pair of runs in the fifth inning.
It was all Kavan needed. She replaced Gutierrez — who sparkled with 4 1/3 innings of three-hit ball in her final college game — in the sixth and struck out the side, including Toney who she caught looking with a filthy changeup.
Texas Longhorns associate head coach Kristen Zaleski hugs catcher Reese Atwood (14) after winning game two of the NCAA Women’s College World Series against Texas Tech at Devon Park on Thursday, June 4, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
As the Horns celebrated, M.C. Hammer’s smash hit "U Can’t Touch This" blared from the stadium’s speakers.
Mr. Burrell’s words rang true. Kavan sat down six batters and struck out five on just 28 pitches. She isn't a strikeout machine in the mode of her mentor Cat Osterman but she always saves her best for OKC.
“This is what you dream about,” Kavan said. “This is why we work hard for this moment. This exact moment right here.”
One year after third baseman Mia Scott’s grand slam capped off an historic career to spark the program's first natty, the Horns returned a deeper ballclub and spread the wealth behind Kavan’s brilliance.
Sign up for Cedric Golden’s newsletter for hot takes and expert analysis each Tuesday on Texas Longhorns football and beyond. It's called Ced’s Corner, from the mind of the American-Statesman’s resident sports columnist who was named the NSMA's 2025 Texas Sportswriter of the Year.
White told me that repeating was more difficult than winning the first one because there were bumps.
“We had ups and downs throughout the season without a doubt,” White said. “There’s still some growth for us to do but that’s part of this game. If you stay level, I think we can get to where we have everything working."
Texas Longhorns outfielder Ashton Maloney (7) holds the trophy after winning game two of the NCAA Women’s College World Series against Texas Tech at Devon Park on Thursday, June 4, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Sure, Atwood, Gutierrez, and right fielder Ashton Maloney will take their leave but the Horns are returning superstars in Kavan — who has ascended up the chart of all-time Longhorn greats — first baseman Katie Stewart and center fielder Kayden Henry along with second baseman Leighann Goode, DP/pitcher Hannah Wells and shortstop Viviana Martinez, to name a few.
The Horns simply wouldn’t die in this tourney. They went 6-0 in elimination games and stunned Tennessee with a doubleheader sweep when the only other option was going home. It brings to mind what Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said after his team won a second straight title in 1995.
“Never underestimate the heart of a champion."
The Horns are well past being underestimated.
Oklahoma still has the most hardware but the Horns have arrived.
And hungry for more.
Continue reading...
And now, dynastic.
“Back to back, baby,” said coach Mike White before leaving the postgame interview room with the big trophy under his arm Thursday night. White joined volleyball’s Jerritt Elliott as the latest two Texas coaches of traditional team sports to repeat in the modern era.
You must be registered for see images attach
Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) and infielder Katie Stewart (20) hug after winning game two of the NCAA Women’s College World Series against Texas Tech at Devon Park on Thursday, June 4, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
The 4-1 win and dismissal of Texas Tech for the second straight year in the Women’s College World Series finale has placed the Horns as the big dog on the block with a chance for a three-peat in the cards with the battle-tested talent returning in 2027.
Devon Park is the house the Oklahoma Sooners built with eight championships but the Longhorns have taken up residence not only atop the softball world but in the heads of the Sooners dynasty and any would-be contenders to the throne.
And they will be back after posting a 53-12 mark.
You must be registered for see images attach
Texas Longhorns head coach Mike White talks to infielder Viviana Martinez (23) during game two of the NCAA Women’s College World Series against Texas Tech at Devon Park on Thursday, June 4, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
MORE CED:Cleveland/Muhammad Ali Summit provided lessons that still resonate
“I have so much faith in this program,” said catcher Reese Atwood, who leaves as a two-time national champion and one of the most decorated players in the sport’s history. “I believe that they can three-peat. I believe they can four-peat. I believe with the standards this program has set and just with the culture and the love that our support staff and everybody gives us that anything we want is possible.”
This isn’t hyperbole because the talent is there to do it again, starting with staff ace Teagan Kavan who became the first player to earn consecutive Most Outstanding Player awards.
How Texas broke through
A team with championship DNA needs only a sliver of a break to make an opponent pay and the Horns took advantage of Tech shortstop Hailey Toney’s throwing error to erase a 1-0 deficit with a pair of runs in the fifth inning.
It was all Kavan needed. She replaced Gutierrez — who sparkled with 4 1/3 innings of three-hit ball in her final college game — in the sixth and struck out the side, including Toney who she caught looking with a filthy changeup.
You must be registered for see images attach
Texas Longhorns associate head coach Kristen Zaleski hugs catcher Reese Atwood (14) after winning game two of the NCAA Women’s College World Series against Texas Tech at Devon Park on Thursday, June 4, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
As the Horns celebrated, M.C. Hammer’s smash hit "U Can’t Touch This" blared from the stadium’s speakers.
Mr. Burrell’s words rang true. Kavan sat down six batters and struck out five on just 28 pitches. She isn't a strikeout machine in the mode of her mentor Cat Osterman but she always saves her best for OKC.
“This is what you dream about,” Kavan said. “This is why we work hard for this moment. This exact moment right here.”
They were built for a repeat
One year after third baseman Mia Scott’s grand slam capped off an historic career to spark the program's first natty, the Horns returned a deeper ballclub and spread the wealth behind Kavan’s brilliance.
Sign up for Ced's Corner
Sign up for Cedric Golden’s newsletter for hot takes and expert analysis each Tuesday on Texas Longhorns football and beyond. It's called Ced’s Corner, from the mind of the American-Statesman’s resident sports columnist who was named the NSMA's 2025 Texas Sportswriter of the Year.
White told me that repeating was more difficult than winning the first one because there were bumps.
“We had ups and downs throughout the season without a doubt,” White said. “There’s still some growth for us to do but that’s part of this game. If you stay level, I think we can get to where we have everything working."
You must be registered for see images attach
Texas Longhorns outfielder Ashton Maloney (7) holds the trophy after winning game two of the NCAA Women’s College World Series against Texas Tech at Devon Park on Thursday, June 4, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Sure, Atwood, Gutierrez, and right fielder Ashton Maloney will take their leave but the Horns are returning superstars in Kavan — who has ascended up the chart of all-time Longhorn greats — first baseman Katie Stewart and center fielder Kayden Henry along with second baseman Leighann Goode, DP/pitcher Hannah Wells and shortstop Viviana Martinez, to name a few.
The Horns simply wouldn’t die in this tourney. They went 6-0 in elimination games and stunned Tennessee with a doubleheader sweep when the only other option was going home. It brings to mind what Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said after his team won a second straight title in 1995.
“Never underestimate the heart of a champion."
The Horns are well past being underestimated.
Oklahoma still has the most hardware but the Horns have arrived.
And hungry for more.
Continue reading...
