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OKLAHOMA CITY — Tennessee softball defeated Texas Tech on May 30 to advance to the Women's College World Series semifinals.
The No. 7 seed Lady Vols (49-10) won 2-1 over the No. 11 seed Red Raiders (58-8) in nine innings at Devon Park and will play No. 2 seed Texas or No. 4 seed Nebraska on June 1 (noon ET, ESPN).
The tying run for Texas Tech in the seventh inning was scored by third baseman Taylor Pannell, who played for the Lady Vols last season. After the game, Pannell said Tennessee coach Karen Weekly told she made a mistake in the handshake line, referring to the decision to transfer to Texas Tech. Weekly called the accusation "an outright lie."
After losing to Tennessee, Pannell and the Red Raiders are playing in an elimination game against No. 8 seed UCLA on May 31. Tennessee and Texas Tech will meet again at the WCWS is if both teams make the finals.
Here's what to know about Pannell.
Pannell spent three seasons at Tennessee, including an injury redshirt year in 2023. Over the next two seasons, she started all but one game she appeared in and was a two-time All-SEC first team selection.
During her career at Tennessee, Pannell batted .351, totaling 124 hits, 83 runs scored, 25 home runs and 102 RBIs. Her career fielding percentage at Tennessee was .957. In 2025, she led the Lady Vols in batting average (.398), runs (56), hits (74), doubles (13), RBIs (65) and was second in home runs (16). She was named an NFCA second-team All-American.
This season at Texas Tech, Pannell is hitting .351 with 71 hits, 12 home runs and 57 RBIs. She made the All-Big 12 second team and Big 12 All-Defensive team at third base.
In her postgame press conference, Pannell said that Weekly told her she made a mistake while the two were going through the handshake line on May 30.
"We were walking through the line just saying 'good game', and she said that I made a mistake instead of saying 'good game', which is kind of crazy," Pannell said. "Like celebrate with your team. I just think it's funny she's still thinking about it. It's old news. Whatever."
When asked earlier what she told Pannell, Weekly replied that just said 'good game' like with every other player. After hearing Pannell's accusation, Weekly told Knox News that it was "an outright lie."
"If you rewatch at the tape of the handshake line, you’re going to see me go just as fast by her as anybody else," Weekly said. "I didn’t even know where she was in the handshake line . . . that’s an outright lie. I said 'good game' like I said to every other player."
Pannell's father is Brandon Pannell. He made a series of posts on X on May 31 about the alleged incident between Weekly and his daughter. He later deleted them.
"@KarenWeekly was right that my kid did make a mistake and that was to play for her ...." one post read.
Pannell is from Milan, Illinois, and went to Rock Island High School.
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: What to know about Taylor Pannell, Texas Tech transfer from Tennessee softball
Continue reading...
The No. 7 seed Lady Vols (49-10) won 2-1 over the No. 11 seed Red Raiders (58-8) in nine innings at Devon Park and will play No. 2 seed Texas or No. 4 seed Nebraska on June 1 (noon ET, ESPN).
The tying run for Texas Tech in the seventh inning was scored by third baseman Taylor Pannell, who played for the Lady Vols last season. After the game, Pannell said Tennessee coach Karen Weekly told she made a mistake in the handshake line, referring to the decision to transfer to Texas Tech. Weekly called the accusation "an outright lie."
After losing to Tennessee, Pannell and the Red Raiders are playing in an elimination game against No. 8 seed UCLA on May 31. Tennessee and Texas Tech will meet again at the WCWS is if both teams make the finals.
Here's what to know about Pannell.
Taylor Pannell Tennessee stats
Pannell spent three seasons at Tennessee, including an injury redshirt year in 2023. Over the next two seasons, she started all but one game she appeared in and was a two-time All-SEC first team selection.
During her career at Tennessee, Pannell batted .351, totaling 124 hits, 83 runs scored, 25 home runs and 102 RBIs. Her career fielding percentage at Tennessee was .957. In 2025, she led the Lady Vols in batting average (.398), runs (56), hits (74), doubles (13), RBIs (65) and was second in home runs (16). She was named an NFCA second-team All-American.
This season at Texas Tech, Pannell is hitting .351 with 71 hits, 12 home runs and 57 RBIs. She made the All-Big 12 second team and Big 12 All-Defensive team at third base.
What happened between Taylor Pannell and Karen Weekly?
In her postgame press conference, Pannell said that Weekly told her she made a mistake while the two were going through the handshake line on May 30.
"We were walking through the line just saying 'good game', and she said that I made a mistake instead of saying 'good game', which is kind of crazy," Pannell said. "Like celebrate with your team. I just think it's funny she's still thinking about it. It's old news. Whatever."
When asked earlier what she told Pannell, Weekly replied that just said 'good game' like with every other player. After hearing Pannell's accusation, Weekly told Knox News that it was "an outright lie."
"If you rewatch at the tape of the handshake line, you’re going to see me go just as fast by her as anybody else," Weekly said. "I didn’t even know where she was in the handshake line . . . that’s an outright lie. I said 'good game' like I said to every other player."
Who is Taylor Pannell's father?
Pannell's father is Brandon Pannell. He made a series of posts on X on May 31 about the alleged incident between Weekly and his daughter. He later deleted them.
"@KarenWeekly was right that my kid did make a mistake and that was to play for her ...." one post read.
Where is Taylor Pannell from?
Pannell is from Milan, Illinois, and went to Rock Island High School.
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: What to know about Taylor Pannell, Texas Tech transfer from Tennessee softball
Continue reading...
