The Texas Longhorns made history Friday night, winning the school’s first-ever Women’s College World Series title by knocking down a Texas Tech team that has made waves all season for a stacked roster built by NIL (name, image, and likeness) dollars.
The Longhorns and Red Raiders battled to a third game after Texas won 2-1 Wednesday and Texas Tech held off the Longhorns in a 4-3 win Thursday. But on Friday, Tech’s million-dollar-star NiJaree Canady’s season ended brutally when she allowed five runs in the first inning (the most she’s ever given up in an inning) and was pulled by the second; Texas triumphed 10-4.
The win comes one year after the Longhorns suffered heartbreak in the title series last season.
On Wednesday night, Canady made what many called the worst mistake of her career: throwing a would-be ball four during an attempted intentional walk that Texas’s Reese Atwood hit to drive in two runs—the only runs the Longhorns would score that night in their win. The next night, Canady shook it off with a strong outing on the mound, and ended the game with a strikeout that left the tying run stranded on third.
The Longhorns may not have spent the flashy NIL money of the Red Raiders this year, but they have long been known for investing big in their softball program. Texas spent $3.8 million on its program, not including NIL money, according to data compiled by the Extra Points newsletter, ranking them No. 10 in the nation. (Texas Tech wasn’t far behind, spending $3.6 million.)
Coach Mike White earns $625,000 annually, the second-highest contract of anyone in NCAA softball. New Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco didn’t even crack the top 20.
It was a year of firsts for the Red Raiders under Glasco, who recruited a No. 1 transfer class with the help of oil billionaire John Sellers and his wife, Tracy, who played softball at Texas Tech. The team notched its first Big 12 regular season title, first Big 12 tournament title, and appeared in its first WCWS and first championship series.
The Longhorns held on this year, but the Red Raiders could be back. Canady has agreed to another seven-figure NIL deal with Texas Tech’s NIL collective, The Matador Club, earlier on Friday, Front Office Sports confirmed.
