The 2025 Women’s College World Series (WCWS) in Oklahoma City has delivered a dream matchup: the Texas Longhorns versus the Tennessee Lady Volunteers. Two powerhouse programs from two of the most competitive conferences in college softball — the Big 12 and the SEC — are set to square off with everything on the line. On one side, Texas boasts one of the most explosive offenses in the country. On the other, Tennessee counters with pitching dominance led by one of the most electrifying players in the sport: junior right-hander Karlyn Pickens.
From Pickens’ blistering velocity to Texas’s run-scoring ability, this series promises a showcase of elite talent, strategy, and grit. Here’s everything you need to know heading into this thrilling showdown.
Karlyn Pickens: The Heartbeat of Tennessee’s Championship Dreams
If you’re watching Tennessee softball for the first time, you won’t be able to miss No. 7 in the circle. Karlyn Pickens, a 6-foot-1 flamethrower from North Carolina, has turned into the most intimidating pitcher in college softball. The 2025 season has been her national breakout, and she’s rewriting the record books in real time.
A Historic Fastball
Pickens stunned the softball world earlier this season by delivering the fastest pitch ever recorded in NCAA softball — a jaw-dropping 78.2 mph heater against Arkansas. That kind of speed gives her a fastball equivalent of 105–110 mph in baseball terms. Batters don’t have time to think; they just react — often too late.
Accolades and Dominance
Pickens enters the WCWS with a sparkling 22–8 record, 0.90 ERA, and 252 strikeouts over 179.1 innings. She was named SEC Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive season and recently took home the Softball America Pitcher of the Year award.
But beyond the numbers is her presence. She pitches with visible confidence and competitiveness, pounding the strike zone with ferocity and rarely giving opponents breathing room. When she’s on, Tennessee is nearly unbeatable.
Tennessee’s Identity: Pitching and Power
Though Pickens is the face of the team, the Lady Vols have weapons all over the field.
Key Contributors
- McKenna Gibson (1B): One of Tennessee’s most consistent sluggers. Gibson provides power from the cleanup spot and leads the team in home runs and RBIs.
- Taylor Pannell (3B): A defensive wizard with the glove and a knack for timely hitting. Her two-run homer in the Knoxville Super Regional clincher against Florida punched Tennessee’s ticket to OKC.
- Zaida Puni (SS): A vocal leader and defensive anchor in the infield who sets the tone for Tennessee’s aggressive style.
Tennessee has leaned into its identity: ride dominant pitching, make plays in the field, and wait for the bats to break through. In close games, they often come out on top — thanks largely to Pickens.
The Texas Longhorns: Offense, Balance, and Confidence
If Tennessee is the gritty, defensive-minded team, Texas is the opposite — bold, free-swinging, and relentless at the plate. Coached by Mike White, the Longhorns have evolved into an offensive juggernaut with power, speed, and clutch hitting.
Reese Atwood: The Face of the Offense
Catcher Reese Atwood, a finalist for National Player of the Year, has been a wrecking ball. She leads Texas in nearly every offensive category — batting average, home runs, RBIs, and slugging. Atwood is dangerous with runners on base and even more lethal in late innings.
She’s not just a power hitter — she’s the spiritual leader of the team. Her bat talks, but her energy and intensity lift everyone around her.
The Freshman Ace: Teagan Kavan
While Tennessee boasts the most feared veteran pitcher in the country, Texas’s Teagan Kavan, a freshman, has emerged as one of the most reliable arms in the postseason.
Kavan has quietly gone 18–3 on the season with a sub-2.00 ERA. She’s shown maturity well beyond her years, attacking hitters with precision and avoiding big innings.
If Kavan can hold her own opposite Pickens, this series could become a classic pitcher’s duel.
Head-to-Head Preview: What to Watch
1. Pickens vs. Atwood
The matchup everyone wants to see. Will Atwood’s bat be able to catch up with Pickens’s velocity? Tennessee’s game plan will revolve around keeping Atwood in check, while Texas will likely set the table with the hitters in front of her. The chess match begins here.
2. Depth vs. Dominance
Texas is a deeper team offensively — they’ve scored 7+ runs 26 times this season and feature six players with an OPS over .900. Tennessee, meanwhile, has the most dominant pitcher in the game but has fewer offensive weapons.
If Pickens can go the distance, Tennessee is dangerous. But if Texas can get her out by the fifth or sixth inning, the Vols’ bullpen will face pressure it hasn’t seen much this year.
3. Coaching Chess Match
Karen Weekly, Tennessee’s long-time head coach, has built this team through pitching and culture. Mike White, Texas’s coach since 2018, emphasizes adaptability and aggressiveness. Their different philosophies will be on full display in this series.
Weekly might bunt with runners on second and no outs. White will likely swing away. The tactical contrast makes this an even more fascinating battle.
X-Factors That Could Decide the Series
1. Weather and Conditions
Oklahoma City heat and swirling winds can change games. A strong gust blowing out could neutralize Pickens’s edge by making the ball carry more than usual — something Texas hitters would welcome.
2. Defense Under Pressure
Both teams are fundamentally sound defensively, but the WCWS stage adds pressure. One misplayed ball or errant throw could be the difference. Tennessee must support Pickens with clean fielding, while Texas needs to protect its pitchers by avoiding extra outs.
3. Tennessee’s Secondary Pitching
If Texas is able to push Pickens to her limit or force early exits, Tennessee’s bullpen will come under scrutiny. Sophomore Payton Gottshall has been effective in relief, but she hasn’t faced an offense as dangerous as Texas’s in a high-stakes game.
A Legacy Moment for Pickens
No matter what happens in this WCWS, Karlyn Pickens has already cemented her place in college softball history. But winning a national championship would elevate her to legend status.
In many ways, this series is about her. Not because she’s the only star on the field — far from it — but because her performance will likely dictate the outcome. If she’s able to stifle Texas’s bats, Tennessee will have its best shot at claiming its first-ever NCAA softball title.
This matchup features everything you want in a championship series:
- A generational pitcher in Pickens.
- One of the best hitters in the game in Atwood.
- A power-versus-power duel.
- Contrast in style and strategy.
- Coaches who know what it takes to win.
Expect tight, low-scoring games early — perhaps a 2–1 or 3–2 battle in Game 1 — with both teams adjusting quickly. If it goes to a winner-take-all Game 3, look for big swings to finally break through. Momentum could shift with one pitch or one defensive gem.
Ultimately, if Karlyn Pickens is on top of her game, Tennessee has the edge. If Texas can make her work, run up her pitch count, and take advantage of even one mistake, the Longhorns could celebrate their first WCWS title since 2005.
