LUBBOCK, Texas — When Texas Tech rolled through the softball postseason last spring, collecting its first-ever Regional and Super Regional titles along the way, the Red Raiders became the darlings of the 2025 Women’s College World Series.
Led by pitcher NiJaree Canady’s million-dollar arm — the ace received a lucrative name, image and likeness deal to transfer from Stanford to Tech before her junior season — and signature foot stomp, Texas Tech dazzled die-hards and casual fans, serving notice in a world long dominated by Oklahoma and other SEC schools that the revamped Big 12 was still going to be a factor.
The Red Raiders, led by first-year coach Gerry Glasco, lost the championship series to Texas, falling 10-4 to the Longhorns in a decisive Game 3, but promised they weren’t going to be a one-hit wonder. They’d be back, they said…