Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady and Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens lead WCWS players to watch
The Oklahoman’s Jenni Carlson highlights several Women’s College World Series key players to watch.
For the second time in a matter of weeks, NiJaree Canady and Texas Tech softball will take the field at Devon Park in Oklahoma City looking to continue their postseason.
However, the stakes are much higher this time around for the Red Raiders: Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series.
No. 12 Texas Tech and Ole Miss are set to face each other at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, marking the first official WCWS game for both programs.
Canady has been outstanding in the circle in her first season with the Red Raiders after transferring in from Stanford, where she received a one-year, $1,050,024 NIL contract. In 40 games this season at Texas Tech, Canady has posted a nation’s best 0.89 ERA and 30-5 record in 205 innings of work while striking out 279 batters.
Ole Miss has been a bit of a “Cinderella” team this postseason, as the Rebels took down No. 13 Arizona and No. 4 Arkansas in the regional and super regional rounds of the NCAA softball tournament, respectively.
USA TODAY Sports is providing live updates, scores and highlights of Thursday’s WCWS game between Texas Tech and Florida. Follow along below:
Watch Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss in WCWS live with Fubo (free trial)
WCWS 2025: Texas Tech vs Ole Miss softball live score
This section will be updated during the game
| Teams | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | F |
| Ole Miss | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Texas Tech | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
WCWS 2025: Texas Tech vs Ole Miss softball live updates
This section will be updated closer to first pitch
Pregame
After a brief weather delay in Oklahoma City, Texas Tech has taken the field at Devon Park ahead of its first-ever WCWS game vs. Ole Miss. NiJaree Canady has begun her warm-ups in the bullpen.
Here’s the starting lineup for Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss at the WCWS on Thursday:
- CF Mihyia Davis
- SS Hailey Toney
- 2B Alexa Langeliers
- 1B Lauren Allred
- RF Alana Johnson
- P NiJaree Canady
- LF Demi Elder
- C Victoria Valdez
- 3B Bailey Lindemuth
NiJaree Canady is starting in the circle for Texas Tech.
Here’s the starting lineup for Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech at the WCWS on Thursday:
- LF Jaden Pone
- DP Lair Beautae
- 1B Persy Llamas
- C Lexie Brady
- 2B Mackenzie Pickens
- 3B Ashton Lansdell
- SS Angelina DeLeon
- RF Taylor Malvin
- CF Addison Duke
Aliyah Binford is starting in the circle for Ole Miss
The NCAA announces on X (formerly Twitter) that Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss in the WCWS will start at 8:15 p.m. ET in Oklahoma City barring, of course, any more inclement weather.
Click here for the latest weather updates for Texas Tech-Ole Miss.
As noted by The Oklahoman’s Jeff Patterson, Thursday’s Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss WCWS has been delayed due to lightning in the Oklahoma City area. Per NCAA rules, if lightning strikes within at least six miles of the venue of the event, the game must be suspended for at least 30 minutes. For every lightning strike that follows the initial lightning strike, the 30-minute clock is reset.
The tarp is on at the WCWS, meaning Thursday’s game between Texas Tech and Ole Miss will start in a rain delay.
The Women’s College World Series starts with eight teams competing in a double-elimination style format in bracket play before going into a best-of-three championship series. The WCWS is broken up into two four-team brackets.
Each team begins WCWS play with a 0-0 record and is guaranteed to play at least two games in Oklahoma City. The loser of Thursday’s Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss game will drop into the “elimination bracket” and play to keep their season alive against the loser of Oregon-UCLA. As for the winner of Texas Tech-Ole Miss, they will advance further in the “winner’s bracket.”
Click here to read more on how the WCWS works.
The Red Raiders have arrived at Devon Park in Oklahoma City to begin WCWS bracket play against Ole Miss. First pitch is roughly 15 minutes away.
As alluded to above, Texas Tech star pitcher NiJaree Canady is the most expensive arm in college softball this season, as the Stanford transfer is making over $1 million this year with the Red Raiders in NIL earnings.
Click here to read more on Canady’s NIL earnings and situation at Texas Tech.
What time does Texas Tech softball vs Ole Miss in WCWS start?
- Date: Thursday, May 29
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: Devon Park (Oklahoma City)
Game 1 of the WCWS between Texas Tech and Ole Miss is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET start on Thursday, May 29 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
What TV channel is Texas Tech softball vs Ole Miss in WCWS on today?
ESPN2 will nationally televise Thursday’s WCWS game between Texas Tech and Ole Miss. Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Texas Tech vs Ole Miss WCWS odds, predictions, picks
Game odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, May 28
- Moneyline: Texas Tech (-325) | Ole Miss (+240)
Here’s a compilation of predictions from those within the USA TODAY Network for Thursday’s Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss game:
- Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Texas Tech 4, Ole Miss 0
- Jenni Carlson, The Oklahoman: Texas Tech 3, Ole Miss 0
- Cora Hall, Knox News: Texas Tech 4, Ole Miss 0
- Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech 4, Ole Miss 0
Texas Tech softball schedule 2025
Below are Texas Tech’s last five results. To view the Red Raiders’ full 2025 schedule, click here.
- Friday, May 16: Texas Tech 6, Brown 0 (NCAA Tournament Regional)
- Saturday, May 17: Texas Tech 10, Mississippi State 1 (NCAA Tournament Regional)
- Sunday, May 18: Texas Tech 9, Mississippi State 6 (NCAA Tournament Regional)
- Thursday, May 22: Texas Tech 3, (5) Florida State 0 (NCAA Tournament Super Regional)
- Friday, May 23: Texas Tech 2, (5) Florida State 1 (NCAA Tournament Super Regional)
Ole Miss softball schedule 2025
Below are Ole Miss’ last five results. To view the Rebels’ full 2025 schedule, click here.
- Saturday, May 18: (12) Arizona 10, Ole Miss 1 (NCAA Tournament Regional)
- Sunday, May 18: Ole Miss 7, (12) Arizona 3 (NCAA Tournament Regional)
- Friday, May 23: Ole Miss 9, (4) Arkansas 7 (NCAA Tournament Super Regional)
- Saturday, May 24: (4) Arkansas 4, Ole Miss 0 (NCAA Tournament Super Regional)
- Sunday, May 25: Ole Miss 7, (4) Arkansas 4 (NCAA Tournament Super Regional)
