Texas vs. Stanford WCWS Preview and Prediction
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 2024 Women’s College World Series matchup between No. 1 Texas and No. 8 Stanford.
GAME INFO
Location: OGE Energy Field at Devon Park | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Time: Thursday, May 30 | 6:00 p.m. CT | ESPN2
Records: Texas (52-8); Stanford (48-15)
Rankings: Texas (No. 1 Seed); Stanford (No. 8 Seed)
Last Week: Texas def. Texas A&M (2-1) in Austin Super Regional; Stanford def. LSU (2-1) in Palo Alto Super Regional
Fun Fact: Three teams in this year’s WCWS field lost the first game of Super Regional play and then won two games in a row to advance. One of them was No. 14 Alabama, who eliminated No. 3 Tennessee from title contention, and the other two will face off here. Texas dropped Game 1 to Texas A&M and had to claw their way back into two games to advance, while Stanford was run-ruled by LSU in Game 1 before outscoring the Tigers 11-0 over two games, including an 8-0 (6 inn.) win on Sunday.
WCWS HISTORY
TEXAS LONGHORNS
- WCWS Appearances: 7
- Championships: 0
- All-Time NCAA Tournament Record: 79-52 (.603)
- All-Time WCWS Record: 11-13 (.458)
STANFORD CARDINAL
- Appearances: 4 (Second consecutive appearance)
- Championships: 0
- All-Time NCAA Record: 59-46 (.562)
- All-Time WCWS Record: 6-6 (.500)
KEY PLAYERS
TEXAS LONGHORNS
RHP Mac Morgan, Jr.
Texas’ pitching rotation has three arms that the Longhorns are confident in throwing in almost any situation. However, when the season was on the line in Game 3 against Texas A&M, it was Mac Morgan who stepped up in the circle. When Big 12 Freshman of the Year Teagan Kavan was rattled by the Aggies; offense, Morgan came in and solidified things for the Longhorns, tossing 13.1 IP in the series and allowing 11 hits and four earned runs. Compare that to Kavan’s stat line (6.0 IP, 9 H, 7 ER), and you’ll quickly see how big a role Morgan will play in the Longhorns’ national title hopes.
C Reese Atwood, So.
Texas catcher Reese Atwood has had an incredible sophomore campaign, winning Big 12 Player of the Year and potentially the USA Softball Player of the Year award as well. Atwood leads the nation with 90 RBIs, ranks fifth in HR (23), 12th in batting average (.435), and 15th in hits (77). The catalyst for Texas’ offense throughout the season, Atwood has shown up in the biggest moments for the Longhorns and will need to continue that trend going forward.
STANFORD CARDINAL
RHP NiJaree Canady, So.
If Reese Atwood doesn’t win the USA Softball POTY award, it will be because Stanford pitcher NiJaree Canady took the honor, and that might be the more likely scenario. Canady burst onto the scene as a freshman last season and picked right back up where she left off in 2024, leading the nation with an incredible 0.65 ERA and a whopping 310 strikeouts on the year. The Cardinal hurler is by far and away the biggest part of Standford’s success this season and is capable of carrying her team all the way to the finish line with a rise ball that gives opposing batters nightmares.
INF Taryn Kern, So.
While she checks in at fourth on the team with a .286 batting average, sophomore infielder Taryn Kern is the X-Factor for the Cardinal offense. She leads the team in on-base percentage (.515), slugging (.528), runs (43), BBs (55), and HBP (22). In other words, Kern has a knack for getting on base and getting home. Unfortunately, she also leads the team with 48 strikeouts and has been a bit streaky at the plate at times. If she and the offense find a groove, though, Stanford becomes a force to be reckoned with.
KEY STORYLINES
TEXAS LONGHORNS
How do the Longhorns respond to an emotional series against Texas A&M? The No. 1 vs. No. 16 Super Regional is supposed to be the most lopsided matchup of the seeds, but that wasn’t the case in Austin. In fact, one could argue that the Aggies controlled the majority of that series and that if it weren’t for a couple of breaks, the Longhorns would be sitting at home right now. But, at the end of the day, Texas found a way to win and survive, and sometimes that’s all it takes. Now, we get the best positional battle of the tournament: the UT offense vs. NiJaree Canady.
STANFORD CARDINAL
Stanford and Texas have faced off twice already this season, with each team winning one game apiece. The first matchup went 9-2 in favor of the Longhorns. However, there’s an asterisk next to that win, as they didn’t see Canady in the circle. In the second game, however, Canady did play, and she was impressive. In a complete game effort that went 8.0 IP, Canady allowed six hits and two earned runs with two walks and 11 Ks as the Cardinal won 4-3 (8 inn.) in Austin. Now, the two will face off at a neutral site that should play even more into the sophomore’s hands.
PREDICTION: STANFORD SHAKES THINGS UP
This might not be a popular opinion, but seeing Texas on the ropes last weekend makes me think that they might walk into OKC a bit staggered. That, combined with NiJaree Canady on deck, is a bad bad combination. I don’t see Texas going 2-and-Que, but I do think the No. 1 seed is headed to the Loser’s bracket out the gate, and that will put them in win-or-go-home mode for the rest of the week.
