One pitcher gets all the hype, all the flattery from the media. The other pitcher gets championships and records. In two consecutive Women’s College World Series Championship Finals, Texas ace Teagan Kavan has proven she is the best pitcher in softball. Better than Nijaree Canady of Texas Tech.
Canady will rightfully go down as one of the best pitchers in college softball. She’s the first million dollar a year NIL player in the sport. She’s a two time first team All-American. She’s great. ESPN went out of its way on all its platforms to shower Canady with flowers after losing again to Texas.
But in the sports biggest stage, she has been beaten time and time again by Kavan.
Kavan is now 3-0 in the WCWS finals, with one save. All came against Canady. Teagan is 5-0 against Canady in the WCWS, dating back to 2024. No one has pitched in more WCWS games than Canady, both with Stanford and Tech. But she can not beat the Longhorns Iowan ace.
For the second year in a row, Kavan was named the Championship Series Most Outstanding Player. A feat that has never been done. Both times, Canady had to look on from the losers dugout.
Sure, there are possibly some extenuating circumstances. Red Raiders coach Gerry Glasco probably pitches Canady too much, although he tried to save her in game on this year against Texas by starting Kaitlyn Terry in Game 1. The move backfired spectacularly as Texas hammer her for four runs. Canady replaced Terry in the first and gave up a run herself.
Canady has always looked tired in her matchups against Kavan. But it’s not like the Longhorns pitcher has been well rested. Every player gets stretched to the limit during the grueling week in Oklahoma City. Especially the No. 1 pitchers. But Canady has wilted two years in a row.
It’s hard to name a player short of Michael Jordan that handles pressure moments like Kavan. When she entered Game 2 with six outs to go, the game seemed over. Kavan can handle it. And boy did she. She struck out the side in the sixth and pitched a perfect 7th for the save.
Canady is an amazing pitcher, one of the most prolific pitchers in history. But Teagan Kavan has shown she is better. And when next season is over, Kavan might be recognized as the best ever.
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Sorry Nijaree Canady, Texas’ Teagan Kavan is softball’s best pitcher
Reporting by Trey Luerssen, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Trey Luerssen, Longhorns Wire | USA TODAY Network
