For the 17th time in program history, Florida softball has advanced to Super Regionals, and once again, head coach Tim Walton’s squad sits two wins away from the Women’s College World Series.
“Everything we do, the practice, the training, the recruiting, it all builds to this moment,” Walton said.
But standing in UF’s way is the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The teams meet Friday at 11 a.m. in Game One of the 2026 Gainesville Super Regional.
The storyline surrounding the matchup has centered on the return of former Gator second baseman Mia Williams to Gainesville.
Williams, who committed to Florida at age 12, transferred to Texas Tech after two seasons as UF’s starting shortstop. She earned NFCA Second-Team All-America honors during her sophomore campaign before entering the transfer portal following Florida’s 2025 Women’s College World Series exit.
Her departure, along with comments made publicly by her mother, Danika drew significant attention from the Florida fanbase.
Danika Williams, a former javelin thrower for Florida’s track and field program in the mid-1990s, criticized the program in a Facebook post following the Gators’ elimination from the 2025 Women’s College World Series.
“Someone was so busy in the portal they gave up and got out to start getting all the kids they need for next year,” Williams wrote. “Waving the white flag on your team because you feel like you don’t have an ace is a slap in the face and was a gut punch to a team that has hit their way to this World Series.”
Needless to say, the move to Lubbock has worked out well for Williams. After posting a .271 career batting average at Florida, she has more than doubled that mark this season, hitting .435 while leading the Red Raiders with 22 home runs.
"It's about trusting the work I've put in all year to get to this point.” Williams said. “Having Coach [Gerry] Glasco by my side has really helped too."
Speaking of Glasco, he has played a large role in Texas Tech’s turnaround and is no stranger to the postseason spotlight. His résumé includes coaching 17 All-Americans while contributing to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, six Super Regionals and three Women’s College World Series appearances.
Prior to arriving in Lubbock, Glasco spent seven seasons at Louisiana, where he compiled a .773 winning percentage with a 300-88 record. During his tenure, the Ragin’ Cajuns captured five Sun Belt regular-season titles and made six NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Super Regional run in 2023.
Beyond Williams’ return, Texas Tech brings one of the nation’s most dangerous pitching duos into Gainesville in senior NiJaree Canady and junior Kaitlyn Terry. The pair has formed a dominant one-two punch for the Red Raiders, with both ranking among the nation’s top 10 in ERA while maintaining sub-2.00 marks.
Canady believes her biggest growth from last season to this year has come from within.
“I think my mental game, and that's part of getting older, especially from my freshman year, just trying to develop on the mental side of the game and getting better that way,” Canady said.
While Canady has become one of the biggest names in college softball — largely due to securing another seven-figure NIL deal with Texas Tech’s Matador Club in June 2025 — Terry has been just as critical to the Red Raiders’ postseason run.
If Texas Tech hopes to reach just the second Women’s College World Series in program history, Terry’s two-way impact could prove essential. Not only has she excelled in the circle, but she has also emerged as one of the team’s most productive hitters.
When asked about the difficulties of managing both positions at a high-level, Terry said she focuses on keeping the two disciplines separate, keeping them from bleeding into one another.
After transferring from UCLA ahead of the 2025 season, Terry enjoyed a breakout campaign at the plate in 2026, nearly doubling her .257 batting average from her sophomore season to a team-best .470.
In fact, Texas Tech has four players batting above .400 compared to Florida’s two. Alongside Terry, senior utility player Jackie Lis has quietly become one of the Red Raiders’ top offensive threats. Lis, who transferred from Southern Illinois after earning first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors last season, ranks second on the team in batting average and second in home runs with 18.
Another standout at the plate for Texas Tech is senior centerfielder Mihiya Davis. The Lovelady, Texas, native transferred to Tech with Glasco from Louisiana and left her mark in the Regional Championship game against Ole Miss, leading the team with three hits, while recording three RBIs.
In today’s era of college athletics, the transfer portal has completely reshaped roster construction, and Texas Tech has embraced it fully. Only three players on the Red Raiders’ roster began their collegiate careers in Lubbock: starting shortstop Hailey Toney, pitcher Samantha Lincoln and outfielder Logan Halleman.
The Red Raiders are no strangers to The Sunshine State in the postseason, having won the 2025 Tallahassee Super Regional last year by sweeping Florida State.
"It's nothing new at this point,” Canady said. We've been to Florida, we know how to win here, so it's just about repeating what we've already done."
The marquee series is expected to draw significant national attention, as ESPN assigned its premier broadcast crew of Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Michele Smith and Holly Rowe to the matchup.
Additionally, for the first time in program history, Florida softball will appear on ABC, with Saturday’s Game 2 serving as the lone softball game nationally broadcast on the network during Super Regional weekend.
"No matter the score, no matter the circumstances, get up there, find ways to hit the ball hard, get on base and make things happen.” Walton said. “Make it fun — fun for people to watch. That's the part I love the most."
Contact Zach Moore at zmoore@alligator.org. Follow him on X @zach_moore27.
Zach is a sophomore sports journalism student in his first semester at The Alligator, covering softball. He also has experience as an intern in the Florida Collegiate Summer League. Zach enjoys watching sports in his free time, primarily the Minnesota Vikings, Orlando Magic, and Arsenal FC.
