Texas Tech Helps Set Softball Viewership Record

Originally posted on Heartland College Sports
By Pete Mundo | Last updated Jun 9, 2025 9:00 PM ET

The Texas Tech Red Raiders softball team has helped set an all-time viewership record on ESPN. According to the TV outlet, Texas Tech vs. Texas’ Game 3 rubber match of the 2025 Women’s College World Series set a record with 2.4 million viewers last week.

Here was the social media post from the self-proclaimed Worldwide Leader.

Game 3 of the 2025 #WCWS Champ Series was the MOST-WATCHED @NCAASoftball game EVER

Complete '25 WCWS viewership coming Tuesday pic.twitter.com/T8vwOGJ18D
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) June 9, 2025

This is a monster number for one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, and let’s not forget, the game came on a Friday night in the summertime, which is not exactly a robust time for television viewing.

Texas Tech Loses WCWS to Texas

The Red Raiders would go on to lose the game to the Longhorns 10-4 on Friday night.

Texas got to Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady early and often and she only went one inning. It was an unceremonious end for the pitcher that has defined this WCWS and Texas Tech softball’s run from also-ran to national power in one year.

And while Texas has been a national powerhouse, this was a new world for Texas Tech. Before this year, the Red Raiders had made six previous NCAA Tournament appearances. Texas Tech had never won a conference title, a conference tournament title and certainly had never been to the Women’s College World Series.

The good news for the Red Raiders is that it’s possible they can be back on this stage next season, with Canady set to re-join Tech on another huge contract for the 2026 college softball season.

This article first appeared on Heartland College Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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