2025 WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

June 2, 2025

Mike White

Mac Morgan

Katie Stewart

Teagan Kavan

Texas Longhorns

Postgame Press Conference

Texas 2, Tennessee 0

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Texas head coach Mike White and players Teagan Kavan, Katie Stewart and Mac Morgan.

MIKE WHITE: Congratulations to Tennessee on a great season. Obviously it's not finishing the way they wanted to finish for sure, but Karlyn Pickens is a warrior out there. Threw her heart out for her team. And fortunately we were on the right side of it.

We had just enough wind to help that home run go over. That was fortunate there. Looking down on us, maybe, Teagan's grandma, so she puffed one out there.

I like to thank my coaching staff. Did a tremendous job scouting those teams we played so far, and looking forward to the next match-up.

Q. Mac, you had some ups and downs late in the season, the last two games against Clemson and today. What's been working for you mentally? What did you change? What's been the difference?

MAC MORGAN: You know, it's like I have nothing to lose. It's my last year, my last time out here, and I'm going to enjoy it and just being out there and doing my job and competing.

Q. Katie, having to face Pickens earlier in the season, was there anything in particular you guys were trying to do well? What went into the home run swing rather than just the wind?

KATIE STEWART: The whole game plan centered around being on time, just making our swing simple enough, just get on time because she's going to throw hard. That was my whole approach at the plate all three at-bats.

Q. Katie, how does it feel to be back in this position after getting so close last year now with a chance to win that national championship?

KATIE STEWART: It feels really good. This team, I love them so much and I just love this for us, and we're going to keep playing for each other and start where we left off.

Q. Saturday went through a lot of emotions, emotional highs, and just how was it to kind of stay focused on this game, and how much being in last year's World Series helped with that?

TEAGAN KAVAN: I think we have a lot of experience. Our whole team has a lot of experience. Using that, bringing those who haven't been here with us. But just really leaning on each other. We can't go anywhere without every single one of us. So leaning in, using what we learned last year because obviously we know what it feels like to not end up on top. Obviously kind of flushing that but also using it.

KATIE STEWART: What Teagan said, just playing for something more than ourselves and not worrying about things that don't matter other than playing for each other and playing for our goals.

MAC MORGAN: I agree with them. It's like we're focusing on ourselves and each other and picking each other up when we need it and going out there, competing as a team.

Q. Teagan and Mac, when did you guys know Mike's plan for pitching today? Teagan, how did you approach it mentally coming in relief? And also for all three of you, you know Oklahoma, you know Tech. What's your thoughts on watching that game tonight?

MAC MORGAN: I think it's going to be a good game between them. They're both really good teams, and it's going to be a dogfight for them. But I think it's going to be an exciting year for this World Series.

TEAGAN KAVAN: Coach White told us this morning Mac was starting. When we got to the field, it was Mac's going to give it her all and might be handed off to me if we needed it. Just staying locked in. Every single one of our pitchers needed to stay locked in because I didn't know who was going to necessarily end up with. So Mac pitched her heart out too for us, and she came up big. So I'm really proud of her.

KATIE STEWART: Just watching this game later, not being too worried about who we want to win and just being prepared for whoever does win and knowing their pitchers and sticking with our game plans.

Q. You're either going to play the four-time defending national champion or potentially one of the most dominant pitchers we've seen. What kind of challenge are you guys going to have looking to the championship series?

TEAGAN KAVAN: We've played both of them already. So obviously using what we learned from those games. But I think it's more focused on us and what we can do and not necessarily on them and focusing on our strengths.

MAC MORGAN: I agree. I think our biggest challenge is focusing on ourselves in this big three-game series and just relying on each other and what we've done all year.

KATIE STEWART: What they both said. We're a different team than we were back in February when we last played Tech. Just sticking to what we're doing now, staying with how we are, sticking with our game plan, I think we'll be just fine.

Q. Mac and Teagan, what was kind of going through your mind this game facing the Tennessee offense that has really improved throughout the tournament and performed pretty well? What was top of your mind to stop that?

MAC MORGAN: Top of my mind was just go out there, compete, try to do my job the best I can that day. I gave it my everything. We both did pretty well. Teagan went out there, shut the door, and really proud of how she competed this season.

TEAGAN KAVAN: I was going to say just competing. Obviously when I go up there with a one-run lead, I was telling myself I don't have to be perfect because I think in that moment that's kind of what you feel like you need to be. But just trusting my defense. They came up big for me. Doesn't all have to be on my shoulders.

Q. I wanted to ask you what transpired with that hitting coach from Tennessee in the fourth inning. He came out, looked pretty heated, looked like he was directing his comments toward your dugout. Can you talk about what happened there?

MIKE WHITE: I can't comment on it. I don't know what transpired. I think he was upset about the call by the umpire at home plate and just kind of transpired about that.

The rule says anytime an assistant coach hits the field and questions something it's an automatic ejection. So I think that's what he was upset about, so I think he decided to maybe just to take some stuff out on us.

Q. Mac has had her ups and downs this year, but what really instilled your confidence in her to go out and do what she really did?

MIKE WHITE: I think, as she mentioned, she's a senior. She wants it. She wants that redemption. She's like one of those kids that lets stuff flow off of her. She's not going to dwell on what happened in the past. We talked about that. Everybody needs to be where their feet are and be ready to contribute to the team and the program. And it's always team before me, and she's an epitome of that.

Q. Could this tournament have gone any better for you up to this point? You've played the minimum number of games, short game. You got Teagan a little rest. Are you pinching yourself how good things are going right now?

MIKE WHITE: I'll let you know in two days, three days, middle of the week. We were on one-half of the bracket with our lives in Tech and obviously in the final series best-of-three. That's what matters the most.

And things have gone pretty well. But we also had to play some pretty tough teams and come through some squeakers and produce when we had to. Obviously today we knew it was going to be a pitchers' duel. Pickens is a warrior. She's thrown a lot out there. She continued to battle us until the end there.

And we knew -- fortunately we had a great performance by Mac Morgan and Teagan Kavan. And things did work out as we had planned, and hats off to my coaching staff for, one, we talked about who we were going to start, and that was the plan, and it kind of worked out.

But the players can make you look good or make you look bad. But the players made us look good.

Q. Leighann had that really good play in the seventh as well, and you had made that change to bring her back to short in the Super Regionals. How big is she to help the defense stabilize in the postseason?

MIKE WHITE: She's matured going along. I think her at-bat was a little scary in the bottom of the sixth there, and you go -- but we've talked about that, you've got to let her release and worry about the defensive part of side of things.

She showed that today. That was just an amazing play, at a big time for us. And the same for Mia on the left side as well. I know people questioned our defense sometimes, but they have shone today, that's for sure.

Q. Did you think that Stewart's shot in the fourth, whatever it was, was going to go out? And also tonight, how do you watch the game? Do you get together with your assistants? What's your plans for tonight?

MIKE WHITE: I mean, obviously that ball was high in the air. You never know. You can see the wind can carry it sometimes. Just saw it drifting and drifting, and didn't really know until it went over the fence. Fortunately it went over by a few feet. So we were very blessed there, of course.

Tonight's game, I hope it goes 32 innings. (Laughter) maybe two games, I don't know. But it's tough to say who we want to play. So we're fortunate to be where we're at. We'll worry about what happens when it happens.

Obviously Oklahoma is a four-time defending champion. Great team. Well coached. They've got plenty of pitching left for sure, and NiJa Canady has proven she's the best pitcher in the country right now with her .81 ERA. Tough to score off.

Of course, Tech is playing hot. They believe in themselves. But so do we. We're looking for a really good match-up.

Q. Tennessee had scored in the first inning the last five games going into today. What was kind of the key for you guys in shutting that down early with Mac?

MIKE WHITE: I mean, obviously swinging the bats pretty well. They beat us two out of three in Austin, too. So we know when Pickens is on the mound, it's going to be a low-scoring game for sure.

So it really was just throwing to our locations and using our defense. And we were able to do that. But you just hope you don't get too far behind when that happens. But Mac Morgan was up to the task and so proud of the way she battled for us today against a really good hitting team.

Q. Do you think this is some of Teagan's best softball of her career, or have you seen business as usual for her in this World Series?

MIKE WHITE: It's tough to say. She started the season off really hot, went through a little bit of a pitch. We talked about being a bit of a roller coaster, but we discussed it. And she's real cerebral and wants to think about the reasons why things are not going well, and we hit on a couple of things.

I think she's really tightened things up a little bit. Allowing and knowing her break on her ball for one, and using all her pitchers. And Pattie Ruth Taylor has been doing a great job for us with the pitch calling as well.

I think there's a number of things that go into it, not just one thing. But Teagan Kavan, she could be dwelling on what could have been or what wasn't, and it is what it is. Right now we're in the finals of the College World Series.