Tennessee’s 2026 softball season concluded Monday in the College World Series semifinals. Texas (51-12) eliminated the Lady Vols (49-12), 4-0, at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Following a season-ending defeat, Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly discussed Monday’s contest.
“First, I’d like to thank everybody involved in putting on this event,” Weekly said. “It’s absolutely incredible. This venue is unbelievable, the experience, the TV coverage. It’s just awesome to see what’s happened to college softball and how it grows every year.
“I want to congratulate the University of Texas. Outstanding, outstanding team. When those seniors on their team were freshmen, they came to our place for super regionals in 2023. Even though we won, I remember saying to Mike (White), your team is going to be a helluva team and going to contend for championships if all those girls stay together, and they’ve stayed together. They did what they needed to do today. They’ve got a very veteran team, very experienced team, and they rose to the occasion with their backs against the wall. Incredibly talented, incredibly experienced, and very, very well prepared. Also, I’m really proud of our team, really proud of our team. I think a lot of people counted us out, didn’t think we’d get here. We certainly had our ups and downs during the season. Then when we got here, probably thought we wouldn’t make much noise, and we made a lot of noise. I told them in the locker room there’s never any words to say that’s going to ease the pain, but I think for our team the pain is because it’s the end of them being together. It’s the end of them being together. Absolutely they want to win a national championship, but I think it’s just as much they want to be together another day, and that’s where the sadness comes from. We’re grateful that we’re here. We’re grateful we’re in a position to be sad because a lot of teams aren’t.”
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Karen Weekly details loss to Texas softball in College World Series