Oklahoma
Hurt feelings: How Texas Tech softball ended the Oklahoma dynasty in the Women’s College World Series
Hailey Toney on Texas Tech softball’s ability to play in the clutch
Hailey Toney on Texas Tech softball’s ability to play in the clutch
OKLAHOMA CITY — “No hard feelings” was not the way Monday night’s semifinals of the 2025 Women’s College World Series were going to end. It would’ve been impossible.
Too much was at stake at Devon Park, so much on the line for two programs in very different positions less than a year ago. Before Gerry Glasco took over the Texas Tech softball team, landed NiJaree Canady through the transfer portal and altered the course of Red Raider history, he was leading the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, an emerging mid-major powerhouse with Division I-level talent dotting the roster.
When he left Lafayette, he took a number of players with him to Lubbock but urged his ace pitcher, Sam Landry, to go to Oklahoma. There wouldn’t have been enough innings for Landry with Canady in the fold, and her best chance at success laid with the Sooners.
Landry made the most of her year in the SEC, being drafted No. 1 in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League and guiding the Sooners to regular-season and co-tournament champion status with a mostly young roster. Glasco has spoken glowingly about his former player throughout the year, even in the lead-up to the WCWS last week.
Landry owns one of Glasco’s dogs. The name of his late daughter, Geri Ann, is written in her glove. When Oklahoma didn’t have her usual No. 12 available as a jersey number, she chose No. 21 to honor Geri Ann. Several of her former Louisiana teammates make up the bulk of Texas Tech’s starting lineup.
Somebody was getting their feelings hurt on Monday. It just wound up being Landry, and the Sooners.
Mihyia Davis’s one-out single, chopped over the head of Landry into center field, started the Texas Tech rally in the bottom of the seventh. Hailey Toney followed with a double to put Davis at third, then Lauren Allred hit a fly ball to right field, deep enough for the speedster Davis to slide in for the game-winning run, sending Texas Tech to the championship series of the Women’s College World Series with a 3-2 win, and ending the Sooners’ reign atop the college softball world after four consecutive national titles.
Two former Ragin’ Cajuns teamed up to end their former Louisiana teammates’ season, and career.
“Sam is a great pitcher,” Allred said of the game-winning at-bat. “Going against her, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, especially with the history we have playing with each other.
“And going to my bat, Coach Hunter (Veach) always says, ‘Doing something really hard, really well, is really fun.’ It reminded me to have fun and just go up there with confidence and trust in all the preparation and training that I had. And I knew Mihyia Davis was probably one of the fastest players in the country, would make something happen as long as I got the ball in play.”
Davis, Texas Tech’s best hitter throughout the season, was hitless in the first two games of the WCWS. She wound up striking out in her first two at-bats against former teammate Landry. Assistant coach Tara Archibald, though, knew Davis was due.
“We kept telling her all week long, ‘Mihyia, you’re going to show up when we need you the most and we know that,’” Archibald said, “and, man, did she ever.”
The Red Raiders didn’t have much time to regroup after the Sooners tied the game in the top of the seventh. Abigale Dayton took an 0-2 offering from Canady for a two-run home run to tie the game. At that point, Canady had appeared to be cruising to another shutout before Sooner Magic took over again.
The best way to combat Sooner Magic, it seems, is with some Raider Power. Toney’s double continued a string of hits the freshman has collected after Canady’s had a (rare) tough inning. She did it in the Lubbock Regional (twice), and again against UCLA with home runs. On Monday, it was her double that put Davis into position for the win.
“That’s the whole team,” Toney said. “We all have each other’s backs no matter what. And she has had our back for the whole season and we’re just trying to have hers.”
Somebody had to leave Devon Park with an L, and Texas Tech made sure it wasn’t them. That didn’t make ending their old friend’s career any easier to swallow.
“Definitely strange,” Alexa Langeliers, another former Louisiana player, said. “I’m used to being on the same field behind her, but she gave it her all. She’s a great pitcher. She’s a great person, and tough end of the season. My heart goes out to her, but it is what it is. I love her to death and she’s just an amazing person.”
Langeleiers called it “surreal,” the whole game and the circumstances leading to Tech’s triumph. The senior second baseman admitted she didn’t think getting to the WCWS finals was going to happen, though the feeling is electric all the same.
That’s especially true for the players who followed Glasco to Texas Tech. Davis and Allred both said that the head coach believed in them, and they trusted him with their careers.
“Coach Glasco always had faith in me,” Allred said, “and I knew that he helped me get to the position I was going to be in, and I wanted to stay by him no matter what.”
Kip Lewis returning for his redshirt senior season with the Oklahoma Sooners was one of the biggest wins of the offseason. Lewis has built an impressive career in Norman, racking up 209 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and five sacks with two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns.
Beyond his production, Lewis has become one of the emotional leaders of the Oklahoma locker room. Although the NFL was an option, Lewis believed another season learning under Brent Venables would put him in the best position for long-term success.
In a video shared by Oklahoma, Lewis explained the factors that led him to return to Norman for another season.
“I talked to a lot of people,” Lewis said. “Mostly, my family and then my dad. He was just giving me key points that he felt like I should have come back… Mostly talked to a couple of my teammates like John (Mateer) and Isaiah (Sategna), getting their thoughts on what their plan was. I asked Danny (Stutsman) for advice. Talked to him for a little bit. Advice from Danny really stood out to me.”
Getting advice from Stutsman likely played a significant role in Lewis’ decision. Stutsman was in a similar position following a strong 2023 season. Stutsman elected to return to Norman in 2024 and had another strong individual season. That resulted in him being taken in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Lewis’ decision to return gives Oklahoma one of the most experienced and talented linebackers in the country for another season. By following the same path as Stutsman, Lewis is betting on development and another opportunity to improve his draft stock.
If he continues to lead at the level he has throughout his career, his final season in Norman could be the one that cements him as one of the top defensive players in college football.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on X @jaronspor.
TULSA, Okla — Tulsa has seen a boost in its food industry, thanks in part to a growing population.
Local News
Study shows Hispanic population boom boosting Tulsa economy
The Hispanic and Latino population has also contributed to the Oklahoma economy through restaurants, catering businesses, and food trucks.
According to a study conducted by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, the number of Hispanic and Latino individuals who have gone into the state’s food service industry has grown by more than 12,000 between 2001 and 2021.
To help continue this growth, the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation is starting up its “Lanzamiento Program” for Spanish speakers who are interested in pursuing a career in the culinary industry.
Local News
Mother Road Market hosts program for Hispanic, Latino food entrepreneurs
The classes are held in partnership with Mother Road Market for 12 weeks.
Wendy Henriquez is the owner of Sugar Crave and completed the program back in 2024.
She said it was a huge help when it came to learning the ins and outs of the industry.
It also helped her that it was all in Spanish, the language she prefers.
“All of the classes were focused on the regulations here in the United States and Oklahoma needing to be met,” she said. “In every class, we had experts talk to us about things like taking out loans, insurance, credit.”
“Wow, I mean it isn’t easy, but it’s possible,” she said. “Perseverance is important.”
Abel Aguilar is the Program Manager in charge of the Lanzamiento course.
“We believe it’s important because not only do we have a strong population of both Hispanic and Latin entrepreneurs here in Tulsa, they may not know the resources that they have available to them,” he said.
While tuition doesn’t start off as being free of charge, there are financial assistance options to help.
We Street Credit Union has also pitched in to offer funds for financial assistance so some weight can be taken off of the participant.
Aguilar also said Lobeck Taylor will work something out if finances are the only obstacle to applying.
For others interested in other resources to help kickstart their business, Avanzando Juntos is also a non-profit organization that can help.
Primarily for Spanish speakers, Avanzando Juntos helps connect business owners with grants and funding that can help eliminate some of the costs that come with starting a business.
For those interested in applying to the “Lanzamiento” Program, you can visit the Kitchen 66 website for the application.
Isabel Flores is your North & East Tulsa reporter.
Is there something you think she should know about or look into?
You can email her at Isabel.Flores@kjrh.com.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere —
1. Death of inmate at Oklahoma County Detention Center under investigation
Oklahoma County Detention Center.
• 33-year-old Dancing Feathers Whitecrow found unresponsive
• Taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead
• Active investigation ongoing
Officials are investigating the death of an inmate at the Oklahoma County Detention Center.
Officers found 33-year-old Dancing Feathers Whitecrow unresponsive just before 7 p.m. Sunday. She was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. Whitecrow had been booked into the jail in April.
This remains an active investigation.
The Oklahoma County Criminal Investigations Division is investigating after Dancing Feathers Whitecrow, 33, died in custody.
2. Deadly hit-and-run in southwest Oklahoma City
• Pedestrian struck and killed near Southwest 61st and May
• Crash happened just before midnight
• No description of the vehicle yet
Oklahoma City Police are investigating a deadly hit-and-run that happened late Tuesday in southwest Oklahoma City.
One person was struck and killed by a vehicle near Southwest 61st and May just before midnight on Wednesday.
Police say they currently have no description of the vehicle involved.
3. Elderly Moore woman mauled to death by dog
• 86-year-old Beatrice Carruth found dead July 2nd
• Dog belonged to her son, who was previously arrested in a related incident
• Dog has been euthanized
An 86-year-old Moore woman was mauled to death in her home by her son’s dog.
Beatrice Carruth was found dead on July 2nd. Family members say the dog, a Labrador and American Pit Bull Terrier mix, had previously attacked her in May.
The dog was euthanized Monday.
The Moore Police Department arrived at the scene near Northeast 27th Street and Highland Drive to find a woman with severe injuries.
4. Cattle rescue after semi overturns on I-40 near Tinker
News 9
• Mayberry family from Oklahoma City Stockyards helped clear the scene
• 109 head of cattle in trailer; more than 80 survived
• Similar crashes have happened in recent years
A family of ranchers helped rescue cattle after a semi overturned on I-40 near Tinker Air Force Base.
The Mayberry family responded to the scene and worked to safely remove the animals. They say they’ve assisted with several similar crashes over the past four years.
A trailer carrying 62 head of cattle overturned Tuesday morning, leaving only a single westbound lane of I-40 open for hours as crews rescued trapped animals.
5. Attorney General Drummond sues Allstate over insurance practices
• Lawsuit accuses company of denying or underpaying wind and hail claims
• Alleges use of undisclosed restrictive standards
• Similar lawsuit previously filed against State Farm
Attorney General Gentner Drummond is suing Allstate, accusing the insurance company of running a scheme to deny or underpay wind and hail claims.
The lawsuit alleges Allstate used undisclosed restrictive standards to limit coverage for Oklahomans. Drummond says the company is putting profits ahead of policyholders.
A similar lawsuit was previously filed against State Farm.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Cleveland County District Court and alleges violations of state consumer protection and anti-racketeering laws.
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Editor’s note: We used AI tools to help with editing and formatting this story. A human journalist reviewed everything before publication.
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