Texas Tech’s strong start at the Women’s College World Series

By now, it should be common sense to most sports fans—but it’s always worth saying out loud: winning is better than losing. Obvious? Maybe. But in the high-stakes setting of a double elimination tournament, like the Women’s College World Series (WCWS), that truth becomes even more meaningful.

For the Texas Tech softball team, Thursday's narrow 1-0 victory over the Ole Miss Rebels wasn't just another check in the win column. It was the kind of clutch performance that sets the tone for an entire WCWS run. With the win, Texas Tech avoided the early detour into the dreaded elimination bracket and advanced in the winners’ bracket. And make no mistake—that's the side of the bracket you want to be on.

Why That First Win Is Crucial

Double elimination tournaments offer a unique blend of opportunity and pressure. You can technically lose and still win it all, but every early loss puts you in a more precarious spot. Falling into the elimination bracket means your margin for error disappears immediately. From that point on, every game is win-or-go-home—a pressure cooker situation no team wants to live in for long.

Thankfully, Texas Tech isn’t in that spot. The Red Raiders’ Game 3 win over Ole Miss gives them more than just scoreboard leverage. It gives them time.

What Comes Next for Tech?

With Thursday’s win in their back pocket, the Red Raiders get the luxury of a breather—a full day to rest, recalibrate, and prepare. That might not sound like much, but in a sport where every inning can be a mental and physical grind, it’s a major advantage.

Their next challenge? A showdown with the UCLA Bruins. The Bruins punched their ticket to Saturday's matchup by walking off the Oregon Ducks in dramatic fashion, a finish that sent Oregon spiraling into the elimination bracket, where they'll meet up with Ole Miss in a high-stakes survival game.

As for Texas Tech and UCLA, their meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 31 at 7 p.m. Central, in what will be Game 8 of the WCWS. It’s a primetime matchup with major implications. Win that game, and the Red Raiders would be just one more victory away from the championship series. Let that sink in.

The Road Ahead

No one’s getting ahead of themselves—at least not yet. The Bruins are a storied program with a deep postseason pedigree, and Texas Tech will have their work cut out for them. But the beauty of the winners’ bracket is that it allows a team to strategize, stay fresh, and keep their dreams alive on their own terms. That’s not a luxury the elimination bracket allows.

So yes, let’s state the obvious again: winning is better than losing. Especially when the payoff is time, rest, and a clearer path toward a national title.

Here’s to hoping Texas Tech takes that next step. One inning, one pitch, one win at a time.