The Women’s College World Series is a brutal fight for the highest award in college softball, and that battle escalated on Saturday between Tennessee and Texas Tech.
The Volunteers defeated the Red Raiders with a walk-off home run to advance one step closer to the WCWS final, but the excitement had just begun with the game’s final pitch. After the game, Texas Tech third baseman Taylor Pannell and Tennessee coach Karen Weekly, her old coach, exchanged words about an event during the handshake line.
What happened next was that Weekly and Pannell provided two distinct accounts of what Weekly said to Pannell following the game. Here’s what transpired on Saturday.
The controversy over Texas Tech-Tennessee handshake has been described.
Tennessee won their extra innings game against Texas Tech on Saturday, but the focus was on Texas Tech third baseman Taylor Pannell and Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly.
Pannell is in her first season with the Red Raiders after transferring from Tennessee, where she played in 124 games for the Volunteers over three seasons. In 2025, she was one of Tennessee’s best players, hitting . 398 with 16 home runs.
Pannell said Weekly did not say nice game in the handshake line after Saturday’s defeat, instead implying she should not have transferred.
We were strolling down the line, greeting each other with “good game,” and she remarked that I had made a mistake by not saying “good game,” according to Pannell. It’s a little insane; celebrate with your team, and I think it’s funny that she’s still thinking about it.
Weekly, on the other hand, rejects the claim, saying that she wished Pannell a good game as she did with all the other players. Instead, Weekly characterized Pannell’s allegation as a complete fabrication.
Weekly, via the Knoxville News, stated, “If you rewatch the handshake line footage, you’ll see me pass her just as quickly as anyone else. ” I didn’t even know where she was in the receiving line… That is an absolute lie. I said “good game” as I did to the other athletes.
ABC’s broadcast of the Women’s College World Series on Sunday featured the issue, as the network was able to obtain footage of the alleged incident. The video does not reveal exactly what Weekly told Pannell, but Pannell’s behavior after crossing Weekly in line does not appear to have changed.
However, the video does depict Pannell responding to something after the handshake line ended, as the Red Raiders paused to look back before heading to their locker room.
Texas Tech is still in the WCWS, but must defeat UCLA in an elimination game on Sunday night. If the Red Raiders win, these teams may face again later in the week.
