OKLAHOMA CITY — Karen Weekly and Tennessee softball are no strangers to Devon Park. That familiarity, the team believes, is going to be what sets them apart from the pack as the 2026 Women’s College World Series gets underway.
“There’s no better place to be this time of year than Oklahoma City,” Weekly said Wednesday afternoon in the pre-tournament press conference. “I don’t know that I’ve ever had a team where everybody is such a great teammate and really embraces the role they’re called upon to play.”
Although the Lady Vols managed a few days of extra rest after sweeping Georgia in the Knoxville Super Regional, they’ll be the team emotionally challenged the most in the opening round.
No. 7 Tennessee opens against No. 2 Texas, the defending national champion who ended the Lady Vols’ 2025 WCWS run. Karlyn Pickens, now having reached this point in the postseason three times, said her approach is straightforward.
“Just be present,” she said. “Focus on one batter at a time, one pitch at a time. Trust the preparation we do the week coming up here scouting Texas, and just focusing on one pitch at a time. Not trying to overthink anything or think ahead or think about things from the past.”
Despite the extra time to scout, Weekly’s comments on the Longhorns were something you could see in the box score.
She called Texas a phenomenal team from top to bottom, calling pitcher Teagan Kavan one of the best in the game. She also mentioned Texas having a dynamic offense with both power and speed, and the kind of veteran experience that comes from winning a national title.
“They’re going to be a tough opponent to beat,” Weekly said, “but I think our team will be ready for the challenge.”
High praise for the pitching staff
Weekly brought all three of her main pitchers out with her to the pre-tournament press conference — Pickens, Sage Mardjetko and Erin Nuwer. She sang high praises of her arms, saying that she thinks this is the best room since Pickens’ freshman year.
That room featured both Ashley Rogers and Payton Gottshall, two Tennessee household names. The duo went a combined 36-3 with 309 strikeouts, leading the Lady Vols to the semifinals, where they lost to Florida State.
The credit for the production from the circle went to Megan Rhodes Smith, a Tennessee softball alum and current pitching coach.
“I don’t know that there’s any other program that has pitched and won the pitching honors at the level that we have over the last five years,” Weekly said. “I give a ton of that credit to Megan.”
What separates Rhodes Smith from other coaches is her ability to coach each pitcher differently. She is not a cookie-cutter coach, Mardjetko said. She studies film, identifies hitter weaknesses and tailors her approach to each pitcher’s individual strengths and weaknesses.
“She really does a great job of knowing our strengths and what we’re really good at and fine-tuning those things,” Pickens said. “On the mental side, Megan was a sports psychology major. She’s really done a tremendous job helping me with my mental game. It’s like night and day.”
Pickens: from freshman to standard-setter
In 2023, Pickens stepped foot in Devon Park as a freshman, feeling the big moment. Three years later, she’s back for a third and final time.
The evolution has been visible. A Bible verse from Proverbs 18:32 is written on her glove — a reminder that she is competing for something larger than herself.
“I realize I’m playing here for a bigger reason than myself,” Pickens said. “It’s really comforting to have that there, knowing that God is there with me and also my teammates.”
Thursday afternoon’s game carries another layer for Pickens. Texas catcher Reese Atwood, a fellow USA Softball standout, is a future pro teammate after the two were drafted by the AUSL’s Carolina Blaze. They will face each other once more on opposite sides of the field before eventually playing together again.
“It’s all love,” Pickens said of the dynamic. “Obviously, we’re going to take care of business here on our own, and I’m excited to be her teammate in the future.”
Sophia Knight, the super slugger
Beyond pitching, Weekly talked about Boise State transfer Sophia Knight as an offensive piece with high upside. Knight, who made the jump from a mid-major to the SEC this season, has provided a steadying presence in the lineup.
She flashed her ceiling with a big performance against Georgia in the Super Regionals, hitting two home runs to advance Tennessee.
“Super slugger, I love that,” Weekly said in response to Knight being called one. “Sophia’s been an awesome teammate. She’s just calm. I don’t think Soph’s heart rate goes up or down at all. She’s just steady.”
