Texas softball are back-to-back national champions, after the Longhorns defeated Texas Tech 4-1 on Thursday to clinch a second consecutive Women's College World Series title in Oklahoma City.
And at the center of the team's historic run was star catcher Reese Atwood.
Reese Atwood Leaves Record-Breaking Texas Softball Legacy
The Longhorns veteran departs Austin as the program's all-time leader in home runs (74), RBIs (283), and slugging percentage (.729). Over her four seasons, Texas went 209-49-1 with Atwood behind the plate.
She also guided the team three WCWS appearances and two national championships, starting 253 out of 259 games.
Those stats prove just how vital Atwood was to the Longhorns' lineup. However, the graduating senior shared that joining head coach Mike White's squad meant just as much to her.
"I have so much faith in this program," Atwood said after Thursday's WCWS win. "I believe with the standards this program has set and the culture and the love that our support staff and everybody gives us that anything we want is possible."
Atwood's teammates credited her with setting those standards, too.
Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan — who earned a history-making second straight WCWS Most Outstanding Player award in the win — praised her longtime batterymate.
"She's the heart and soul of this program," Kavan said. "I'm proud of her for the legacy she's left not just on Texas, but on the whole sport. She's been an inspiration to everybody including myself."
College Softball Stars Kick Off AUSL Pro League's 2026 Season
Now, with her college career capped, Atwood is headed to the pros.
The Carolina Blaze took the catcher seventh overall in the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) draft last month, making her the second round's first selectiond.
As part of the newly formed Blaze, Atwood looks to continue her record-breaking streak in Durham.
The NFCA Catcher of the Year will mark her league debut when the 2026 AUSL season opens on June 9th. Games will air across ESPN platforms through late July's championship series.
Texas, meanwhile, will shoot for the three-peat at the 2027 WCWS, as Kavan returns to lead the program in her senior year with the Longhorns.
