The 2025 Stanley Cup Final is the same as the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

The defending champion Florida Panthers got past the Carolina Hurricanes in five games, and the Edmonton Oilers ousted the Dallas Stars in five games to set up a rematch of the NHL’s championship round.

The Panthers won last year’s series for their first Stanley Cup title. They had won the first three games and the Oilers won the next three. Florida captured Game 7 on home ice.

This year, though, the Oilers will have home-ice advantage.

Here is the schedule, television and streaming information for the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final:

Stanley Cup Final schedule

All times Eastern; (x-if necessary)

Game 1: Wednesday, June 4 | Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
Game 2: Friday, June 6 | Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m | TNT, truTV
Game 3: Monday, June 9, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
Game 4: Thursday, June 12, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
x-Game 5: Saturday, June 14, Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
x-Game 6: Tuesday, June 17, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
x-Game 6: Friday, June 20, Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV

How to stream Stanley Cup Final

Stanley Cup Final games can be streamed on Sling TV and Max.

Watch the Stanley Cup Final on Sling

The 2025 Women’s College World Series field is set.

No. 2 Oklahoma dominated No. 15 Alabama in the super regionals, advancing to Oklahoma City for the ninth consecutive time while also searching for its fifth straight national championship. No. 12 Texas Tech earned its first ever WCWS appearance, and Tennessee and Texas fought back from Game 1 losses to advance.

The eight-team field was finalized on Sunday with four ‘if necessary’ games: No. 3 national seed Florida downed Georgia 5-2 in the Gainesville Super Regional; No. 7 seed Tennessee beat Nebraska in the Knoxville Super Regional; No 9 UCLA beat No. 8 South Carolina in the Columbia Super Regional; and unseeded Ole Miss beat No. 4 seed Arkansas in the Fayetteville Super Regional.

Here’s the full bracket and schedule for the 2025 WCWS, which kicks off Thursday, May 29:

WCWS bracket, schedule 2025

All times Eastern

Thursday, May 29

No. 6 Texas 3, No. 3 Florida 0
No. 2 Oklahoma 4, No. 7 Tennessee 3
No. 12 Texas Tech 1, Ole Miss 0
No. 16 Oregon vs. No. 9 UCLA

Friday, May 30

Game 5: No. 3 Florida vs. No. 7 Tennessee | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Game 6: Ole Miss vs. Game 4 loser | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)

Saturday, May 31

Game 7: No. 6 Texas vs. No. 2 Oklahoma 3 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
Game 8: No. 12 Texas Tech vs. Game 4 winner 7 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)

Sunday, June 1

Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 loser 3 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser 7 p.m. | ESPNU (Fubo)

Monday, June 2

Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner | noon | ESPN (Fubo)
Game 12 (if necessary): Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Game 13: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Game 14 (if necessary): Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)

WCWS finals

Game 1 (June 4): Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner | 8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Game 2 (June 5): Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner 8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Game 3 (June 6) (if necessary): Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)

Who’s in the Women’s College World Series?

No. 2 Oklahoma
No. 3 Florida
No. 6 Texas
No. 7 Tennessee
No. 9 UCLA
No. 12 Texas Tech
No. 16 Oregon
Ole Miss

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NiJaree Canady continues to dazzle at the Women’s College World Series, and her latest performance served to be a historic one.

In what was her 19th complete game of the season, the Red Raiders’ $1 million arm pitched No. 12 Texas Tech to its first-ever WCWS win in program history, a 1-0 victory against Ole Miss Thursday at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. came on Thursday in Game 1 of the 2025 WCWS against Ole Miss.

With the win, Texas Tech became the first team to throw a shutout in its WCWS debut since 2005, when Monica Abbott pitched Tennessee to a victory over Arizona.

The lone run of the night came in the fourth inning on a double down the left field line from Alana Johnson that scooted away from Ole Miss left fielder Jaden Pone in the corner. Johnson’s double scored Lauren Allred from first, who recorded the first hit of the night for either team.

Canady, who transferred in from Stanford over the offseason and received an NIL deal worth over $1 million, was cutthroat in the circle all night for Texas Tech. The Red Raiders’ ace took a perfect game into the sixth inning against Ole Miss, as she retired her first 16 batters consecutively. The only moment in the game that Canady showed any struggle came after she gave up her first hit of the night in the sixth inning to Angelina DeLeon, as she had to work out of a two-bases jam with one out.

Ole Miss had been a bit of a ‘Cinderella’ team this postseason, as the Rebels took down No. 13 Arizona and No. 4 Arkansas in the regional and super regional rounds of the NCAA softball tournament, respectively. The Rebels were held to just two hits on the night by Canady, who finished with 10 strikeouts on the night.

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates, scores and highlights of Thursday’s WCWS game between Texas Tech and Ole Miss. Follow below for a recap:

Watch Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss in WCWS live with Fubo (free trial)

WCWS 2025: Texas Tech vs Ole Miss softball live score

This section will be updated during the game

WCWS 2025: Texas Tech vs Ole Miss softball live updates

This section has been updated with new information

Texas Tech defeats Ole Miss, advances in WCWS

Behind a masterful seven-inning complete game shutout from NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech picks up its first-ever Women’s College World Series victory as the Red Raiders defeat Ole Miss 1-0. Canady struck out the side in both the first and seventh innings of the game.

With the win, Texas Tech advances further in the ‘winner’s bracket’ of the WCWS, where it will face the winner of No. 9 UCLA vs. No. 16 Oregon on Saturday at Devon Park.

Texas Tech leads Ole Miss 1-0 after six innings

NiJaree Canady flies out to center for the third out of the sixth inning. She will now head back to the circle looking for the final three outs of the night to give Texas Tech its first-ever WCWS.

Texas Tech leads Ole Miss 1-0 after six innings of action in Oklahoma City.

NiJaree Canady works out of jam

NiJaree Canady gets a strikeout by way of the riseball and a pop-up in foul territory along the third base line to get out of the jam in the sixth inning. After not giving up a hit to her first 16 batters faces, Canady gave back-to-back hits to Angelina DeLeon and Taylor Malvin.

She now has seven strikeouts on the night. Texas Tech heads to the bottom of the sixth leading Ole Miss 1-0.

Angelina DeLeon snaps NiJaree Canady’s perfect game

After retiring 16 straight batters to open up the game, NiJaree Canady allows her first hit of the night on a single up the middle from Ole Miss shortstop Angelina DeLeon.

A masterful start by Canady, who is making her seventh WCWS start on Thursday.

Mihyia Davis makes spectacular play in center

Mihyia Davis keeps Ole Miss off the base paths with a sliding catch in center field to open up the sixth inning. A great read by Davis in center on Tenly Grisham’s swing, which was the first ball out of the infield against NiJaree Canady.

NiJaree Canady throws scoreless fifth inning

It’s 15 up, 15 down for NiJaree Canady in the circle as she gets Mackenzie Pickens swinging for her sixth strikeout of the night to close out the fifth.

She’s dealing through five innings for Texas Tech, which leads Ole Miss 1-0 at the WCWS.

Ole Miss escapes fourth inning jam

Aliyah Binford gets Ole Miss and herself out of the bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth inning by getting Victoria Valdez to hit into a 1-2-3 inning-ending double play.

A missed opportunity for Texas Tech, which had the bases loaded with one out in the inning. NiJaree Canady heads back out to the circle working with a 1-0 lead.

Texas Tech wins obstruction call

Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco wins his first challenge of the night, as umpires overturn the original call at third that Alana Johnson was out for obstruction. Johnson was originally called out after being tagged out at third in a rundown after a short dribbler in front of the plate from NiJaree Canady.

It’s now runners on first and third with one out in the bottom of the fourth for Texas Tech, as Canady reached first on the fielder’s choice.

More from Rule 9.5.1.1 of the NCAA rulebook:

‘Obstruction occurs when a defensive player, neither in possession of the ball nor in the act of fielding a batted ball, impedes a batter’s attempt to make contact with a pitch or impedes the progress of any runner who is legally running bases on a live ball. It can be intentional or unintentional.‘

Texas Tech takes 1-0 lead

Texas Tech is the first to strike in Thursday’s WCWS game as Alana Johnson hits a double down the third base line into the left field corner, which scored Lauren Allred from first. Allred was able to score on the play as Ole Miss left fielder Jaden Pone kicked the ball away in the left corner after going for the ball. Johnson advanced to third on Pone’s fielding error.

Johnson’s RBI extends Texas Tech’s 21-game streak of being the first team to score in a game, which is the longest active streak in Division I.

Lauren Allred breaks up no-hitter for Texas Tech

The first hit of the night for either team goes to Texas Tech first baseman Lauren Allred, who hits one does the third base line for a one-out single.

Allred is now 6-for-17 with eight RBIs in the NCAA softball tournament.

NiJaree Canady retires 12 consecutive hitters

NiJaree Canady is showing off her WCWS veteran presence as she has retired each of Ole Miss’ first 12 batters of the game. Of her 12 first outs on Thursday, Canady has struck out five of them while getting four ground outs and three fly balls.

Hailey Toney made a marvelous play for the third out of the fourth, as she recovered from a brief bobble on a hard-hit ball to short to retire Ole Miss’ Aliyah Binford. Texas Tech heads to the plate looking for its first hit of the night against Binford.

Texas Tech goes down in order in third

Got a pitching duel brewing in Oklahoma City as Texas Tech and Ole Miss are still knotted up at 0-0 going into the fourth inning. Aliyah Binford got Texas Tech shortstop Hailey Toney looking for the final out of the bottom of the third inning.

Texas Tech-Ole Miss scoreless after two innings

Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady and Ole Miss’ Aliyah Binford have thrown back-to-back scoreless innings to open up Thursday’s WCWS game. The Red Raiders have had two runners on base, while the Rebels are still looking for their first baserunner.

Texas Tech leaves runner on base

The Red Raiders leave the first baserunner of the night on base, as Lauren Allred flies out to left field for the third out of the inning. After back-to-back groundouts to second, Alexa Langeliers got on base after being hit near her shin by Ole Miss pitcher Aliyah Binford.

Canady strikes out the side in first inning

Three batters, three strikeouts to open up the game for NiJaree Canady in the circle. With her three strikeouts in the top of the first, Canady now has 282 strikeouts on the season.

Canady dealing early is a great sign for Texas Tech, which is looking for its first-ever win at the WCWS.

NiJaree Canady starts WCWS game

It is the third consecutive year that Canady is pitching at the WCWS, with her two previous trips coming with Stanford.

Pregame

Texas Tech takes field at WCWS

After a brief weather delay in Oklahoma City, Texas Tech has taken the field at Devon Park ahead of its first-ever WCWS game vs. Ole Miss. NiJaree Canady has begun her warm-ups in the bullpen.

Texas Tech softball starting lineup today at WCWS

Here’s the starting lineup for Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss at the WCWS on Thursday:

CF Mihyia Davis
SS Hailey Toney
2B Alexa Langeliers
1B Lauren Allred
RF Alana Johnson
P NiJaree Canady
LF Demi Elder
C Victoria Valdez
3B Bailey Lindemuth

Ole Miss softball starting lineup today at WCWS

Here’s the starting lineup for Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech at the WCWS on Thursday:

LF Jaden Pone
DP Lair Beautae
P Aliyah Binford
1B Persy Llamas
C Lexie Brady
2B Mackenzie Pickens
3B Ashton Lansdell
SS Angelina DeLeon
RF Taylor Malvin
CF Addison Duke

Aliyah Binford is starting in the circle for Ole Miss.

Texas Tech-Ole Miss softball updated first pitch announced

The NCAA announces on X (formerly Twitter) that Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss in the WCWS will start at 8:15 p.m. ET in Oklahoma City barring, of course, any more inclement weather.

Click here for the latest weather updates for Texas Tech-Ole Miss.

WCWS weather delay protocol 

As noted by The Oklahoman’s Jeff Patterson, Thursday’s Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss WCWS has been delayed due to lightning in the Oklahoma City area. Per NCAA rules, if lightning strikes within at least six miles of the venue of the event, the game must be suspended for at least 30 minutes.  For every lightning strike that follows the initial lightning strike, the 30-minute clock is reset.

Texas Tech-Ole Miss softball delayed at WCWS

The tarp is on at the WCWS, meaning Thursday’s game between Texas Tech and Ole Miss will start in a rain delay.

How does the WCWS work?

The Women’s College World Series starts with eight teams competing in a double-elimination style format in bracket play before going into a best-of-three championship series. The WCWS is broken up into two four-team brackets.

Each team begins WCWS play with a 0-0 record and is guaranteed to play at least two games in Oklahoma City. The loser of Thursday’s Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss game will drop into the ‘elimination bracket’ and play to keep their season alive against the loser of Oregon-UCLA. As for the winner of Texas Tech-Ole Miss, they will advance further in the ‘winner’s bracket.’

Click here to read more on how the WCWS works.

Texas Tech arrives at WCWS

The Red Raiders have arrived at Devon Park in Oklahoma City to begin WCWS bracket play against Ole Miss. First pitch is roughly 15 minutes away.

How much does NiJaree Canady make in NIL at Texas Tech?

As alluded to above, Texas Tech star pitcher NiJaree Canady is the most expensive arm in college softball this season, as the Stanford transfer is making over $1 million this year with the Red Raiders in NIL earnings.

Click here to read more on Canady’s NIL earnings and situation at Texas Tech.

What time does Texas Tech softball vs Ole Miss in WCWS start?

Date: Thursday, May 29
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Devon Park (Oklahoma City)

Game 1 of the WCWS between Texas Tech and Ole Miss is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET start on Thursday, May 29 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.

What TV channel is Texas Tech softball vs Ole Miss in WCWS on today?

TV channel: ESPN2
Streaming options: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

ESPN2 will nationally televise Thursday’s WCWS game between Texas Tech and Ole Miss. Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Texas Tech vs Ole Miss WCWS odds, predictions, picks

Game odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, May 28

Moneyline: Texas Tech (-325) | Ole Miss (+240)

Here’s a compilation of predictions from those within the USA TODAY Network for Thursday’s Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss game:

Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Texas Tech 4, Ole Miss 0
Jenni Carlson, The Oklahoman: Texas Tech 3, Ole Miss 0
Cora Hall, Knox News: Texas Tech 4, Ole Miss 0
Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech 4, Ole Miss 0

Texas Tech softball schedule 2025

Friday, May 16: Texas Tech 6, Brown 0 (NCAA Tournament Regional)
Saturday, May 17: Texas Tech 10, Mississippi State 1 (NCAA Tournament Regional)
Sunday, May 18: Texas Tech 9, Mississippi State 6 (NCAA Tournament Regional)
Thursday, May 22: Texas Tech 3, (5) Florida State 0 (NCAA Tournament Super Regional)
Friday, May 23: Texas Tech 2, (5) Florida State 1 (NCAA Tournament Super Regional)

Ole Miss softball schedule 2025

Saturday, May 18: (12) Arizona 10, Ole Miss 1 (NCAA Tournament Regional)
Sunday, May 18: Ole Miss 7, (12) Arizona 3 (NCAA Tournament Regional)
Friday, May 23: Ole Miss 9, (4) Arkansas 7 (NCAA Tournament Super Regional)
Saturday, May 24: (4) Arkansas 4, Ole Miss 0 (NCAA Tournament Super Regional)
Sunday, May 25: Ole Miss 7, (4) Arkansas 4 (NCAA Tournament Super Regional)

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — The SEC conference has officially changed its policy on field and court storming scenarios ahead of the 2025-26 academic year.

League commissioner Greg Sankey, in his final press conference at league’s spring meetings, announced that violations of the SEC’s access to competition area policy will incite a flat fee of $500,000 instead of escalating fees that were set in 2023. However, Sankey said that if schools allow for visiting teams and officials to exit the field of play before fans rush the field or court, a fine will not be given.

‘We’ll welcome your celebration,’ Sankey said. ‘Let’s let the team, the visiting institutions depart.’

Sankey said the increased frequency of court and field rushes in the past three years invoked ‘meaningful conversation’ about a policy change.

‘If you are the one rushed, no matter how problematic the situation is, if it’s only the first time on campus, it’s $100,000,’ Sankey said. ‘It may be a lot more. So the motivation was field rushing is field rushing, the first time or the 18th time. We’ll offer an outlet of a delayed field rush where let the visitors exit, let the officials exit. Then you go. That goes to zero.’

Sankey said to secure no fines, there must be no interactions ‘period’ between a visiting team and the rushing team’s fans.

The $500,000 fee will continue to go to the visiting team if incurred. If the field or court storm happens during a non-conference game, Sankey said the fine will continue to go to the conference’s post-graduate scholarship fund.

In a May 28 press conference, Sankey said football field storms could be harder to police than basketball, which he still called not easy.

‘I don’t think any of it is easy,’ Sankey said. ‘It has to be done with intent.’

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him atcgay@gannett.com or follow him@_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

The New York Knicks are looking to save their season Thursday night, but will they have their second-best offensive weapon?

Center Karl-Anthony Towns suffered a left knee contusion late in Tuesday night’s Game 4 loss in the Eastern Conference finals against the Pacers when he crashed knees with Indiana guard Aaron Nesmith.

“I’m only thinking about the loss,” Towns said Tuesday night when asked about the injury. “I’m not thinking about that right now. It’s disappointing when you don’t get a win and we didn’t do enough to get the job done tonight.”

New York, which trails 3-1 in the series, will look to stave off elimination Thursday night at home in Game 5 (8 p.m. ET, TNT).

Here’s everything you need to know about Karl-Anthony Towns’ injured left knee and his playing status for Thursday night in the Eastern Conference finals:

Is Karl-Anthony Towns playing tonight?

Towns is going to play in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, according to Knicks.. Towns went through his regular pre-game routine minutes before tipoff and did not appear to be in any obvious discomfort. The Knicks announced shortly before tipoff that Towns would be in the starting lineup along with Jalen Brunson, Mitchell Robinson, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.

Towns had been a game-time decision, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters Thursday around an hour-and-a-half before tipoff. At the time that Thibodeau was speaking, Towns was going through his pre-game warmup, earlier than he typically had done so. By the time media members were allowed on the floor to observe pregame shootaround, Towns was wrapping up his session and

“He’ll be game-time, yeah,” Thibodeau had said before addressing the team’s mindset if Towns would be unable to go. “Next guy get in there, get it done.”

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said he fully expected Towns to play.

The Knicks officially listed Towns as questionable on Wednesday’s injury report with a left knee contusion.

The five-time All-Star has averaged 25.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists through four games of the Eastern Conference finals. He had a team-high 24 points in the Knicks’ Game 3 comeback win, when he scored 20 of his 24 in the fourth quarter as the Knicks overcame a 20-point deficit.

How did Karl-Anthony Towns get hurt?

With a little more than two minutes to play in Game 4, Nesmith fielded a pass and then drove to the basket, where he met Towns, who stepped up to help on defense. Nesmith’s right knee crashed into Towns’ left, sending Towns crumpling to the floor in obvious discomfort.

Trainers examined Towns on the bench during a timeout, as he continued to exhibit pain. Eventually, however, Towns would return and would finish the game, something Thibodeau called a “good sign” for his status for Game 5.

Towns, though, labored up the floor following the injury, clearly favoring his left leg. It is an injury to the same knee he had surgery on to repair a torn meniscus during the 2023-24 season when he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He missed a month, but was able to return for the playoffs.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are your 2025 NBA champions.

Well, not officially.

Officially, they are just the 2025 Western Conference champs after eliminating the Minnesota Timberwolves in a five-game conference finals.

But you know where this is headed.

The Thunder were the best team during the NBA’s regular season.

They won the Western Conference in dominating fashion. Game 5 was a demolition – a 124-94 Thunder victory that left no doubt.

They can play the opponent’s best style and play it better. Go big, go small, go deep into your bench, win with offense, including the 3-pointer, win with defense and win with stars, the Thunder can do it better than any team in the league.

Sorry Indiana. Sorry New York. It’s just not your year.

Oklahoma City is in the Finals for the first time since 2012 and is in terrific position to win the franchise’s first title since 1979 when it resided in Seattle and was called the SuperSonics.

“They’re highly professional, consistently professional. They’re high character people. They come from high character circles, they’re unbelievably competitive,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “They put the work in behind it consistently through the ups and downs, and most of all, they’re team-first. They embody everything it means to be a team and so they deserve this.

‘They deserve the opportunity that we have now. I couldn’t be happier for them. They invest so much in their own games, but they also invest so much in each other and in the team and I just think it’s a really uncommon thing in professional basketball that they’ve built.”

While sweeping proclamations can be imprudent endeavors, there is no reason to believe the Thunder won’t be NBA champions within the next few weeks.

Everyone can see it.

The Thunder don’t want to hear that, and they shouldn’t. Before Game 5, Daigneault talked about staying in the present. That is the right thing to say and the right thing to do. What’s in front of you in that second is the most important thing. Reaching a goal is a series of accomplishments that requires meticulous focus.

They’ve been headed for this moment for seasons and the grand plan – building another contender through the draft, trades and free agency – has come to fruition.

Before this season, this group had not won more than one series, and despite the No. 1 seed last season, they lost in the second round. They bypassed some growing pains in this season’s playoffs, learning lessons in real time and figuring out how to finish off games and close out series.

For a squad that had never won a conference finals closeout game, the Thunder answered any lingering questions about resolve.

‘When we’re put up against adversity that you don’t really have during the regular season and it’s like do-or-die moments, I think that’s where we kind of grew up as a team,’ Jalen Williams said. ‘I think that last series was big for us. That was our first Game 7, and getting over the hump of the second round, that was big for us.’

Their top-ranked defense slowed Nikola Jokic in the conference semifinals and put the brakes on Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle in the conference finals. Daigneault and his coaching staff develop and gameplan, and they have the defenders to execute it whether it’s taking away Jokic’s passing lanes or double-teaming Edwards.

If there was any doubt about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP – and there shouldn’t have been any – he erased any uncertainty. It was an MVP performance, and in Game 5, he had 34 points, eight assists and seven rebounds – it was his seventh game with at least 30 points in his past eight. He had a playoff career-high 40 in Game 4 and averaged 31.4 points and shot 45.7% for the series and earned the Western Conference finals MVP.

‘I wanted two things,’ Gilgeous-Alexander said. ‘I didn’t want to go back to Minnesota travel-wise, and then I wanted the fans to be able to enjoy the moment with us. I wanted them to be able to see it unfold in front of their eyes. I wanted them to be able to celebrate tonight in our building, go home, get drunk, whatever they do. I wanted them to have fun with the moment and yeah, it was good. I just wanted to make sure that above all I could give my energy and my effort to try to give these fans what they deserve.’

The Thunder are far from a one-man show. Jalen Williams made his first All-NBA team this season, and Chet Holmgren is headed for an All-Star appearance with his ability to score, rebound and protect the rim. Williams had 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal, and Holmgren had 22 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Lu Dort played outstanding defense, and center Isaiah Hartenstein was a shrewd offseason signing that has added to Oklahoma City’s versatility.

Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Kenrich Williams and Jaylin Williams give Daigneault more options.

They are improving by the game and by the series, looking more and more unbeatable in a series with each victory.

‘Now we are a step closer to our goal and we’re happy about that,’ Gilgeous-Alexander said. ‘But it’s still four more games to go win, four really hard games to go win and we have to be the best version of ourselves for four nights to reach the ultimate goal. And we understand that. We know that, and that’s what we’re focused on.’

It is a team that has 2025 NBA champions written all over it.

(This story was updated with additional information.)

Follow NBA columnist Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt

The Women’s College World Series has arrived. The last eight teams standing have gathered in Oklahoma City. Weather permitting, they’ll all be in action Thursday, and in a little over a week, one of them will hoist the NCAA championship trophy.

If you need a quick refresher on the format, the participants are split into two four-team brackets. Similar to the regional round, both brackets will be double elimination, then the two survivors will meet in the best-of-three championship series.

We know at least one SEC team will be in the finals, as one bracket is made up exclusively of teams from that conference. That group includes league newcomers Oklahoma and Texas, though one team from the Big 12 Conference they left behind is also in the field here in the opposite bracket. Here’s your guide to the opening-day slate.

No. 3 Florida vs. No. 6 Texas

Time/TV: noon ET, ESPN

The afternoon session features what one might call the all SEC bracket. As such, there is no lack of familiarity for the teams involved. The Longhorns took two of three from the Gators on the road in March, touching up the Florida pitching staff for 20 runs in the first two contests before the Gators avoided the sweep with a 3-1 win. Both teams are capable of putting up big offensive numbers, with Florida’s Taylor Shumaker (86 RBI) and the Longhorns’ Reese Atwood (85) among the nation’s top run producers.

No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 7 Tennessee

Time/TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Sooners’ bid for a fifth consecutive title begins with a difficult assignment in the familiar Oklahoma City confines near their campus. Tennessee won two of three against at Oklahoma earlier this season as Volunteers pitcher Karlyn Pickens kept Oklahoma’s powerful bats quiet. Should the Sooners mount any rallies this time, All-America outfielder Kasidi Pickering will likely be in the midst of them.

No. 12 Texas Tech vs. Mississippi

Time/TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2

While the top eight seeds held in the other half of the bracket, the opposite occurred in this half. Both the Red Raiders and Rebels had to go on the road for super regionals last week but came away victorious. Texas Tech always likes its chances when national ERA leader NiJaree Canady (0.89) is in the circle. Ole Miss, making its first WCWS appearance in program history, has been getting timely deliveries from two-way standout Aliyah Binford and catcher Lexie Brady.

No. 9 UCLA vs. No. 16 Oregon

Time/TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

These longtime rivals from the west coast are perhaps best suited to be playing in the nightcap, although the Bruins accumulated plenty of travel miles for their super regional trip to South Carolina. Now Big Ten foes, the Ducks won their series at home against the Bruins, with Lyndsey Grein getting the better of UCLA’s potent batting order in both Oregon victories. But UCLA is always capable of a big inning when Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery are due up.