We’re now at the stage of the Women’s College World Series where a loss will totally reshape the bracket. That’s because when you lose on Day 3, you switch which side of the bracket you’re competing on and who your elimination game opponent will be.
Prior to Texas Tech’s loss to the Tennessee Lady Volunteers, the Red Raiders were on the same side of the bracket as Tennessee, the Mississippi State Bulldogs (who were eliminated), and the Texas Longhorns (who are in an elimination game situation still). But instead of entering the elimination game against Tennessee, Texas Tech swaps.
The Red Raiders are now in an elimination game against the UCLA Bruins, who started the Women’s College World Series with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Nebraska Cornhuskers, and the Arkansas Razorbacks (who are eliminated) on their side of the bracket. Now, Nebraska is set to play Texas and Texas Tech is set to play UCLA.
It’s a fun shuffling that’s only mildly confusing.
2026 Women’s College World Series bracket update: What’s next for Texas Tech after losing to Tennessee?
Here’s what the WCWS bracket looks like now after Day 3 of the 2026 Women’s College World Series.
hey look, a WCWS bracket update after Day 3's games pic.twitter.com/snH8wQD71f
— The Underdog Tribune (@UnderdogTribune) May 31, 2026
For the Red Raiders, their next game is on Sunday at 6 p.m. CT. They're in the elimination matchup with the UCLA Bruins, who are fresh off of a huge run-rule win over the Arkansas Razorbacks. Since Texas Tech now has a loss, they can’t lose another game if they want to make it to the Finals.
They’ve got to beat UCLA and then Alabama twice.
Meanwhile, Tennessee is going to stay in the winners’ bracket with this win. The Lady Volunteers will advance to Game 11 at 11 a.m. on Monday, which is where they’ll face the winner between the Texas Longhorns and the Nebraska Cornhuskers (who are in an elimination matchup with each other).
A win for Tennessee in that game will allow them to move on to the WCWS finals. If Tennessee loses that matchup, then they’ve got another chance to face their foe in an elimination game.
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