With no Oklahoma for the first time since 2015, this year’s Women’s College World Series truly feels wide open.In a season full of historic hitting numbers, it’s only fitting we have the new single-season home run leader, UCLA’s Megan Grant, and her teammate, RBI leader Jordan Woolery; fellow sluggers Katie Stewart (Texas), Mia Williams (Texas Tech) and Brooke Wells (Alabama); and two-way pitching/hitting stars Jordy Frahm (Nebraska) and Kaitlin Terry (Texas Tech).But there’s a long history of dominant pitchers stealing the show in Oklahoma City. This year’s field includes Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady, Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens, Texas’ Teagan Kavan and Mississippi State’s Alyssa Faircloth.The WCWS begins Thursday at noon (ET) with Mississippi State taking on Texas Tech. Here are predictions from our staff.Lindsay’s pick: Texas Tech beats Nebraska 2-1 in the championship seriesIs this what I think is going to happen or … what I want to happen? Tough to say. It’s hard to pick against the Red Raiders in the postseason, given how clutch they’ve been at the plate in both the Regionals (came back from down 8-0!) and Super Regionals (10 hits on the road in a decisive Game 3!). That lineup against Nebraska’s Frahm, who comes into Oklahoma City sporting a 1.14 ERA, would be all kinds of fun.Of course, if the Red Raiders are going to win their first national championship, they’re going to need Canady to pitch more like her 2025 self. In the understatement of the 2026 postseason, Canady has struggled the last few weeks. She gave up 11 hits in 8 2/3 innings pitched during the Super Regional at Florida, and eight hits in six innings pitched during Tech’s Regional. Her ERA is still impressive, at 1.78, and if she gets into her groove again, it’ll be special to watch.The good news for Tech fans is that, unlike last year, the Red Raiders don’t have to rely just on Canady because Terry, a UCLA transfer, has proved to be a huge addition in both the circle (she has a 1.68 ERA in 133 1/3 innings pitched) and at the plate (she’s hitting .457). On the other side, you’ve got Frahm, who is widely considered the best two-way player in softball. She’s lethal from the pitching rubber and in the batter’s box, where she hits .416, best among the Huskers regularly in the lineup.