The Texas Longhorns won a second consecutive national championship. Brett Rojo / Imagn ImagesJune 8, 2026 1:48 pm EDT Updated College softball only continues to soar in popularity, and the television ratings from the 2026 Women’s College World Series, released Monday, are validating that.ESPN, which broadcasted the games, announced that the WCWS championship series between Texas and Texas Tech was the second-most-watched Women’s College World Series finals in history, with an average of 2.2 million viewers.Game 2, which the Longhorns won 4-1 to secure their second consecutive national title, averaged 2.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched college softball game on record, according to the network and Nielsen numbers. It peaked at 3 million viewers.The championship series opener drew an average of 1.9 million viewers, making it the third-most-watched Game 1 on record.The Longhorns were led by junior Katie Stewart, who hit home runs in four consecutive games during one stretch of the WCWS, and right-handed pitcher Teagan Kavan, who became the first player in Women’s College World Series history to win Most Outstanding Player honors twice.Jun 8, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms