Lady Vols Win 2025 Knoxville Regional, Advance With Swagger and Purpose
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The sun-drenched Tennessee sky wasn’t the only thing blazing on Sunday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. With relentless pitching, explosive offense, and the support of a raucous orange-clad crowd, the Lady Vols softball team stamped their ticket to the Super Regionals by winning the 2025 NCAA Knoxville Regional in emphatic fashion.
It wasn’t just a victory—it was a message. Tennessee softball isn’t just surviving postseason pressure. They’re thriving in it.
Led by head coach Karen Weekly, the Lady Vols continued their dominant postseason run, sweeping their way through the regional bracket with commanding wins over Miami (OH), Virginia Tech, and Liberty. The regional win marks Tennessee’s third straight appearance in the Super Regionals and furthers the program’s ambition to return to Oklahoma City and finish what they started just a year ago.
Let’s break down how the Lady Vols took care of business, what it says about the state of the program, and where they go from here.
Round One: Statement Made Against Miami (OH)
Tennessee opened the Knoxville Regional with a matchup against MAC champion Miami (OH)—a team with strong pitching and a 40-win résumé. But the RedHawks quickly found themselves overwhelmed by a Tennessee team firing on all cylinders.
Sophomore ace Karlyn Pickens was electric from the first pitch, striking out 10 batters over six shutout innings. Her fastball danced, her riseball bit, and her command was flawless. The Lady Vols’ defense backed her up with a highlight-reel double play in the third and consistent infield excellence.
Offensively, it was a home run party. Senior slugger McKenna Gibson blasted a two-run bomb in the first inning, immediately setting the tone. Catcher Giulia Koutsoyanopulos added a bases-clearing double in the fourth to stretch the lead, and by the sixth, the mercy rule was in effect with a final score of 8-0.
“We wanted to set the tone early,” said Weekly after the win. “This is our house, and we wanted to remind everyone why we’re here.”
Game Two: A Gritty, Gutsy Win Over Virginia Tech
The most anticipated matchup of the Knoxville Regional came in the winner’s bracket showdown between No. 1 seed Tennessee and a battle-tested Virginia Tech squad out of the ACC. The Hokies pushed the Lady Vols harder than any team in the regional—and for a few innings, the game hung in the balance.
Down 3-2 entering the bottom of the sixth, Tennessee’s offense showed championship-level poise. Sophomore Katie Taylor, a rising star and local fan favorite, delivered a game-tying triple that brought Sherri Parker Lee Stadium to life. One batter later, graduate outfielder Kiki Milloy, already cementing her status as a Lady Vol legend, launched her 23rd home run of the season deep over the left field fence.
Final score: 5-3, Tennessee.
“This team never blinks,” Milloy said afterward. “It doesn’t matter what the scoreboard says—we just keep swinging.”
Championship Game: Closing the Door on Liberty
With Liberty emerging from the elimination bracket, Tennessee had two chances to advance—but only needed one.
Pickens returned to the circle for the championship game, and she was even better the second time around. Throwing a complete game with 12 strikeouts, she completely neutralized Liberty’s power hitters. The only run allowed came in the top of the seventh, long after the outcome was determined.
On offense, Tennessee kept the pressure on. Gibson and Milloy both went yard again, with Gibson’s homer a grand slam in the third inning that broke the game wide open. Infielder Zaida Puni added two RBI doubles, and freshman speedster Destiny Martinez wreaked havoc on the basepaths.
Final score: 9-1, Tennessee.
With the win, the Lady Vols punched their ticket to the Super Regionals in style, outscoring opponents 22-4 across the weekend.
The Star of the Weekend: Karlyn Pickens
Though Milloy and Gibson made plenty of headlines with their bats, the heartbeat of the regional was unquestionably Karlyn Pickens.
The sophomore right-hander threw 13 total innings in the regional, giving up just one earned run while racking up 22 strikeouts. Her command, velocity, and emotion galvanized the team—and drew comparisons to past Tennessee pitching greats like Monica Abbott and Ellen Renfroe.
“She’s built for this stage,” said Weekly. “Karlyn sets the tone for everyone. When she’s locked in, our whole team feeds off that energy.”
Pickens was named Knoxville Regional MVP, a no-brainer decision after her weekend dominance.
Karen Weekly’s Steady Hand
It’s easy to take a veteran head coach for granted, but what Karen Weekly has done in 2025 deserves serious recognition. After co-head coach Ralph Weekly retired in 2021, there were questions about whether the Lady Vols would maintain their edge on the national stage. Weekly has answered every question—and then some.
Now in her 24th season at Tennessee, Weekly has built a culture of consistency, development, and resilience. This year’s team exemplifies that culture: a mix of veterans, transfers, and dynamic freshmen all pulling in the same direction.
“We’ve built this thing on toughness and teamwork,” Weekly said. “I’m proud of the way this group represents Tennessee—on and off the field.”
A Look at the Stats
The numbers from the Knoxville Regional paint a picture of dominance:
- Team Batting Average: .367
- Home Runs: 7 (Gibson 3, Milloy 2, Puni 1, Taylor 1)
- ERA: 1.00
- Strikeouts by Pitching Staff: 31
- Errors: 0
Those stats tell the story: clean defense, powerful bats, and elite pitching.
Super Regionals Await
With the Knoxville Regional crown secured, Tennessee now turns its focus to the Super Regionals—where they will host the winner of the Tallahassee Regional, likely Florida State or Mississippi State.
Both potential matchups carry intrigue:
- Florida State: A perennial powerhouse and national champion in 2018, the Seminoles eliminated Tennessee in the 2023 Women’s College World Series.
- Mississippi State: An SEC rival the Lady Vols swept in the regular season, but with a resurgent roster that could pose a threat.
Weekly isn’t concerned about the opponent. “At this stage, everyone’s good. But we’re confident. We’re built for this.”
The Lady Vols’ National Outlook
Tennessee entered the postseason ranked No. 4 nationally and projected as one of the favorites to make the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
With a mix of power, pitching, and postseason experience, few teams in the country can match the Lady Vols’ balance. If they survive Super Regionals, they’ll be among the top contenders for a national title.
Key reasons why Tennessee could win it all:
- Veteran leadership from Milloy, Gibson, and Puni
- Elite pitching led by Pickens and sophomore lefty Payton Gottshall
- Dynamic freshmen like Martinez, Taylor, and catcher Bella Macario
- One of the best coaching staffs in America
The road ahead is tough—but Tennessee looks like a team built for the moment.
The Sherri Parker Lee Stadium Advantage
One major reason for the Lady Vols’ dominance? Home-field advantage.
The Knoxville Regional saw record-setting attendance, with nearly 10,000 fans pouring into the ballpark over three days. The atmosphere was electric: cowbells clanged, Rocky Top rang out, and fans lined up hours early just to get a glimpse of the action.
“Playing in front of this crowd—it’s a dream,” said Milloy. “They lift us. They make this place a fortress.”
Tennessee will once again host in the Super Regionals, giving them a massive edge as they attempt to punch their ticket to Oklahoma City.
Tennessee’s Postseason Pedigree
The Lady Vols aren’t new to this level of success. They’ve now reached the Super Regionals nine times in the last 13 years, and have been to the Women’s College World Series seven times.
But there’s a hunger in Knoxville for more than just appearances.
Their last WCWS finals run came in 2013. The current roster is hellbent on making history—and winning the program’s first-ever national championship.
“We respect the past,” said Weekly. “But this group wants to make their own legacy.”
Built to Finish
The 2025 Knoxville Regional proved what many already suspected: Tennessee is one of the most complete teams in the country. Their blend of veteran experience, youthful fire, and elite coaching makes them a nightmare matchup for any team remaining.
They didn’t just win—they dominated. They didn’t just survive—they dictated.
And now, just two wins away from Oklahoma City, the Lady Vols are exactly where they want to be: together, confident, and chasing history.
