TITLE: Texas Coach Mike White Praises Mia Scott’s Grit: “She Played the Title Game with a Torn ACL”
In what will go down as one of the most legendary performances in NCAA softball history, Texas Longhorns head coach Mike White revealed the shocking truth following his team’s national championship win over Texas Tech: star infielder Mia Scott played through the entire Women’s College World Series title game with a torn ACL.
During the postgame press conference after Texas clinched their first-ever NCAA Softball Championship with a 10–4 victory, Coach White became emotional when asked about Mia Scott’s performance.
“What Mia did out there today… it defies logic,” White said. “She tore her ACL and still showed up, not just to play—but to lead, to hit a grand slam, and to anchor us in the infield. That’s toughness you can’t coach. That’s heart.”
Scott, who suffered the injury in the semifinal game against Tennessee, insisted on playing in the final. Despite the severe risk, she convinced the medical staff and coaches that she could handle it.
“We tried to pull her,” White admitted. “But she looked me in the eye and said, ‘Coach, I’ve come too far with this team to sit this one out.’ At that point, all we could do was support her and pray she made it through safely.”
And make it through she did.
Scott not only started at third base but also delivered one of the biggest moments of the night—a bases-loaded grand slam that blew the game wide open and silenced a late-inning rally from Texas Tech. Fans watched in awe, unaware of the physical pain she was pushing through on every swing, every step, every throw.
“That swing changed everything,” White said. “That was the dagger, and it came from a kid who was literally playing on one leg.”
Scott ended the tournament hitting .412 with 8 RBIs and flawless defensive execution, earning her a spot on the WCWS All-Tournament Team.
White said that her display of courage has forever etched her name into Texas athletics history.
“Mia Scott just defined what it means to be a Longhorn,” he said. “Champions aren’t just made by skill. They’re made by the fight they have in them. And Mia has more fight than anyone I’ve ever coached.”
Scott will undergo surgery next week and is expected to begin rehabilitation immediately. Despite the setback, her place as a Texas legend is sealed.
“She gave us everything,” White concluded. “And now it’s our turn to support her every step of the way back.”
As the confetti settled and the Longhorns raised the trophy high under the Oklahoma City lights, the image that will live forever isn’t just the scoreboard—it’s Mia Scott, limping off the field, smiling through the pain, having delivered a performance for the ages.
