Texas Tech University Athletics
SPOTLIGHT: Victoria Valdez
May 29, 2026 | Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY – Victoria Valdez's name didn't appear in the box score of the 8-0 run-rule win by Texas Tech over Mississippi State on Thursday at the Women's College World Series, but her impact – just like every game throughout her softball career – can't be overstated and shouldn't be overlooked.
"Victoria brings this team together," said NiJaree Canady, who earned the win after throwing four scoreless innings. "A lot of what we've accomplished doesn't happen without her. She is one of the most unselfish people I've known and doesn't worry about getting credit for all the great things she does for our team."
"It's insane how much positive energy she brings to the team," said Kaitlyn Terry, who drove in a run at the plate and threw one scoreless inning in the win. "It's so different and appreciated. We need her. She keeps everyone going with her presence and attitude every day."
A senior catcher from Alvin, Texas, Valdez is part of the group of four players that transferred to Tech from Louisiana last season after head coach Gerry Glasco took over the program and has taken the program to new heights where they are competing in their second straight WCWS in Oklahoma City. Valdez has played in 230 games in her career, including 47 this season with 23 starts after starting 63 last season and earning All-Big 12 Defensive Team at catcher.
"Vic, along with Alana Johnson, has been as important as anyone on our roster because of their tremendous leadership down the stretch," Glasco said. "You get so much more respect from your teammates when you're able to lead from a position of experience and maturity. You've been there and done that in the past and the younger players quickly recognize their swagger, intelligence and savvy understanding of the game."
Over the past four seasons, Valdez and Glasco have won 207 games together when you combine two seasons at Louisiana and the past two at Texas Tech. In her first season as a Red Raider, she had a .998 fielding percentage with only one error in 441 chances and for her career she has 105 total hits, 14 home runs and 82 RBI. "It doesn't matter to me if I'm in the dugout or on the field," Valdez said. "I always want to bring fierceness. I always have my team's back. It's all about making sure everyone on this team is fighting for each other and we remember what the end goal is." While her role in the lineup is different this season, within the program her importance may be at its highest in her career.
"Vic is everything for our team," Tech junior infielder Taylor Pannell said. "She's the life of our team on the field and in the dugout. She's the most competitive person I've ever met. She has everyone's back and is a person who can make everyone laugh and also motivates them. Her personality is our spark. She will go to war for us and puts everything on the line for the team. That's all she cares about."
Never seeking attention or wanting to distract the team from its goals each game, Valdez found herself in a situation against Florida in the Gainesville Super Regional that could have become one. After Mia Williams was hit by a pitch, Valdez knew her role – stand up for her teammate. Words were spoken and a warning by the umpire was given.
"She had my back," Williams said. "It was huge for me and huge for our team. That's what people really need to know about her. She's a ride-or-die teammate and friend for all of us. Every team needs someone like her. We all know we can count on her no matter what."
In the crosshairs of unscripted attention within the game and on the broadcast, Valdez could be seen after the highly charged situation smiling and laughing with teammates and coaches. "She is a natural born leader," Glasco said. "I felt like her tenacious mentality from our dugout made her the MVP of the Florida series." Instead of a distraction or setback in a series with the season on the line, it became a catalyst for the team to advance and was never an interruption - except maybe for a little while after the game.
"My phone started glitching on me after that game," Valdez said. "I got so many texts and comments on social media after it. It was fun but I had to get off social media after a while. I thought my phone was going to explode. Coach Glasco has always embraced every single one of us and shows us that he believes in us. Even at Louisiana, I've never been that person who is quiet or let things go right away when I think I need to speak up for our team. It means the world to me that I can be a big part of this team and not hide or stay quiet in those moments. My teammates and coaches know who I am and trust me. I love that feeling and love fighting for every single person in our program."
For fans just starting to tune into softball with the team back in the WCWS, the perception of Valdez after the moments in Florida may be that she's always tough and lives with an edge. Ask her teammates though, and she is the consensus funniest person on the team. She brings intensity but also understands life and softball is about having fun. Â
"I think she gives me hiccups every day from laughing so much," Williams said. "She's an amazing teammate and person. She makes every situation better."
"There's a big difference in who I am as a person and when I put my uniform on," Valdez said. "I feel invincible with my uniform and catching gear on. In the real world, I'm not as intense and try to have fun. It's just who I am and who I've always been. I want to bring positive energy on and off the field."
A starter and everyday catcher in her first three college seasons, Valdez and Texas Tech are eyeing the program's first national championship with a roster loaded with talent. Among transfer additions this season are catchers Lagi Quiroga and Jasmyn Burns. In the win over Mississippi State, Quiroga started at catcher and Burns was the designated player. Valdez played her role as a team leader in the dugout and the Red Raiders rolled to the team's national-leading 37th run-rule win. A transfer from Cal, Quiroga saw firsthand what it was like playing against Valdez as an opponent when Cal and Louisiana played on February 11, 2024 in Lafayette, Louisiana. With a storm coming through, Quiroga was behind the plate at catcher and Valdez was on deck. Chirping started, a Cal coach was ejected and Quiroga and Valdez exchanged words. Earlier this season while fishing together during the season-opening tournament in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Tech communications director Jay Strader wrote a feature about the altercation and recounted by sides. "I was trying to diffuse the situation the best I knew how to, but as I was walking back and talking to the other dugout basically saying, 'this is unfair' and I look to my left and I see Vic," Quiroga recalled. "The only person that came up to my face was Vic. I was already on fight or flight, and I threw my mask off, threw my glove off and said, 'what's good' and then I see this big umpire booking it towards me and I backed off." Valdez added, "I remember it was raining really hard and Lagi turning to our dugout and talking trash. I don't remember what was said exactly but I know it was in the direction of our dugout. I turned to her and started talking back – which meant fighting words I guess – and then she threw all her gear off and I stepped up ready to go."
Now teammates, and in Oklahoma City at the WCWS, united for the common goal of winning a national championship, Quiroga and Valdez fight for each other.
"She has such a fearless mentality," Quiroga said on Wednesday before the start of the WCWS. "I admire that more than anything. I don't know anyone who is more fearless. No matter the situation, she is never going to back down. I hated her as an opponent but love her as my teammate. She's a fuel to any fire and knows exactly what to say and how to uplift our team. Her energy carries us. It's admirable that she's naturally like that."
Texas Tech is set to play Tennessee at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Women's College World Series and understand another highly charged matchup awaits. It's nothing new for the program that has accepted and thrived in its outside perception of being villains. With a program-record 58 wins already coming into the game, the collection of talent on the roster has dismissed distractions, ego and everything else that could have taken them off course. The team will prepare for the Volunteers throughout Friday, getting in a practice and going over scouting reports on a team that is coming off a 6-3 win over Texas on Thursday and brings in a 48-10 overall record. On Saturday afternoon, the Texas Tech bus will take the quick trip from downtown OKC and pull into Devon Park with Red Raider fans showing love and cheering while the Tennessee faithful and others cast opposite reactions. They'll step off the bus with earned confidence and a fearless belief. Whether in the lineup or in the dugout, Valdez will lead that charge.
"We've come to the point where we realize that you're not going to go anywhere unless you're playing for someone other than yourself," Valdez said. "This team has figured that out. It's been amazing to see how much better and connected we are. We focus on what goes on in our dugout and couldn't care less what others think about us. We're a team that is always going to play for and fight for each other. We're a team that doesn't have any fear."
