Hear what University of Florida softball coach Tim Walton had to say about the tension between the University of Florida and Texas Tech
Florida State softball coach Tim Walton talked about the tension in the series after the Gators lost to Texas Tech in the super regional.
Florida State softball coach Tim Walton was ejected in the fifth inning of the Gators’ 16-7 loss to Texas Tech in the final game of the Gainesville Super Regional on Sunday, May 24, as his team’s dream of competing in the Women’s College World Series faded from the team.
According to a prominent former Florida athlete, it may have simply been intentional.
Former NBA and Gators point guard Jason Williams said Walton’s ejection over an argument over balls and strikes was orchestrated so the coach wouldn’t have to shake hands with Williams’ daughter, Mia, a standout infielder at Texas Tech who transferred to the program from Florida last offseason, after the game.
“He was kicked out because he didn’t want to shake her hand,” Williams told the USA TODAY Network’s Gainesville Sun.
The younger Williams played two seasons at Florida, appearing in all 65 games last season for a Gators team that advanced to the WCWS. After the 2025 season, she transferred to Texas Tech, which was on its way to advancing to the WCWS Championship Series and has become a haven for high-profile transfers in recent years.
That move, and the painful feelings that lingered over it, filled the best-of-three super regional series between the Gators and Red Raiders.
Throughout the series, Williams was hit by five pitches, including the first pitch of Game 1 and the decisive first pitch of Game 3. In his second at-bat of Game 3, Williams hit a two-run home run, giving Texas Tech a 5-4 lead and sparking a celebratory mood that earned the Red Raiders a warning from the umpires.
In the end, Williams had the last laugh, finishing the series with three hits and five RBIs in seven at-bats.
Her father, who played one season at Florida before being selected No. 7 overall in the 1998 NBA draft, was in the Gator-chomping crowd screaming into the Gators dugout after Texas Tech’s home run. After the Red Raiders’ Game 3 victory, he celebrated with his team on the field at Katie Seahall Presley Stadium.
The two teams did not shake hands after Texas Tech won the series.
When asked about the drama of the series, Walton replied, “It makes no sense to me.” “I don’t know where that came from. I don’t think it’s fair to the kids in both dugouts. I don’t know where that pot was being stirred. We’ve never had a problem before. Kids move around all the time.”
In her first season at Texas Tech, Mia Williams set single-season program records for home runs (24), runs scored (86), total bases (177), RBIs (82), and doubles (22).
