Texas Tech’s Mia Williams focused on softball, not history, in return to Florida
Former Florida softball player Mia Williams returns to Gainesville with Texas Tech for a Super Regional series after a rocky split from the Gators.
A familiar face returns to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium when Florida softball hosts Texas Tech in its Gainesville Super Regional opening game of a three-game series on May 22 (11 a. m. ESPN2) Mia Williams, who played two seasons for the Florida Gators from 2023-25 before transferring for Texas Tech, is expected to start at second base for the Red Raiders.
It wasn't the smoothest parting. Williams' mother, Denika Williams, openly questioned Florida softball coach Tim Walton's coaching and approach to the 2025 WCWS in a social media post shortly before her daughter transferred. Williams also said she was unhappy at Florida in a Lubbock Avalanche-Journal article written last February and made the move to the Red Raiders in part due to her close relationship with third baseman Taylor Pannell.
But Williams didn't let on about feelings of revenge entering the matchup with the Gators . "Two really good teams playing softball," Williams said. "That's what we're focusing on.
We're prepared and we're ready and I'm sure they are too, so it's going to be two good softball games. " Williams said she still has friends on UF's team and that she shared messages with them following the NCAA Tournament Selection Show about the potential Super Regional matchup. "We chatted after the Selection Show, like hopefully we'll see each other because we had to make it out of the regional," Williams said.