University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Postgame Quotes – Texas Tech 8, UCLA 7
POSTGAME QUOTES
Texas Tech 8, UCLA 7 (9 inn.)
Devon Park (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Women’s College World Series
May 31, 2026
Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach
opening statement
“Yeah, I we had a meeting, I told them I could not be more proud of a team. The ability to get back to Oklahoma City, a year that nobody expected us to be here, is something I'm very proud of. We started out fall with 10 returners and 10 new Bruins. I told them it's because of how the seniors really took care of those younger Bruins that taught them the Bruin way. Culture is our strength. We play together as a team, we win, we lose together as a team. Everybody got to see how competitive we are and we don't quit. And I think I'm very proud of that. I was also very proud to be able to say all three of my seniors, they played out all the way till the end. That makes me very happy because from the very start, I got emotional thinking all I wanted is for them to have a great senior year. They now go down in history as two of the greatest ball players that have played Division I softball. I have a pitcher who put this program on her back for the last three years. I'm very grateful that she did.”
on what makes this group of seniors means to her
“Because loyalty is big. Family is important being a Bruin. They're loyal Bruins who took care of the program. As a result, I believe the game paid them back. We had a historic year for them when we didn't know what this year was going to be. I'm not even sad. I'm so proud that I got to coach them. I'm so proud they were seniors, they influenced the younger Bruins, how gutsy they are. But I told them I wasn't sad when I went into the meeting. All I wanted was for them to have a great senior year. Yeah, we wanted to be national champions, 100%. But we didn't quit. The game is hard. One thing I tell all Bruins, they are so much more than softball players. They're great leaders. They're great people. They make people around them better. They represent it in the classroom, on the field, in the community. They also have their undergrads, masters. They're more than just the softball players, they have a degree that is world renowned. I'm very proud of everybody who knows who they are in Westwood and how they're going to continue to succeed beyond this softball field. I'm so proud of how they took care of the program. And loyalty is big. Thank you.”
UCLA senior infielder Jordan Woolery
on what it means to finish her career with Megan Grant as the greatest slugging duo in history
“I mean, I think it's really cool. Before our last at-bat, I told Meg, We're made for this. I knew it was going to come down to us. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to play with her and be able to be together, especially in that last moment. It was cool. I felt like it was very poetic, Meg walked, of course, nobody wants to pitch to her still. I think it was really cool for both of us. I knew before our last at-bat, it's going to come back around, we're going to get another chance. We both got out. I knew it was going to be able to end the way we wanted it to end, too. It's been awesome, and it's been an awesome four years, honestly.”
on what it was like to watch Taylor Tinsley this season
“Yeah, I mean, it's just so special seeing her (tearing up). She's just awesome. No one understands what she's given to this team and this program. I just wish that everyone was able to see Tins how we see Tins because she's just perfect. Like I don't know. We're roommates, she's one of my closest friends in the world. I would honestly die for Tins. This year has been so hard for her. What she's done has been so special. Like, she cemented herself and legacy within UCLA softball. Honestly it's been a privilege to watch. I feel so honored to know her and watch her journey, see what she's given to this program the last for you years. It's honestly so cool. I feel so lucky honestly, yeah.”
UCLA senior utility Megan Grant
on what it means to finish her career with Megan Grant as the greatest slugging duo in history
“To add on to that, it's been an amazing four years with you. I don't think we ever get time to just recognize each other, you know? I just want to say these past four years have been so great with you, with Tins and with Lefty. There's no other place I'd rather be.”
Texas Tech 8, UCLA 7 (9 inn.)
Devon Park (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Women’s College World Series
May 31, 2026
Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach
opening statement
“Yeah, I we had a meeting, I told them I could not be more proud of a team. The ability to get back to Oklahoma City, a year that nobody expected us to be here, is something I'm very proud of. We started out fall with 10 returners and 10 new Bruins. I told them it's because of how the seniors really took care of those younger Bruins that taught them the Bruin way. Culture is our strength. We play together as a team, we win, we lose together as a team. Everybody got to see how competitive we are and we don't quit. And I think I'm very proud of that. I was also very proud to be able to say all three of my seniors, they played out all the way till the end. That makes me very happy because from the very start, I got emotional thinking all I wanted is for them to have a great senior year. They now go down in history as two of the greatest ball players that have played Division I softball. I have a pitcher who put this program on her back for the last three years. I'm very grateful that she did.”
on what makes this group of seniors means to her
“Because loyalty is big. Family is important being a Bruin. They're loyal Bruins who took care of the program. As a result, I believe the game paid them back. We had a historic year for them when we didn't know what this year was going to be. I'm not even sad. I'm so proud that I got to coach them. I'm so proud they were seniors, they influenced the younger Bruins, how gutsy they are. But I told them I wasn't sad when I went into the meeting. All I wanted was for them to have a great senior year. Yeah, we wanted to be national champions, 100%. But we didn't quit. The game is hard. One thing I tell all Bruins, they are so much more than softball players. They're great leaders. They're great people. They make people around them better. They represent it in the classroom, on the field, in the community. They also have their undergrads, masters. They're more than just the softball players, they have a degree that is world renowned. I'm very proud of everybody who knows who they are in Westwood and how they're going to continue to succeed beyond this softball field. I'm so proud of how they took care of the program. And loyalty is big. Thank you.”
UCLA senior infielder Jordan Woolery
on what it means to finish her career with Megan Grant as the greatest slugging duo in history
“I mean, I think it's really cool. Before our last at-bat, I told Meg, We're made for this. I knew it was going to come down to us. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to play with her and be able to be together, especially in that last moment. It was cool. I felt like it was very poetic, Meg walked, of course, nobody wants to pitch to her still. I think it was really cool for both of us. I knew before our last at-bat, it's going to come back around, we're going to get another chance. We both got out. I knew it was going to be able to end the way we wanted it to end, too. It's been awesome, and it's been an awesome four years, honestly.”
on what it was like to watch Taylor Tinsley this season
“Yeah, I mean, it's just so special seeing her (tearing up). She's just awesome. No one understands what she's given to this team and this program. I just wish that everyone was able to see Tins how we see Tins because she's just perfect. Like I don't know. We're roommates, she's one of my closest friends in the world. I would honestly die for Tins. This year has been so hard for her. What she's done has been so special. Like, she cemented herself and legacy within UCLA softball. Honestly it's been a privilege to watch. I feel so honored to know her and watch her journey, see what she's given to this program the last for you years. It's honestly so cool. I feel so lucky honestly, yeah.”
UCLA senior utility Megan Grant
on what it means to finish her career with Megan Grant as the greatest slugging duo in history
“To add on to that, it's been an amazing four years with you. I don't think we ever get time to just recognize each other, you know? I just want to say these past four years have been so great with you, with Tins and with Lefty. There's no other place I'd rather be.”