Emiley Kennedy: 'I, personally, am not a fan of Austin, Texas'

The Austin Super Regional is going to have a little extra spark to it. Texas is playing host to Texas A&M, renewing the rivalry between the Longhorns and Aggies. Neither set of fanbases like each other and it seems as if the disdain for each other has carried over to the players.

Emiley Kennedy was asked about facing Texas and where her fandom lay as a young child. Kennedy went on to say she does not even enjoy Austin, the state’s capital. The rivalry certainly means more to her than just on the softball diamond.

Try Fubo for FREE today and don’t miss any of the action!

“I, personally, am not a fan of Austin, Texas,” Kennedy said. “Just because I grew up around the College Station area. I think it’s just a school rivalry, I don’t think it’s a softball rivalry. I mean, Texas A&M-Texas is historic. But we’re not making it too big.”

Kennedy is from the Woodlands and attended Lake Creek High School, just about an hour away from College Station. She has been an Aggie since birth and has become a huge part of the softball program since joining before the 2022 season.

Junior Koko Wooley is in a similar spot, not being a Texas fan growing up. Everyone on Texas A&M is hoping to keep a stable mentality for the Super Regional and not let the rivalry affect how they play.

“I never really grew up a Texas fan,” Wooley said. “Like she said, it’s a school rivalry, not a softball rivalry. So, it’s just another series for us.”

A lot is being made about Texas and Texas A&M getting back together on the football field. One sport matters more than others in the Lone Star State and the two schools have not met since 2011. Nov. 30 is a long time coming for a lot of people, with a ton of intensity being placed on the matchup.

But Olympic sports have carried out the rivalry and softball has been one of the best.

Since Texas A&M left in favor of the SEC, there have been six matchups between the two. Four have gone in favor of Texas. All of them have been during the NCAA Tournament. However, this will be the first time in a Super Regional with a spot in the Women’s College World Series on the line.

Next season, we will see Texas with an SEC patch on their uniforms and a weekend series will take place at some point against Texas A&M as conference foes. Some serious bragging rights are on the line though, with Kennedy and Wooley making their thoughts on the rivalry known.