No. 11 seed Texas Tech advanced to the Women's College World Series after a dramatic Game 3 win over the 6-seeded Florida Gators in the Gainesville Super Regional on Sunday.

The top storyline throughout a series filled with them was Tech's All-American second baseman, Mia Williams.

She broke Texas Tech's home run and RBI records in her first year in Lubbock during the regular season. In the postseason, she returned to a familiar, yet hostile environment to keep up her heroics for one of the nation's best batting lineups.

Williams transferred from Florida to Texas Tech last summer after the Gators had made the 2025 WCWS, like the national runner-up Red Raiders.

It was a messy falling out, and that drama bled over into a chaotic return to Gainesville, sparking a rivalry that captivated the softball world.

Here's a piece-by-piece breakdown of all the action:

Entering the Super Regional, all eyes would be on the reception Williams got from the swamp after spending two seasons as a starter for the Gators and darting to Texas Tech in the offseason.

Williams' mother, Denika Williams, stoked the fire with an emotional social media post in support of her daughter's decision to transfer. Much of the rant included direct call-outs of Florida's pitching and team management during last year's run.

"It's a normal thing for athletes to transfer in this day and age, and we want to make a big deal of it? That's uncalled for," said Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco after Sunday's win.

"I'm proud of my team for having her back."

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Williams had been hit by a pitch just four times in over 60 games this season. In the Super Regional, she was hit by five pitches from the Florida staff, including the first pitch of Game 3 by All-SEC selection Keagan Rothrock.

That's quite the anomaly, and considering the history, it'd be bold to excuse it as a coincidence. Sure, Williams was crowding the plate as a leadoff hitter, but it was clear that Florida's pitching strategy was to throw in on her, and if they were to miss, to miss on her rather than give her a chance to do damage with the bat.

Williams' Red Raider teammates responded with fury, where reserve catcher Victoria Valdez & Co. were called for an unsportsmanlike conduct warning as they began chirping to the Florida players and fans in attendance.

Williams was appreciative of the support of her team amid the controversy.

"I just told my team coming into this weekend, that they need to have my back, especially this weekend. Every other weekend they had my back, but this one especially they needed to have it, and they did today...

"They always had my back. They're like my sisters, and I'll love them forever."

Mia's father is 14-year NBA veteran Jason Williams, or "White Chocolate" as he's known affectionately by hoop heads. He was involved in the rivalry, too.

Jason Williams, a Florida Men's Basketball legend, was momentarily escorted away from the facility during Saturday's Game 2 after a reported verbal altercation in the stands.

On Sunday, he returned to watch his daughter make an impact. He congratulated the Texas Tech team on the field and appeared to give a spirited speech as the team now prepares for the Women's College World Series.

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In the end, Williams let her play do the talking.

The Windemere, Florida native hit 3-7 on the weekend, and got on base at will, via the five HBPs and one walk. She scored three runs and accounted for five total runs batted in.

None were bigger than her two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning of Friday's Game 1 that proved to be the game-winning hit.

On Sunday, she hit her second homer of the series, a two-run shot to center to retake the lead for Texas Tech at 5-4. The Red Raiders would not give up the lead from that moment on.

"When they did pitch to her," Glasco said, "she took the challenge and hit it out. Like, she won every battle that was thrown her way today."

Florida was hosting its third straight Super Regional, but could not return to Oklahoma City this year as Tech finished off the 16-7 run-rule win.

Going into the bottom of the fifth inning, Gators head coach Tim Walton was ejected from the game for arguing balls and strikes.

Moments later, the Red Raiders got the final out, and the Florida team chose not to partake in the postgame handshake.

Call it what you will on either side. The rivalry had obviously escalated to a boiling point.

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For Mia Williams, it was a picturesque way to advance to the NCAA tournament's final destination.

Texas Tech now faces unseeded Mississippi State, who mounted the upset of the tournament by shutting out the Oklahoma Sooners 6-0 in Sunday's winner-take-all in Norman.

The Red Raiders will face the Bulldogs at 11 a.m. CT in Oklahoma City on Thursday, May 28 live on ESPN.