Home / Sports / Softball Feud Erupts on Twitter: Transferred Player's Dad Slams Coach
Softball Feud Erupts on Twitter: Transferred Player's Dad Slams Coach
2 Jun
Summary
- Father of a transferred player allegedly attacked coach and reporter online.
- Dispute stems from a postgame handshake in the College World Series.
- Allegations of tampering and dishonest reporting fueled the online conflict.
A heated college softball dispute has spilled onto the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. The father of Texas Tech player Taylor Pannell allegedly launched attacks against Tennessee coach Karen Weekly and a reporter. This online drama follows a controversial postgame handshake after Tennessee's victory over Texas Tech in the College World Series on Saturday, June 1, 2026.
Taylor Pannell transferred to Texas Tech from Tennessee last offseason. She claimed her former coach, Karen Weekly, made a critical remark during the handshake line. The player's father, Brandon Pannell, allegedly responded with deleted posts on X, criticizing Weekly and referencing financial matters. He also reportedly sent a critical direct message to reporter Maren Angus-Coombs, which was later removed from the platform.
The animosity between the Pannell family and the Tennessee program dates back to Taylor's departure. Last year, Weekly posted about "tampering" after Taylor announced her commitment to Texas Tech, suggesting unethical recruitment tactics. The current conflict reignited after the teams met in the College World Series, with Taylor alleging Weekly deviated from a standard 'good game' exchange.
