The NCAA Division I softball tournament field has been announced, and once again the ultimate destination is Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series.
The 64-team bracket was unveiled Sunday night, with four-team regionals at 16 sites set to get underway later this week. Those 16 regional winners will advance to the super regionals, and those eight best-of-three series winners will move on to OKC. The event has been dominated by a certain program in recent years — more on that below —but this year’s tournament figures to be more wide open with numerous title contenders. Whether you’re new to the sport or a long-time follower, here’s what you need to know about the 2024 field.
Who are the top teams?
Oklahoma will be going for its fourth consecutive national title. The Sooners enter on a bit of a roll having won the Big 12 tournament, but they haven’t been as dominant this season. Fellow league members Texas and Oklahoma State should also be in the hunt. The SEC also has its share of high seeds, including league tournament champ Florida and perennial powers Tennessee and LSU, while UCLA and Stanford lead the west-coast candidates. If you’re looking for a possible newcomer to the WCWS, watch out for ACC champ Duke, hoping to reach Oklahoma City for the first time after superregional appearances the last two seasons.
Who are the top players?
Texas catcher Reese Atwood is one of the nation’s most dangerous sluggers, earning Big 12 player of the year honors mashing 21 homers and driving in a school record 86 runs. Oklahoma lost some star power from its recent title teams but still has Tiare Jennings (19 HR, 56 RBI). If you like pitching, Tennessee’s duo of Payton Gottshall and Carlyn Pickens, Oklahoma State ace Lexi Kilfoyl and Duke stopper Jala Wright are names to know.
NCAA softball tournament bracket, schedule
Regionals
At Austin, Texas
Friday, May 17
Game 1: No. 1 Texas (47-7) vs. Siena (33-20), 4 p.m.
Game 2: Saint Francis (Pa.) (40-12) vs. Northwestern (33-11), 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD, if necessary
At Norman, Okla.
Friday, May 17
Game 1: Boston University (52-4-1) vs. Oregon (28-19). 5:30 p.m.
Game 2: No. 2 Oklahoma (49-6) vs. Cleveland State (22-24), 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 5:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD, if necessary
At Knoxville, Tenn.
Friday, May 17
Game 1: Miami (Ohio) (48-7) vs. Virginia (32-18), noon
Game 2: No. 3 Tennessee (40-10) vs. Dayton (33-19), 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD, if necessary
At Gainesville, Fla.
Friday, May 17
Game 1: No. 4 Florida (46-12) vs. Florida Gulf Coast (37-19), noon
Game 2: Florida Atlantic (41-14) vs. South Alabama (32-18-1), 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD, if necessary
At Stillwater, Okla.
Friday, May 17
Game 1: Michigan (41-16) vs. Kentucky (30-22), 3 p.m.
Game 2: No. 5 Oklahoma State (44-10) vs. Northern Colorado (27-24), 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD, if necessary
At Los Angeles
Friday, May 17
Game 1: San Diego State (31-18) vs. Virginia Tech (39-12-1), 6 p.m.
Game 2: No. 6 UCLA (37-10) vs. Grand Canyon (48-11), 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 7:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 10 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD, if necessary
At Columbia, Mo.
Friday, May 17
Game 1: Indiana (40-18) vs. Washington (31-13), 3 p.m.
Game 2: No. 7 Missouri (43-15) vs. Nebraska-Omaha (41-13), 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 5:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD, if necessary
At Stanford, Calif.
Friday, May 17
Game 1: Cal State Fullerton (36-17) vs. Mississippi State (33-18), 7:30 p.m.
Game 2: No. 8 Stanford (43-13) vs. Saint Mary’s (30-22), 10 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 7:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 10 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD, if necessary
At Baton Rouge, La.
Friday, May 17
Game 1: Southern Illinois (42-9) vs. California (36-17), 3:30 p.m.
Game 2: No. 9 LSU (40-15) vs. Jackson State (33-17), 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD, if necessary
At Durham, N.C.
Friday, May 17
Game 1: Utah (34-20) vs. South Carolina (34-23), noon
Game 2: No. 10 Duke (47-6) vs. Morgan State (35-18) 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 11 a.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD, if necessary
At Athens, Ga.
Friday, May 17
Game 1: Liberty (36-23) vs. Charlotte (38-16), 3 p.m.
Game 2: No. 11 Georgia (39-16) vs. UNC Wilmington (33-21), 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD, if necessary
At Fayetteville, Ark.
Friday, May 17
Game 1: Villanova (31-22) vs. Arizona (34-16-1), 6 p.m.
Game 2: No. 12 Arkansas (36-16) vs. Southeast Missouri State (28-24), 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 5:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD, if necessary
At Lafayette. La.
Friday, May 17
Game 1: No. 13 Louisiana-Lafayette (42-17) vs. Princeton (29-16), 5:30 p.m.
Game 2: Mississippi (31-25) vs. Baylor (32-20), 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD, if necessary
At Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Friday, May 17
Game 1: Southeastern Louisiana (45-13) vs. Clemson (34-17), 2 p.m.
Game 2: No. 14 Alabama (33-17) vs. USC Upstate (30-21), 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 5:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD, if necessary
At Tallahassee, Fla.
Friday, May 17
Game 1: Auburn (27-19-1) vs. Central Florida (30-23), 2 p.m.
Game 2: No. 15 Florida State (43-14) vs. Chattanooga (42-14), 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 5:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD, if necessary
At College Station, Texas
Friday, May 17
Game 1: Penn State (33-18) vs. Texas State (45-13), 4 p.m.
Game 2: No. 16 Texas A&M (40-13) vs. Albany (33-12), 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 5:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBD, if necessary
Super regionals (May 23-25 or May 24-26)
Women’s College World Series (May 30-June 6/7)
Women’s College World Series bracket, schedule
At Devon Park, Oklahoma City (all times Eastern).
Thursday, May 30
Game 1: TBD vs. TBD, noon, ESPN
Game 2: TBD vs. TBD, 2:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 3: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Game 4: TBD vs. TBD, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2
Friday, May 31
Game 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Game 6: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2
Saturday, June 1
Game 7: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 3 p.m., ABC
Game 8: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7 p.m., ESPN
Sunday, June 2
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 3 p.m., ABC
Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser, 7 p.m., ESPNU
Monday, June 3
Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, noon, ESPN
Game 12: Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 2:30 p.m., ESPN, if necessary
Game 13: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Game 14: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2, if necessary
Wednesday, June 5
Championship series Game 1: TBD vs. TBD, 8 p.m., ESPN
Thursday, June 6
Championship series Game 2: TBD vs. TBD, 8 p.m., ESPN
Friday, June 7
Championship series Game 3: TBD vs TBD, 8 p.m., ESPN, if necessary
Christine Lake is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. With an extensive background in sports journalism, he covers everything from major league championships to grassroots sports events. When she’s not on the field or at the stadium, you’ll find Christine coaching youth sports teams.
