2018 NCAA Division I softball tournament


The 2018 NCAA Division I softball tournament was held from May 18 through June 6, 2018 as the final part of the 2018 NCAA Division I softball season. Thirty-two teams were awarded automatic bids as champions of their conferences, and the remaining 32 were selected at-large by the NCAA Division I softball selection committee. The tournament culminated with eight teams playing in the 2018 Women's College World Series at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. This was the first year since the 2010 Women's College World Series that neither the Florida Gators nor the Oklahoma Sooners made the Championship Series. The Florida State Seminoles played in their first Women's College World Series Championship Series and became the first ACC team to make the Championship Series. The Washington Huskies made their fourth appearance in the Championship Series.

Automatic bids

The Big West, Mountain West, Pac-12, and West Coast Conference bids were awarded to the regular-season champion. All other conferences have the automatic bid go to the conference tournament winner.
ConferenceSchoolBest finishReference
America EastAlbanyRegionals
AmericanTulsaRegionals
ACCFlorida StateWCWS
A-10FordhamRegionals
ASUNKennesaw State1st Appearance
Big 12Oklahoma1st
Big EastDePaulWCWS
Big SkySacramento StateRegionals
Big SouthLibertyRegionals
Big TenMinnesotaWCWS
Big WestCal State Fullerton1st
ColonialHofstraSuper Regionals
Conference USAMiddle TennesseeRegionals
Horizon LeagueUICWCWS
Ivy LeagueHarvardRegionals
MACOhioRegionals
MAACMonmouth1st Appearance
MEACBethune–CookmanSuper Regionals
MVCDrakeRegionals
Mountain WestBoise State1st Appearance
NortheasternSaint Francis (PA)Regionals
OVCJacksonville StateSuper Regionals
Pac-12Oregon3rd
Patriot LeagueBoston UniversityRegionals
SECFlorida1st
SoConUNCGRegionals
SouthlandMcNeese StateRegionals
SWACPrairie View A&M1st Appearance
Summit LeagueNorth Dakota StateSuper Regionals
Sun BeltTexas StateRegionals
WACNew Mexico StateRegionals
WCCBYUSuper Regionals

National seeds

16 National Seeds were announced on the Selection Show Sunday, May 13 at 10 p.m. EDT on ESPN2. The 16 national seeds host the Regionals. Teams in italics advanced to Super Regionals. Teams in bold advance to Women's College World Series.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. Washington
6. [2018 Florida Gators softball|Florida State Seminoles softball team|Florida State]
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12. Alabama
13.
14.
15.
''16. ''

Regionals and Super Regionals

The Regionals took place May 17–20, 2018. One regional- Eugene, Oregon, took place May 17–19, 2018, because of BYU's no-Sunday-play policy; all other regionals occurred May 18–20, 2018. The Super Regionals took place from May 24–27, 2018.

Women's College World Series

The Women's College World Series was held May 31 through June 6, 2018, in Oklahoma City.

Participants

† = ''From NCAA Division I Softball Championship Results''

Bracket


All-tournament Team

The following players were members of the Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team.
PositionPlayerSchool
PRachel GarciaUCLA
PPaige ParkerOklahoma
PGabbie PlainWashington
CTaylor PackUCLA
CAnna ShelnuttFlorida State
2BSydney SherrillFlorida State
3B &Jessie Warren Florida State
SSSis BatesWashington
OFBubba NicklesUCLA
OFTrysten MelhartWashington
UJocelyn AloOklahoma
UMeghan KingFlorida State
UElizabeth MasonFlorida State

Championship Game

SchoolTop BatterStats.
Florida State SeminolesElizabeth Mason 2-3 3RBIs HR K
Washington HuskiesNoelle Hee 1-2 RBI

SchoolPitcherIPHRERBBSOABBF
Florida State SeminolesMeghan King 7.0531042528
Washington HuskiesTaran Alvelo 3.1776141618
Washington HuskiesGabbie Plain2.2211211011

Record by conference

The columns RF, SR, WS, NS, F, and NC respectively stand for the Regional Finals, Super Regionals, College World Series Teams, National Semi-Finals, Finals, and National Champion.

Media coverage

Radio

Westwood One provided nationwide radio coverage of the championship series. It was streamed online at westwoodsports.com, through TuneIn, and on SiriusXM. John Sadak made his softball radio debut and joined returning analyst Leah Amico for Westwood One.

Television

ESPN holds exclusive rights to the tournament. They aired games across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, and ESPN3. For the second time in the history of the women's softball tournament ESPN covered every regional.

Broadcast assignments

Regionals
Super Regionals
Women's College World Series
Regionals
Super Regionals
Women's College World Series Finals
  • Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Michele Smith, & Holly Rowe
  • Adam Amin, Amanda Scarborough,, & Laura Rutledge