2018 National Pro Fastpitch season
The 2018 National Pro Fastpitch season was the 15th season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch for the only professional women's softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch and Women's Pro Softball League. Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.
Milestones and events
On October 12, 2017, it was reported the Texas Charge would be dissolving, effective immediately. The NPF did not make an announcement regarding the Charge, but all Charge players under contract were added to the league's transactions page as free agents.In an arrangement similar to the Beijing Eagles', NPF announced in December 2017 that Softball Australia would be operating a 2018 expansion team, the Aussie Spirit.
On January 28, 2018, the Scrap Yard Dawgs announced via press release they would no longer be affiliated with the NPF. They indicated they would continue as an independent team.
On the same day, Ohio.com reported that the Akron Racers would be replaced by a Chinese team, similar to the Beijing Eagles.
Player acquisition
College draft
The 2018 NPF College Draft will be the 13th annual collegiate draft for NPF.Notable transactions
- Head Coaching Changes
- * The Bandits announced that coach Sharonda McDonald would not be returning for the 2018 season. On September 19, they announced that their new coach would be Olympian medalist and NCAA champion Stacey Nuveman Deniz. Nuveman Deniz held the NCAA home run record of 90 from 2002 to 2015, when Lauren Chamberlain broke it. She played in the NPF for the Arizona Heat in 2005.
League standings
| Team | GP | W | L | Pct. | GB |
| USSSA Pride | 47 | 42 | 5 | .894 | - |
| Chicago Bandits | 47 | 37 | 10 | .787 | 5 |
| Aussie Spirit | 48 | 16 | 32 | .333 | 26.5 |
| Beijing Shougang Eagles | 46 | 13 | 33 | .283 | 28.5 |
| Cleveland Comets | 48 | 10 | 38 | .208 | 32.5 |
Game log
| Date | Time | Visitor | Home | Venue | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Player of the Game | Attendance |
| Date | Time | Visitor | Home | Venue | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Player of the Game | Attendance |
| Date | Time | Visitor | Home | Venue | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Player of the Game | Attendance |
NPF Championship
Championship Game
| Team | Top Batter | Stats. |
| USSSA Pride | Chelsea Goodacre & Hallie Wilson | 1-1 RBI 2B |
| Chicago Bandits | Brenna Moss | 3-4 |
| Team | Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| USSSA Pride | Jessica Burroughs | 4.1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| USSSA Pride | Delanie Gourley | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| USSSA Pride | Jolene Henderson | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Chicago Bandits | Aleshia Ocasio | 3.0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Chicago Bandits | Rachele Fico | 1.1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Chicago Bandits | Ally Carda | 0.1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Chicago Bandits | Danielle O'Toole | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Chicago Bandits | Shelby Turnier | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |