NCAA Division I softball tournament


The NCAA Division I softball tournament is held annually in May/June and features 64 college softball teams in the United States, culminating in the Women's College World Series, which is played in Oklahoma City.

Tournament play and team selection

The tournament is different from many college tournaments in that it features four tiers of competition and a loss does not necessarily eliminate a team from contention. In fact, throughout the entire tournament a team can lose as many as four games and still be crowned champions.
A total of 64 teams compete in the tournament. 32 teams gain automatic entry into the tournament while the other 32 are selected by the Division I Softball committee. From this field of 64, 16 teams will be given "national seeds" and placed at one of the assigned regional sites, often the home field of each national seed.
The first round of the tournament, called "regionals", consists of 16 locations that include four teams competing in a double elimination bracket. The winner of each regional moves on to the second round, the "super regionals."
For the super regionals, the regional containing overall #1 seed will be matched up with the regional containing the overall #16 seed, the #2 seed regional will be matched up with the #15 seed regional, and so on. The higher seed of the two teams usually hosts the best-of-three series, with the winner moving on to the Women's College World Series.
The final eight teams meet at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City in the Women's College World Series. The WCWS is further divided into two sections. The first part resembles the regional round, as teams are broken in two groups of four to play in a double-elimination bracket. The winners of each bracket then meet in a championship series similar to the super regional tier in that it is a best-of-three series. The winner of the WCWS is crowned national champion.

Team titles

TeamNo.Years
[UCLA Bruins softball|]121982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992,, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2019
[Arizona Wildcats softball|]81991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2007
'82000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
[Florida Gators softball|]22014, 2015
'22008, 2011
[Texas A&M Aggies softball|]21983, 1987
[Texas Longhorns softball|]12025
'12018
[Alabama Crimson Tide softball|]12012
'12009
'12005
'12002
[Fresno State Bulldogs softball|]11998
11986

Appearances by team

Total columns
  • School refers to the current name and branding of the softball team.
  • Conference shows where the school as of the 2024 season.
  • Total appearances in the NCAA Tournament, not counting vacated appearances.
  • Finished in the top 16 of the tournament: top 2 in a Regional or won a Regional.
  • Total appearances in the College World Series
  • National Championships
Table entries
  • National Champion
  • National Runner-up
  • Played in the College World Series with the given placement. All World Series have had 2 teams finish in 5th and two teams finish in 7th. Since 1995, all have had 2 teams finish in 3rd, but before then, some years would have separate 3rd and 4th place teams, depending on how the bracket played out.
1982 to 2004
  • Regional tournaments consisted of 2 to 8 teams in double elimination brackets. Depending on how the tournament played out, there could be two teams tying for 3rd, 5th, or 7th place.
  • 2nd place in Regional tournament
  • 3rd place in Regional tournament
  • 4th place in Regional tournament
  • 5th or 6th place in Regional tournament
  • 7th or 8th place in Regional tournament
2005 to present
  • All regional tournaments consist of 4-team double elimination brackets, with distinct placements for every team. The 16 Regional winners faced off in Super Regionals, with 8 winners advancing to the College World Series.
  • Lost in the Super Regionals
  • 2nd place in Regional tournament
  • 3rd place in Regional tournament
  • 4th place in Regional tournament
Starting in 2003, the NCAA seeded the top 8 teams, which are shown in. Starting in 2005, the next 8 seeds are shown with. These seeded teams are not always the host of the Regional, but in recent years, the list of hosts aligns very closely to the list of top seeds.
SchoolConference#16WSCH[1982 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1983 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1984 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1985 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1986 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1987 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1988 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1989 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1990 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1991 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1992 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1993 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1994 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1995 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1996 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1997 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1998 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][1999 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2000 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2001 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2002 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2003 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2004 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2005 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2006 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2007 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2008 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2009 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2010 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2011 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2012 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2013 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2014 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2015 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2016 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2017 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2018 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2019 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2021 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2022 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2023 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2024 NCAA Division I softball tournament|][2025 NCAA Division I softball tournament|]
SchoolConference
[UCLA Bruins softball|]Big Ten40353312'3'''''''''3'3''''5'''335'2•25753'53•55
[Arizona Wildcats softball|]Big 12383525822337''''''''53''335''77'35752
'SEC312718822232◦'5755237''5''3'''''3
[Florida Gators softball|]SEC2516132•3•◦◦•33'5'25'''575237
'Big 1232201223272222337233•357'5'372223723•
[Texas A&M Aggies softball|]SEC351882''2''5322••◦22◦37'3222227•3222
'Big Ten312415132'33'5235732'7323'32533
[Alabama Crimson Tide softball|]SEC2622151◦53◦7257333''5733275
'ACC372412127333577•22•223◦52•3332373''2'
'ACC362412123222225233523375'''735323223232
'Big Ten3021121227755◦2777'525'52322223
[Fresno State Bulldogs softball|]Mountain West3419121'25225'''3325223'52◦•3◦2232223•333
[Texas Longhorns softball|]SEC2512817◦••33523233323323''
'Big West3218613'23'32222222523◦22•23•3222•332
[Oklahoma State Cowgirls softball|]Big 12271812-722332243322332237223553572
[Tennessee Lady Volunteers softball|]SEC23149-◦◦•33'22327'723233
'Big Ten25167-53223322222537352225
'Big Ten27137-5335332522353232•33273232
[Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball|]Sun Belt33196-232325522•2•7232•5227222222
'SEC27156-2757••2◦◦227752•2223
'SEC26156-23232◦32232522335•23
[Northwestern Wildcats softball|]Big Ten23116-35723◦•'3•22•323723
[Georgia Bulldogs softball|]SEC23155-3•222332527272
'Big West2685-522254573333◦◦3•33333333••
[Stanford Cardinal softball|]ACC22114-2◦◦33◦3232232332
[Utah Utes softball|]Big 1217104-272725•32◦◦2273
'D28'84-22742235
[DePaul Blue Demons softball|]Big East2174-••2237323◦75223232••3
'Big 121674-32533232272•3
'Big Ten1664-323335337•2◦2•2•
[South Carolina Gamecocks softball|]SEC25103-2427332733◦23◦23322222
[Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters softball|]CUSA1173-5277222•233
[UMass Minutewomen softball|]Atlantic 102163-2323•3773◦333◦•222••
'D26'63-255272
[UNLV Rebels softball|]Mountain West953-573223•3•
[Oregon State Beavers softball|]West Coast1562-22•32227223••27
[Creighton Bluejays softball|]Big East1252-75222◦◦3•3••
[Cal State Northridge Matadors softball|]Big West1442-25'23•••◦•◦•••
'Big Ten1042-723233•2•3
'SEC2032-◦◦323333•23'32•3222
'Ivy League1222-377◦◦3•••••3
'Sun Belt422-73◦◦
'SEC1681-233522332
'West Coast1371-252222•2◦◦•2•
'MAC1461-22252•32◦3••◦•
[Kansas Jayhawks softball|]Big 121261-222723233232
[Hawaii Rainbow Wahine softball|]Big West1151-2232◦325•2
[South Florida Bulls softball|]American1841-3322◦32•722333233
[UConn Huskies softball|]Big East941-233252•◦•
'Big Ten1731-33•233◦322227233
[Virginia Tech Hokies softball|]ACC1431-3337223•2232
'Sun Belt931-•333233
[Ole Miss Rebels softball|]SEC931-22222•7
[Duke Blue Devils softball|]ACC531-272
[Texas Tech Red Raiders softball|]Big 12721-2•2232'
'MAC421-52◦•
'Mountain West421-7332
[UIC Flames softball|]Missouri Valley1211-73333◦◦3•3••
'MAC411-7323
'MAC311-73•
[Northern Illinois Huskies softball|]MAC211-73
[Arkansas Razorbacks softball|]SEC144--•33•22••23
'ACC273--32••◦22•◦22332232•222323233
[Ohio State Buckeyes softball|]Big Ten133--22◦3223•2332
[Clemson Tigers softball|]ACC53--23
'CAA182--33◦◦◦•2233222333•
[San Diego State Aztecs softball|]Mountain West152--2◦23•3223322•3
'ACC132--2•322332333•
[Penn State Nittany Lions softball|]Big Ten112--22•••◦22•23
[Houston Cougars softball|]Big 1292--◦233332
[Michigan State Spartans softball|]Big Ten42--322•
[Mississippi State Bulldogs softball|]SEC191--3◦◦◦233••333•22232
[BYU Cougars softball|]Big 12171--◦3322322•3332332
[Boston University Terriers softball|]Patriot141--2◦◦2333••••33•
[Texas State Bobcats softball|]Sun Belt121--◦323•3333332
'Big 12121--323•2222332
[Southern Illinois Salukis softball|]Missouri Valley111--323333•3••2
'SWAC101--◦◦◦◦•••••
'Summit101--••332333•
[Illinois State Redbirds softball|]Missouri Valley91--23••32•32
[Jacksonville State Gamecocks softball|]CUSA91--•2•3•232
[Liberty Lady Flames softball|]CUSA81--◦•22322
'Big Ten81--◦2•2323•
[Missouri State Lady Bears softball|]Missouri Valley71--2••3•33
'American71--2•32233
[NC State Wolfpack softball|]ACC51--3322
'American51--33•3
'MAC41--233◦
'Mountain West41--32•3
[Maryland Terrapins softball|]Big Ten41--233•
'Missouri Valley31--233
[Nicholls Colonels softball|]Southland31--32•
'Mountain West31--2◦3
[Rutgers Scarlet Knights softball|]Big Ten21--2•
'defunct1'1--2
[New Mexico Lobos softball|]Mountain West11--2
'Atlantic 1011--2
'ACC16---•◦◦2•3•22233322•
[Louisville Cardinals softball|]ACC15---◦323332223•••23
'Southern13---•◦3◦◦••2•••3
[Florida Atlantic Owls softball|]American11---3◦3•••223•3
[Lehigh Mountain Hawks softball|]Patriot11---◦◦•232••3•3
[Tulsa Golden Hurricane softball|]American11---••223•2•232
[LIU Sharks softball|]NEC10---•◦◦•3•2•••
'Atlantic 1010---233•2•3•••
'MAAC9---3•◦◦••3••
'Southland9---•3•333322
[Wisconsin Badgers softball|]Big Ten9---3◦•222322
[Miami RedHawks softball|]MAC9---•333•3233
[Harvard Crimson softball|]Ivy League8---3◦••2•••
[Florida A&M Lady Rattlers softball|]SWAC8---◦•3•••••
[Mississippi Valley State Devilettes softball|]SWAC8---•••••3••
'America East8---••2•3•••
[USC Upstate Spartans|]Big South7---33333••
[Saint Francis Red Flash softball|]NEC7---3••••3•
'CAA6---•3•3•3
[Coastal Carolina Chanticleers softball|]Sun Belt6---•3◦•33
'America East6---◦◦••••
'Big Sky6---3••3••
[South Alabama Jaguars softball|]Sun Belt6---222232
[Northwestern State Lady Demons softball|]Southland5---•◦◦••
[Cornell Big Red softball|]Ivy League5---◦◦◦••
[Marist Red Foxes softball|]MAAC5---••••3
'Big South5---•322•
[Weber State Wildcats softball|]Big Sky5---••3•3
'Ohio Valley4---3◦◦3
'Big Sky4---3•••
'Missouri Valley4---••23
'Southern4---••••
'American4---◦322
[Seton Hall Pirates softball|]Big East4---◦•3•
'Horizon4---◦◦••
[Wright State Raiders softball|]defunct4---◦••3
'Big West4---◦••2
[Loyola Marymount Lions softball|]West Coast4---•233
'Ohio Valley4---••23
'MAAC4---••••
[New Mexico State Aggies softball|]CUSA4---33••
[Grand Canyon Antelopes softball|]WAC4---•323
'America East3---•◦•
[Ohio Bobcats softball|]MAC3---••2
'ACC3---3••
[Cleveland State Vikings softball|]Horizon3---•••
[Ball State Cardinals softball|]MAC3---••3
[Colgate Raiders softball|]Patriot3---◦◦•
[Southeast Missouri State Redhawks softball|]Ohio Valley3---•3•
'Patriot3---◦◦•
[Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders softball|]CUSA3---◦•2
[Eastern Kentucky Colonels softball|]ASUN3---•◦•
'CUSA3---◦23
'Southland3---◦◦3
'Sun Belt3---3•3
[Nevada Wolf Pack softball|]Mountain West3---•23
[Southern Utah Thunderbirds softball|]WAC3---•3•
[Howard Lady Bison softball|]MEAC3---•••
'ASUN3---223
'ACC3---•32
[Virginia Cavaliers softball|]ACC3---323
[Jackson State Tigers softball|]SWAC3---•••
'Missouri Valley3---•3•
[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers softball|]CUSA3---223
Southern Tigers softball|]SWAC3---•••
'SWAC3---•••
'SWAC3---•••
'Big East3---3•2
[Omaha Mavericks softball|]Summit3---323
'Big 122---32
[Georgia State Panthers softball|]Sun Belt2---••
[Troy Trojans softball|]Sun Belt2---•3
[Brown Bears softball|]Ivy League2---••
[Rider Broncs softball|]MAAC2---•◦
[Manhattan Jaspers softball|]MAAC2---◦•
'SWAC2---◦◦
[Centenary Gentlemen and Ladies|]D32---◦•
[UTSA Roadrunners softball|]American2---◦•
[Green Bay Phoenix softball|]Horizon2---3•
[Robert Morris Colonials softball|]Horizon2---••
'Big West2---•2
[Sam Houston Bearkats softball|]CUSA2---33
[Stetson Hatters softball|]ASUN2---•3
'Big South2---2•
'Big Ten2---32
[Stony Brook Seawolves softball|]CAA2---••
[Bradley Braves softball|]Missouri Valley2---3•
[Radford Highlanders softball|]Big South2---32
[Sacred Heart Pioneers softball|]MAAC2---3•
'Ohio Valley2---••
[Elon Phoenix softball|]CAA2---••
[Saint Mary's Gaels softball|]West Coast2---••
[Florida Gulf Coast Eagles softball|]ASUN2---33
'NEC2---3•
[Marshall Thundering Herd softball|]Sun Belt2---33
[Dartmouth Big Green softball|]Ivy League2---••
[Binghamton Bearcats softball|]America East2---••
[Central Arkansas Sugar Bears softball|]ASUN2---•3
[Fairfield Stags softball|]MAAC2---••
[Boise State Broncos softball|]Mountain West2---•2
'CUSA2---•3
'CAA2---••
[Seattle Redhawks softball|]WAC2---33
[Morgan State Bears softball|]MEAC2---••
'Summit2---33
'CAA2---••
[Charlotte 49ers softball|]American2---23
[Eastern Illinois Panthers softball|]Ohio Valley2---••
'Big Sky2---••
'Southland2---22
'Big East1---3
'Sun Belt1---3
'MAAC1---•
[Saint Peter's Peacocks softball|]MAAC1---◦
'Missouri Valley1---◦
[UT Arlington Mavericks softball|]WAC1---3
'CAA1---2
[Youngstown State Penguins softball|]Horizon1---•
[Eastern Michigan Eagles softball|]defunct''1---•
[Furman Paladins softball|]Southern1---•
[Delaware State Hornets softball|]MEAC1---•
[Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks softball|]Southland1---•
[Alcorn State Lady Braves softball|]SWAC1---•
[Bucknell Bison softball|]Patriot1---•
'Big West1---•
'ASUN1---3
[Memphis Tigers softball|]American1---3
[Hampton Lady Pirates softball|]CAA1---•
[Penn Quakers softball|]Ivy League1---•
'Horizon1---•
'America East1---•
'Big South1---•
[SIU Edwardsville Cougars|]Ohio Valley1---•
[Utah Valley Wolverines softball|]WAC1---•
'Missouri Valley1---3
'ACC1---2
[St. John's Red Storm softball|]Big East1---•
[Butler Bulldogs softball|]Big East1---•
'Big West1---•
[Samford Bulldogs softball|]Southern1---•
'Southern1---•
[Montana Grizzlies softball|]Big Sky1---•
[Detroit Mercy Titans softball|]Horizon1---•
'Atlantic 101---•
'Missouri Valley1---•
[North Texas Mean Green softball|]American1---2
'Atlantic 101---•
[North Carolina Central Eagles softball|]MEAC1---•
'Horizon1---•
[Dayton Flyers softball|]Atlantic 101---•
[Siena Saints softball|]MAAC1---•
[Belmont Bruins softball|]1---3
'Southern1---2
'ASUN1---2
'Atlantic 101---•
[Santa Clara Broncos softball|]WCC1---•