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NCAA Division I softball tournament
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023 NCAA Division I softball tournament
Sport College softball
Founded1982
No. of teams64
Most recent
champion(s)
Oklahoma (7)
Most titles UCLA (12)
TV partner(s) ESPN
ESPN2
Official website NCAA.com

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 (WCWS), 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. [1]

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

NCAA Division I softball tournament is located in the United States
឴឴឵UCLA
឴឴឵UCLA
Arizona
Arizona
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Arizona State
Arizona State
Florida
Florida
Texas A&M
Texas
A&M
Alabama
Alabama
Cal State Fullerton
Cal State Fullerton
California
California
Florida State
Florida
State
Fresno State
Fresno
State
Michigan
Michigan
Washington
Washington
Schools that have won the NCAA Championship
12, 8, 7, 2, 1
Team No. Years
UCLA 12 1982 , 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2019
Arizona 8 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2007
Oklahoma 7 2000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023
Florida 2 2014, 2015
Arizona State 2008, 2011
Texas A&M 1983, 1987
Florida State 1 2018
Alabama 2012
Washington 2009
Michigan 2005
California 2002
Fresno State 1998
Cal State Fullerton 1986

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.
  •  16  Finished in the top 16 of the tournament: top 2 in a Regional (1982 through 2004) or won a Regional (2005 to present).
  •  WS  Total appearances in the College World Series
  •  CH  National Championships

Table Entries

  •  CH  National Champion
  •  RU  National Runner-up
  •  W3   W4   W5   W7  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.

Starting in 2003, the NCAA seeded the top 8 teams, which are shown in double underline. Starting in 2005, the next 8 seeds are shown with single underline. 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.

School Conference
(as of 2024)
# 16 WS CH 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23
UCLA Pac-12 38 33 31 12 CH W3 CH CH RU CH CH CH RU CH RU W3 CH W3 RU CH RU RU W5 CH CH RU W3 R3 W5 SR CH R2 R R2 SR W5 W7 W5 W3 CH W5 W3 R
Arizona Pac-12 36 34 25 8 R2 R2 W3 W3 W7 CH RU CH CH RU CH CH RU W5 W3 CH RU W3 R3 W5 CH CH W7 W7 RU SR SR R3 SR SR SR SR SR W5 W7 W5
Oklahoma Big 12 29 25 16 7 R2 R2 R2 R3 R2 R CH W5 W7 W5 W5 SR R2 SR SR R3 SR W7 RU CH W5 SR CH CH W3 RU CH CH CH
Arizona State Pac-12 31 20 12 2 W3 R2 W7 R2 R2 R2 R2 R3 R3 W7 R2 R3 W3 R R3 W5 W7 CH W5 SR CH W3 W7 R2 R2 R2 R3 W7 R2 R3 SR
Florida SEC 23 14 11 2 R R3 R R R R R3 SR W3 RU W5 RU R2 W5 CH CH SR RU W5 W7 SR W5 R2
Texas A&M SEC 33 17 8 2 CH RU R2 RU CH W5 R3 R2 R2 R R R R2 R2 R SR R3 W7 RU R3 R2 SR R2 SR R2 R2 R2 W7 SR R R3 R2 R2
Washington Pac-12 29 24 15 1 R3 R2 RU W3 W3 RU W5 R2 R3 W5 W7 SR SR W3 R2 CH W7 SR SR W3 SR R2 SR W3 RU W3 SR R2 W5
Alabama SEC 24 20 14 1 R W5 R3 R W7 R2 W5 W7 SR W3 W3 SR W3 CH SR RU W5 W7 SR SR W3 W3 R2 W7
California Pac-12 34 24 12 1 R2 W3 R2 R2 R2 R2 R2 W5 R2 R3 R3 W5 R2 R3 W3 W7 W5 CH RU RU W7 SR R3 SR SR SR W5 W3 R2 R3 R2 R2 R3 R2
Florida State ACC 35 22 12 1 R2 W7 R3 R3 W3 W5 W7 W7 R R2 R2 R R2 R2 W3 R W5 R2 SR R R3 R3 R3 R2 R3 SR W7 SR W3 SR CH SR RU R2 RU
Michigan Big Ten 28 21 12 1 R2 R2 W7 W7 W5 W5 R R2 W7 W7 W7 CH SR SR SR W5 SR R2 SR W5 SR RU W5 R2 R3 R2 R2 R2
Fresno State Mountain West 34 19 12 1 RU R2 W5 R2 R2 W5 RU RU RU W3 W3 R2 W5 R2 R2 W3 CH W5 R2 R R R3 R R2 R2 R3 R2 R2 R2 R3 R R3 R3 R3
Cal State Fullerton Big West 31 18 6 1 W3 RU R2 W3 CH W3 R2 R2 R2 R2 R2 R2 R2 W5 R2 R3 R R2 R2 R R2 R3 SR R R3 R2 R2 R2 R R3 R3
Oklahoma State Big 12 25 17 11 - W7 R2 R2 W3 W3 R2 R2 W4 W3 R3 R2 R2 W3 R3 R2 R2 R3 W7 R2 R2 R3 W5 W5 W3 W5
Tennessee SEC 21 12 8 - R R R W3 W3 RU R2 R2 W3 R2 W7 RU SR W7 R2 SR SR SR R3 R2 W3
Nebraska Big Ten 26 12 7 - W5 W3 RU W3 W5 R3 R3 R2 W5 R2 R2 R3 W5 R3 R2 R3 R2 R R3 R3 R2 W7 SR R3 R2 R3 R2
Louisiana Sun Belt 32 19 6 - R2 R3 R2 W3 R2 W5 W5 R2 R2 R R2 R W7 R2 R3 R2 R W5 R2 SR R2 SR SR W7 SR SR R2 R2 R2 R2 R2 SR
Oregon Pac-12 23 15 6 - W5 R3 R2 R2 R3 R3 R2 R2 R2 R2 R2 SR SR W5 SR W3 W7 SR W3 W5 R2 R2 SR
Missouri SEC 26 14 6 - R2 W7 W5 W7 R R R2 R R R2 R2 SR W7 W7 W5 SR SR R2 SR SR R R2 R2 SR R2 R3
LSU SEC 24 14 6 - R2 R3 R2 W3 R2 R W3 SR SR R2 R2 R3 R2 W5 R2 R2 W3 W3 W5 SR SR SR R R2
Northwestern Big Ten 21 11 6 - W3 W5 W7 R2 R3 R R SR RU W3 SR R R2 R2 R R3 R2 SR R3 W7 SR
Texas Big 12 23 10 6 - W7 R R R W3 W3 W5 R2 R3 R2 R3 R3 SR W3 R2 R3 R3 R2 R3 SR SR RU SR
Georgia SEC 21 13 5 - R3 R R2 SR R2 R2 SR W3 W3 SR SR R2 SR SR W5 R2 W7 R2 W7 R2 SR
Long Beach State Big West 26 8 5 - W5 R2 R2 R2 W5 W4 W5 W7 R3 R3 R3 R3 R R R3 R R3 R3 R3 R3 R3 R3 R3 R3 R R
Utah Pac-12 16 10 4 - R2 W7 R2 W7 R2 W5 R R3 R2 R R R2 R2 SR SR W7
Cal Poly Pomona D2 8 8 4 - R2 R2 W7 W4 R2 R2 W3 W5
DePaul Big East 21 7 4 - R R R2 R2 W3 W7 R3 R2 R3 R W7 W5 R2 R2 R3 R2 R3 R2 R R R3
Iowa Big Ten 16 6 4 - R3 R2 R3 W3 W3 W5 R3 R3 W7 R R2 R R2 R R2 R
Baylor Big 12 15 6 4 - R3 SR R2 W5 SR W3 R3 R2 W3 R2 R2 W7 R2 R R3
Stanford Pac-12 20 10 3 - R2 R R W3 R3 R W3 SR SR R2 SR SR R3 SR R2 R2 R3 R2 SR W3
South Carolina SEC 23 9 3 - R2 W4 R2 W7 R3 R3 R2 W7 R3 R3 R R2 R3 R SR R2 R3 R3 R2 R2 SR R2 R2
Louisiana Tech CUSA 11 7 3 - W5 R2 W7 W7 R2 R2 R2 R R2 R3 R3
UMass Atlantic 10 21 6 3 - R2 R3 R2 W3 R R3 W7 W7 R3 R R3 R3 R3 R R SR R2 R2 R2 R R
Adelphi D2 6 6 3 - R2 W5 W5 R2 W7 R2
UNLV Mountain West 9 5 3 - W5 W7 R3 R2 R2 W3 R R3 R
Oregon State Pac-12 15 6 2 - R2 R2 R R3 R2 R2 R2 W7 R2 R2 R3 R R R2 W7
Creighton Big East 12 5 2 - W7 W5 R2 R2 R2 R R R3 R R3 R R
Cal State Northridge Big West 14 4 2 - R2 W5 RU R2 R3 R R R R R R R R R
Indiana Big Ten 8 4 2 - W7 R2 W3 R2 R3 R3 R R2
Auburn SEC 18 3 2 - R R R3 R2 R3 R3 R3 R3 R R2 W3 RU SR R3 R2 R R3 R2
Princeton Ivy League 11 2 2 - R3 W7 W7 R R R3 R R R R R
Southern Miss Sun Belt 4 2 2 - W7 W3 R R
Kentucky SEC 14 8 1 - R2 R3 SR R3 SR W5 SR R2 SR SR SR SR R2 R3
Pacific West Coast 13 7 1 - R2 W5 R2 R2 R2 R2 R R2 R R R R2 R
Central Michigan Mid-American 14 6 1 - R2 R2 R2 W5 R2 R R3 R2 R R3 R R R R
Kansas Big 12 12 6 1 - R2 R2 R2 W7 R2 R3 R2 R3 R3 R2 R3 R2
Hawaii Mountain West 11 5 1 - R2 R2 R3 R2 R R3 SR R2 W5 R R2
South Florida American 17 4 1 - R3 R3 R2 R2 R R3 R2 SR R W7 R2 R2 R3 R3 R3 R2 R3
UConn Big East 8 4 1 - R2 R3 R3 R2 W5 R2 R R
Minnesota Big Ten 17 3 1 - R3 R3 R R2 R3 R3 R R3 SR R2 R2 R2 R2 W7 R2 R3 R3
Virginia Tech ACC 12 3 1 - R3 R3 R3 W7 R2 R2 R3 R R2 SR SR R2
James Madison Colonial 9 3 1 - R R3 R3 R3 SR R2 R3 SR W3
Western Michigan Mid-American 4 2 1 - W5 R2 R R
Utah State Mountain West 4 2 1 - W7 R3 R3 R2
UIC Horizon 12 1 1 - W7 R3 R3 R3 R3 R R R3 R R3 R R
Kent State Mid-American 4 1 1 - W7 R3 R2 R3
Toledo Mid-American 3 1 1 - W7 R3 R
Northern Illinois Mid-American 2 1 1 - W7 R3
Notre Dame ACC 27 3 - - R3 R2 R R R R2 R2 R R R2 R2 R3 R3 R2 R2 R3 R2 R R2 R2 R2 R3 R2 R3 R2 R3 R3
Ohio State Big Ten 12 3 - - R2 R2 R R3 R2 SR R2 R3 R R2 R3 R3
Arkansas SEC 12 3 - - R R3 R3 R R2 R2 R SR R SR SR R2
Hofstra Colonial 18 2 - - R3 R3 R R R R R2 R2 R3 R3 R2 R2 SR R2 R3 R3 R3 R
San Diego State Mountain West 13 2 - - R2 R R2 R3 R R3 R2 R2 R3 R3 R2 R2 SR
Georgia Tech ACC 12 2 - - R2 R R3 R2 R2 R3 R3 SR R2 R3 R3 R3
Penn State Big Ten 10 2 - - R2 R2 R R R R R2 R2 R R2
Houston Big 12 9 2 - - R R2 SR SR R3 R3 R3 R3 R2
Ole Miss SEC 7 2 - - R2 SR R2 SR R2 R2 R2
Michigan State Big Ten 4 2 - - R3 R2 R2 R
Clemson ACC 3 2 - - R2 SR SR
Duke ACC 3 2 - - R2 SR SR
Mississippi State SEC 17 1 - - R3 R R R R2 R3 R3 R R R3 R3 R3 R R2 R2 R2 SR
BYU Big 12 17 1 - - R R3 R3 R2 R2 R3 SR R2 R2 R R3 R3 R3 R2 R3 R3 R2
Boston University Patriot 12 1 - - R2 R R R2 R3 R3 R3 R R R R R3
Texas State Sun Belt 11 1 - - R R3 R2 R3 R R3 R3 R3 R3 R3 R3
Southern Illinois Missouri Valley 10 1 - - R3 R2 R3 R3 R3 R3 R R3 R R
Bethune–Cookman SWAC 10 1 - - R R R R SR R R R R R
UCF Big 12 10 1 - - R3 R2 R3 R R2 R2 R2 R2 SR R3
North Dakota State Summit 10 1 - - SR R R R3 R3 R2 R3 R3 R3 R
Illinois State Missouri Valley 9 1 - - R2 R3 R R R3 R2 R R3 R2
Jacksonville State CUSA 9 1 - - R R2 SR R R3 R R2 R3 R2
Illinois Big Ten 8 1 - - R R2 R R2 R3 R2 R3 R
Missouri State Missouri Valley 7 1 - - R2 R R R3 R R3 R3
Wichita State American 7 1 - - R2 R R3 R2 R2 R3 R3
Texas Tech Big 12 6 1 - - R2 R R2 R2 R3 R2
NC State ACC 5 1 - - R3 R3 R2 R2 SR
UAB American 5 1 - - R3 R3 R SR R3
Bowling Green Mid-American 4 1 - - R2 R3 R3 R
San Jose State Mountain West 4 1 - - R3 R2 R R3
Maryland Big Ten 4 1 - - R2 R3 R3 R
Northern Iowa Missouri Valley 3 1 - - R2 R3 R3
Nicholls Southland 3 1 - - R3 R2 R
Colorado State Mountain West 3 1 - - R2 R R3
Rutgers Big Ten 2 1 - - R2 R
Wyoming Mountain West 1 1 - - R2
New Mexico Mountain West 1 1 - - R2
Rhode Island Atlantic 10 1 1 - - R2
North Carolina ACC 15 - - - R R R R2 R R3 R R2 R2 R2 R3 R3 R3 R2 R2
Louisville ACC 15 - - - R R3 R2 R3 R3 R3 R2 R2 R2 R3 R R R R2 R3
Chattanooga Southern 12 - - - R R R3 R R R R R2 R R R R3
Lehigh Patriot 11 - - - R R R R2 R3 R2 R R R3 R R3
Tulsa American 11 - - - R R R2 R2 R3 R R2 R R2 R3 R2
LIU Northeast 10 - - - R R R R R3 R R2 R R R
Fordham Atlantic 10 10 - - - R2 R3 R3 R R2 R R3 R R R
McNeese Southland 9 - - - R R3 R R3 R3 R3 R3 R2 R2
Canisius MAAC 9 - - - R3 R R R R R R3 R R
Florida Atlantic American 9 - - - R3 R R3 R R R R2 R2 R3
Wisconsin Big Ten 9 - - - R3 R R R2 R2 R2 R3 R2 R2
Harvard Ivy League 8 - - - R3 R R R R2 R R R
Florida A&M SWAC 8 - - - R R R3 R R R R R
Mississippi Valley State SWAC 8 - - - R R R R R R3 R R
Miami (OH) Mid-American 7 - - - R R3 R3 R3 R R3 R2
Albany America East 7 - - - R R R2 R R3 R R
Campbell Big South 6 - - - R R3 R R3 R R3
UMBC America East 6 - - - R R R R R R
Liberty CUSA 6 - - - R R R2 R2 R3 R2
Portland State Big Sky 6 - - - R3 R R R3 R R
Coastal Carolina Sun Belt 5 - - - R R3 R R R3
Northwestern State Southland 5 - - - R R R R R
Cornell Ivy League 5 - - - R R R R R
South Alabama Sun Belt 5 - - - R2 R2 R2 R2 R3
Longwood Big South 5 - - - R R3 R2 R2 R
USC Upstate Big South 5 - - - R3 R3 R3 R3 R3
Saint Francis (PA) Northeast 5 - - - R3 R R R R
Western Illinois Summit 4 - - - R3 R R R3
Sacramento State Big Sky 4 - - - R3 R R R
Drake Missouri Valley 4 - - - R R R2 R3
UNC Greensboro Southern 4 - - - R R R R
East Carolina American 4 - - - R R3 R2 R2
Seton Hall Big East 4 - - - R R R3 R
Oakland Horizon 4 - - - R R R R
Wright State Horizon 4 - - - R R R R3
Loyola Marymount West Coast 4 - - - R R2 R3 R3
Tennessee Tech Ohio Valley 4 - - - R R R2 R3
Marist MAAC 4 - - - R R R R
Iona MAAC 4 - - - R R R R
New Mexico State WAC 4 - - - R3 R3 R R
Weber State Big Sky 4 - - - R R R3 R
Maine America East 3 - - - R R R
Ohio Mid-American 3 - - - R R R2
Boston College ACC 3 - - - R3 R R
Ball State Mid-American 3 - - - R R R3
Colgate Patriot 3 - - - R R R
Middle Tennessee CUSA 3 - - - R R R2
Army Patriot 3 - - - R R R
Eastern Kentucky Ohio Valley 3 - - - R R R
FIU CUSA 3 - - - R R2 R3
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Southland 3 - - - R R R3
UC Santa Barbara Big West 3 - - - R R R
Georgia Southern Southland 3 - - - R3 R R3
Nevada Mountain West 3 - - - R R2 R3
Southern Utah WAC 3 - - - R R3 R
Syracuse ACC 3 - - - R R3 R2
Lipscomb ASUN 3 - - - R2 R2 R3
Valparaiso Missouri Valley 3 - - - R R3 R
Western Kentucky CUSA 3 - - - R2 R2 R3
Texas Southern SWAC 3 - - - R R R
Alabama State SWAC 3 - - - R R R
Prairie View A&M SWAC 3 - - - R R R
Iowa State Big 12 2 - - - R3 R2
Georgia State Sun Belt 2 - - - R R
Troy Sun Belt 2 - - - R R3
Cleveland State Horizon 2 - - - R R
Rider MAAC 2 - - - R R
Southeast Missouri State Ohio Valley 2 - - - R R3
Manhattan MAAC 2 - - - R R
Southern SWAC 2 - - - R R
Centenary D3 2 - - - R R
UTSA American 2 - - - R R
Green Bay Horizon 2 - - - R3 R
Stetson ASUN 2 - - - R R3
Sam Houston Southland 2 - - - R3 R3
Winthrop Big South 2 - - - R2 R
Cal Poly Big West 2 - - - R R2
Howard MEAC 2 - - - R R
Stony Brook America East 2 - - - R R
Purdue Big Ten 2 - - - R3 R2
Bradley Missouri Valley 2 - - - R3 R
Sacred Heart Northeast 2 - - - R3 R
Radford Big South 2 - - - R3 R2
UT Martin Ohio Valley 2 - - - R R
Marshall Sun Belt 2 - - - R3 R3
Central Connecticut Northeast 2 - - - R3 R
Dartmouth Ivy League 2 - - - R R
Fairfield MAAC 2 - - - R R
Central Arkansas Southland 2 - - - R R3
Kennesaw State ASUN 2 - - - R R3
Monmouth MAAC 2 - - - R R
Boise State Mountain West 2 - - - R R2
Seattle WAC 2 - - - R3 R3
Villanova Big East 2 - - - R3 R
South Dakota State Summit 2 - - - R3 R3
Grand Canyon WAC 2 - - - R R3
Providence Big East 1 - - - R3
Louisiana–Monroe Sun Belt 1 - - - R3
Brown Ivy League 1 - - - R
Niagara MAAC 1 - - - R
Saint Peter's MAAC 1 - - - R
Evansville Missouri Valley 1 - - - R
UT Arlington Sun Belt 1 - - - R3
Charleston Colonial 1 - - - R2
Robert Morris Horizon 1 - - - R
Youngstown State Horizon 1 - - - R
Eastern Michigan Mid-American 1 - - - R
Furman Southern 1 - - - R
Delaware State MEAC 1 - - - R
Stephen F. Austin WAC 1 - - - R
Virginia ACC 1 - - - R3
Bucknell Patriot 1 - - - R
Elon Colonial 1 - - - R
UC Davis Big West 1 - - - R
Alcorn State SWAC 1 - - - R
Saint Mary's West Coast 1 - - - R
Memphis American 1 - - - R3
Jacksonville ASUN 1 - - - R3
Jackson State SWAC 1 - - - R
Florida Gulf Coast ASUN 1 - - - R3
Penn Ivy League 1 - - - R
Purdue Fort Wayne Horizon 1 - - - R
Hampton Colonial 1 - - - R
Bryant Northeast 1 - - - R
Charleston Southern Big South 1 - - - R
Utah Valley WAC 1 - - - R
SIU Edwardsville Ohio Valley 1 - - - R
Pittsburgh ACC 1 - - - R2
Indiana State Missouri Valley 1 - - - R3
Binghamton America East 1 - - - R
St. John's Big East 1 - - - R
Cal State Bakersfield Big West 1 - - - R
Butler Big East 1 - - - R
Samford Southern 1 - - - R
East Tennessee State Southern 1 - - - R
Montana Big Sky 1 - - - R
Detroit Horizon 1 - - - R
George Washington Atlantic 10 1 - - - R
Morgan State MEAC 1 - - - R
North Texas American 1 - - - R2
Murray State Missouri Valley 1 - - - R
UNC Wilmington Colonial 1 - - - R
Charlotte American 1 - - - R2
Omaha Summit 1 - - - R3
Eastern Illinois Ohio Valley 1 - - - R
George Mason Atlantic 10 1 - - - R
North Carolina Central MEAC 1 - - - R
Northern Colorado Big Sky 1 - - - R
Northern Kentucky Horizon 1 - - - R
School Conference # 16 E8 CH 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23

See also

References

  1. ^ "Road to the Championship | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2020-03-31.

External links