Wikipedia

NCAA Division I softball tournament

(Redirected from NCAA Softball Championship)

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.

NCAA Division I softball tournament
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2026 NCAA Division I softball season
SportCollege softball
Founded1982
No. of teams64
Most recent
champion
Texas (2nd title)
Most titlesUCLA (12)
BroadcastersESPN
ESPN2
WebsiteNCAA.com

Tournament play and team selection

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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 Devon Park 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

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NCAA Division I softball tournament is located in the United States
឴឴឵UCLA
឴឴឵UCLA
Arizona
Arizona
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Arizona State
Arizona State
Florida
Florida
Texas
Texas
TexasA&M
Texas
A&M
Alabama
Alabama
Cal State Fullerton
Cal State Fullerton
California
California
FloridaState
Florida
State
FresnoState
Fresno
State
Michigan
Michigan
Washington
Washington
Schools that have won the NCAA Championship
12, 8, 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 2000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Texas 2 2025, 2026
Florida 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

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Total columns

  • School refers to the current name and branding of the softball team.
  • Conference reflects each team's affiliation as of the 2026 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 # 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 24 25 26

UCLA    
Big Ten41363412CHW3CHCHRUCHCHCHRUCHRUW3CHW3RUCHRURUW5CHCHRUW3R3W5SRCHR2R•R2SRW5W7W5W3CHW5W3R•W5W5W5
Arizona    
Big 123935258R2R2W3W3W7CHRUCHCHRUCHCHRUW5W3CHRUW3R3W5CHCHW7W7RUSRSRR3SRSRSRSRSRW5W7W5SRR2R2
Oklahoma    
SEC3228188R2R2R2R3R2R◦CHW5W7W5W5SRR2SRSRR3SRW7RUCHW5SRCHCHW3RUCHCHCHCHW3SR
Florida    
SEC2617132R•R3R•R◦R◦R•R3SRW3RUW5RUR2W5CHCHSRRUW5W7SRW5R2W3W7SR
Big 123321122W3R2W7R2R2R2R2R3R3W7R2R3W3R•R3W5W7CHW5SRCHW3W7R2R2R2R3W7R2R3SRR•SR
Texas    
SEC271392W7R◦R•R•W3W3W5R2R3R2R3R3SRW3R2R3R3R2R3SRSRRUSRRUCHCH
Texas A&M    
SEC361882CHRUR2RUCHW5R3R2R2R•R•R◦R2R2R◦SRR3W7RUR3R2SRR2SRR2R2R2W7SRR•R3R2R2SRR2R2
Alabama    
SEC2723161R◦W5R3R◦W7R2W5W7SRW3W3SRW3CHSRRUW5W7SRSRW3W3R2W7W5SRW3
Washington    
Big Ten3224151R3R2RUW3W3RUW5R2R3W5W7SRSRW3R2CHW7SRSRW3SRR2SRW3RUW3SRR2W5R3R3R3
ACC3824121R2W7R3R3W3W5W7W7R•R2R2R•R2R2W3R◦W5R2SRR•R3R3R3R2R3SRW7SRW3SRCHSRRUR2RUSRSRR2
California    
ACC3624121R2W3R2R2R2R2R2W5R2R3R3W5R2R3W3W7W5CHRURUW7SRR3SRSRSRW5W3R2R3R2R2R3R2R3R2
Michigan    
Big Ten3121121R2R2W7W7W5W5R◦R2W7W7W7CHSRSRSRW5SRR2SRW5SRRUW5R2R3R2R2R2R2R3R2
Mountain West3419121RUR2W5R2R2W5RURURUW3W3R2W5R2R2W3CHW5R2R◦R•R3R◦R2R2R3R2R2R2R3R•R3R3R3
Big West331861W3RUR2W3CHW3R2R2R2R2R2R2R2W5R2R3R◦R2R2R•R2R3SRR•R3R2R2R2R•R3R3R2R3
Big 12281912-W7R2R2W3W3R2R2W4W3R3R2R2W3R3R2R2R3W7R2R2R3W5W5W3W5W7R2SR
Tennessee    
SEC241510-R◦R◦R•W3W3RUR2R2W3R2W7RUSRW7R2SRSRSRR3R2W3SRW3W3
Nebraska    
Big Ten28148-W5W3RUW3W5R3R3R2W5R2R2R3W5R3R2R3R2R•R3R3R2W7SRR3R2R3R2SRW5
Oregon    
Big Ten26167-W5R3R2R2R3R3R2R2R2R2R2SRSRW5SRW3W7SRW3W5R2R2SRR2W5R3
Louisiana    
Sun Belt33196-R2R3R2W3R2W5W5R2R2R•R2R•W7R2R3R2R•W5R2SRR2SRSRW7SRSRR2R2R2R2R2SRR2
LSU    
SEC27166-R2R3R2W3R2R◦W3SRSRR2R2R3R2W5R2R2W3W3W5SRSRSRR•R2SRR3SR
Missouri    
SEC27156-R2W7W5W7R•R•R2R◦R◦R2R2SRW7W7W5SRSRR2SRSRR•R2R2SRR2R3SR
Big Ten23116-W3W5W7R2R3R◦R•SRRUW3SRR•R2R2R•R3R2SRR3W7SRR2R3
Georgia    
SEC24165-R3R•R2SRR2R2SRW3W3SRSRR2SRSRW5R2W7R2W7R2SRSRSRSR
Big West2685-W5R2R2R2W5W4W5W7R3R3R3R3R◦R◦R3R•R3R3R3R3R3R3R3R3R•R•
Stanford    
ACC23114-R2R◦R◦W3R3R◦W3SRSRR2SRSRR3SRR2R2R3R2SRW3W3R2R2
Utah    
Big 1217104-R2W7R2W7R2W5R•R3R2R◦R◦R2R2SRSRW7R3
defunct884-R2R2W7W4R2R2W3W5
DePaul    
Big East2174-R•R•R2R2W3W7R3R2R3R◦W7W5R2R2R3R2R3R2R•R•R3
Baylor    
Big 121774-R3SRR2W5SRW3R3R2W3R2R2W7R2R•R3SRR2
Iowa    
Big Ten1664-R3R2R3W3W3W5R3R3W7R•R2R◦R2R•R2R•
SEC26103-R2W4R2W7R3R3R2W7R3R3R◦R2R3R◦SRR2R3R3R2R2SRR2R2R2SRR2
CUSA1173-W5R2W7W7R2R2R2R•R2R3R3
UMass    
MAC2163-R2R3R2W3R•R3W7W7R3R◦R3R3R3R◦R•SRR2R2R2R•R•
Adelphi    
D2663-R2W5W5R2W7R2
UNLV    
Mountain West953-W5W7R3R2R2W3R•R3R•
West Coast1562-R2R2R•R3R2R2R2W7R2R2R3R•R•R2W7
Creighton    
Big East1252-W7W5R2R2R2R◦R◦R3R•R3R•R•
Big West1442-R2W5RUR2R3R•R•R•R◦R•R◦R•R•R•
Indiana    
Big Ten1142-W7R2W3R2R3R3R•R2R•R3R3
Auburn    
SEC2032-R◦R◦R3R2R3R3R3R3R•R2W3RUSRR3R2R•R3R2R2R2
Texas Tech    
Big 12832-R2R•R2R2R3R2RURU
Princeton    
Ivy League1322-R3W7W7R◦R◦R3R•R•R•R•R•R3R3
Sun Belt422-W7W3R◦R◦
Kentucky    
SEC1681-R2R3SRR3SRW5SRR2SRSRSRSRR2R3R3R2
Pacific    
West Coast1371-R2W5R2R2R2R2R•R2R◦R◦R•R2R•
MAC1461-R2R2R2W5R2R•R3R2R◦R3R•R•R◦R•
Kansas    
Big 121361-R2R2R2W7R2R3R2R3R3R2R3R2R3
Arkansas    
SEC1551-R•R3R3R•R2R2R•SRR•SRSRR2R3SRW7
Hawaii    
Big West1151-R2R2R3R2R◦R3SRR2W5R•R2
American1941-R3R3R2R2R◦R3R2SRR•W7R2R2R3R3R3R2R3R3R2
UConn    
Big East1041-R2R3R3R2W5R2R•R◦R•R3
Duke    
ACC641-R2SRSRW7R2SR
Minnesota    
Big Ten1731-R3R3R•R2R3R3R◦R3SRR2R2R2R2W7R2R3R3
ACC1531-R3R3R3W7R2R2R3R•R2SRSRR2R3R2R2
Ole Miss    
SEC1031-R2SRR2SRR2R2R2R•W7R2
Sun Belt931-R•R3R3R3SRR2R3SRW3
SEC2021-R3R◦R◦R◦R2R3R3R•R•R3R3R3R•R2R2R2SRR3R2W7
MAC421-W5R2R◦R•
Utah State    
Mountain West421-W7R3R3R2
UIC    
Missouri Valley1211-W7R3R3R3R3R◦R◦R3R•R3R•R•
Kent State    
MAC411-W7R3R2R3
Toledo    
MAC311-W7R3R•
MAC211-W7R3
Notre Dame    
ACC273--R3R2R•R•R◦R2R2R•R◦R2R2R3R3R2R2R3R2R•R2R2R2R3R2R3R2R3R3
Ohio State    
Big Ten133--R2R2R◦R3R2SRR2R3R•R2R3R3R2
Clemson    
ACC63--R2SRSRR3SRR2
Hofstra    
CAA182--R3R3R◦R◦R◦R•R2R2R3R3R2R2SRR2R3R3R3R•
Mountain West152--R2R◦R2R3R•R3R2R2R3R3R2R2SRR•R3
ACC142--R2R•R3R2R2R3R3SRR2R3R3R3R•R2
UCF    
Big 12132--R3R2R3R•R2R2R2R2SRR3R3R2SR
Penn State    
Big Ten112--R2R2R•R•R•R◦R2R2R•R2R3
Houston    
Big 1292--R◦R2SRSRR3R3R3R3R2
Big Ten42--R3R2R2R•
BYU    
Big 12171--R◦R3R3R2R2R3SRR2R2R•R3R3R3R2R3R3R2
Patriot151--R2R◦R◦R2R3R3R3R•R•R•R•R3R3R•R3
Sun Belt131--R◦R3R2R3R•R3R3R3R3R3R3R2R3
Missouri Valley111--R3R2R3R3R3R3R•R3R•R•R2
CUSA101--R•R2SRR•R3R•R2R3R2R•
SWAC101--R◦R◦R◦R◦SRR•R•R•R•R•
Summit101--SRR•R•R3R3R2R3R3R3R•
Missouri Valley91--R2R3R•R•R3R2R•R3R2
Liberty    
CUSA81--R◦R•R2R2R3R2R2SR
Illinois    
Big Ten81--R◦R2R•R2R3R2R3R•
CUSA71--R2R•R•R3R•R3R3
American71--R2R•R3R2R2R3R3
NC State    
ACC51--R3R3R2R2SR
UAB    
American51--R3R3R•SRR3
MAC41--R2R3R3R◦
Mountain West41--R3R2R•R3
Maryland    
Big Ten41--R2R3R3R•
Missouri Valley31--R2R3R3
Nicholls    
Southland31--R3R2R•
Mountain West31--R2R◦R3
Rutgers    
Big Ten21--R2R•
Wyoming    
defunct11--R2
New Mexico    
Mountain West11--R2
Atlantic 1011--R2
ACC16---R•R◦R◦R2R•R3R•R2R2R2R3R3R3R2R2R•
Louisville    
ACC16---R◦R3R2R3R3R3R2R2R2R3R•R•R•R2R3R•
Southern13---R•R◦R3R◦R◦R•R•R2R•R•R•R3
American11---R3R◦R3R•R•R•R2R2R3R•R3
Lehigh    
Patriot11---R◦R◦R•R2R3R2R•R•R3R•R3
Tulsa    
American11---R•R•R2R2R3R•R2R•R2R3R2
Fordham    
Atlantic 1011---R2R3R3R•R2R•R3R•R•R•R•
McNeese    
Southland10---R•R3R•R3R3R3R3R2R2R•
LIU    
NEC10---R•R◦R◦R•R3R•R2R•R•R•
Wisconsin    
Big Ten10---R3R◦R•R2R2R2R3R2R2R3
Canisius    
MAAC9---R3R•R◦R◦R•R•R3R•R•
SWAC9---R◦R•R3R•R•R•R•R•R•
Miami (OH)    
MAC9---R•R3R3R3R•R3R2R3R3
Harvard    
Ivy League8---R3R◦R•R•R2R•R•R•
SWAC8---R•R•R•R•R•R3R•R•
Albany    
America East8---R•R•R2R•R3R•R•R•
Big South8---R3R3R3R3R3R•R•R2
Sun Belt7---R2R2R2R2R3R2R•
NEC7---R3R•R•R•R•R3R•
Campbell    
CAA6---R•R3R•R3R•R3
Sun Belt6---R•R3R◦R•R3R3
UMBC    
America East6---R◦R◦R•R•R•R•
Marist    
MAAC6---R•R•R•R•R3R•
Big Sky6---R3R•R•R3R•R•
Southern5---R•R•R•R•R3
Southland5---R•R◦R◦R•R•
Cornell    
Ivy League5---R◦R◦R◦R•R•
Longwood    
Big South5---R•R3R2R2R•
Big Sky5---R•R•R3R•R3
Mountain West5---R•R3R2R3R2
Ohio Valley4---R3R◦R◦R3
Big Sky4---R3R•R•R•
Drake    
Missouri Valley4---R•R•R2R3
American4---R◦R3R2R2
Seton Hall    
Big East4---R◦R•R3R•
Oakland    
Horizon4---R◦R◦R•R•
defunct4---R◦R•R•R3
Big West4---R◦R•R•R2
West Coast4---R•R2R3R3
Ohio Valley4---R•R•R2R3
Howard    
MEAC4---R•R•R•R•
Iona    
MAAC4---R•R•R•R•
Virginia    
ACC4---R3R2R3R2
CUSA4---R3R3R•R•
Maine    
America East3---R•R◦R•
Ohio    
MAC3---R•R•R2
ACC3---R3R•R•
defunct3---R•R•R•
Ball State    
MAC3---R•R•R3
Colgate    
Patriot3---R◦R◦R•
Ohio Valley3---R•R3R•
Army    
Patriot3---R◦R◦R•
CUSA3---R◦R•R2
ASUN3---R•R◦R•
FIU    
CUSA3---R◦R2R3
Southland3---R◦R◦R3
Sun Belt3---R3R•R3
Nevada    
Mountain West3---R•R2R3
WAC3---R•R3R•
Stetson    
ASUN3---R•R3R3
Lipscomb    
ASUN3---R2R2R3
West Coast3---R•R•R2
Syracuse    
ACC3---R•R3R2
SWAC3---R•R•R•
Valparaiso    
Missouri Valley3---R•R3R•
Marshall    
Sun Belt3---R3R3R3
CUSA3---R2R2R3
SWAC3---R•R•R•
Binghamton    
America East3---R•R•R•
SWAC3---R•R•R•
SWAC3---R•R•R•
Villanova    
Big East3---R3R•R2
Ohio Valley3---R•R•R•
Omaha    
Summit3---R3R2R3
Southland3---R2R2R•
Iowa State    
Big 122---R3R2
Sun Belt2---R•R•
Troy    
Sun Belt2---R•R3
Brown    
Ivy League2---R•R•
Rider    
MAAC2---R•R◦
Manhattan    
MAAC2---R◦R•
Southern    
SWAC2---R◦R◦
Centenary    
D32---R◦R•
UTSA    
American2---R◦R•
Charleston    
CAA2---R2R•
Green Bay    
Horizon2---R3R•
Horizon2---R•R•
Cal Poly    
Big West2---R•R2
CUSA2---R3R3
Winthrop    
Big South2---R2R•
Purdue    
Big Ten2---R3R2
CAA2---R•R•
Bradley    
Missouri Valley2---R3R•
Radford    
Big South2---R3R2
MAAC2---R3R•
UT Martin    
Ohio Valley2---R•R•
Elon    
CAA2---R•R•
ASUN2---R3R3
NEC2---R3R•
Dartmouth    
Ivy League2---R•R•
ASUN2---R•R3
Fairfield    
MAAC2---R•R•
Mountain West2---R•R2
CUSA2---R•R3
Monmouth    
CAA2---R•R•
Seattle    
West Coast2---R3R3
MEAC2---R•R•
Summit2---R3R3
CAA2---R•R•
Charlotte    
American2---R2R3
Big Sky2---R•R•
Horizon2---R•R•
Belmont    
Missouri Valley2---R3R3
Providence    
Big East1---R3
Sun Belt1---R3
Niagara    
MAAC1---R•
MAAC1---R◦
Evansville    
Missouri Valley1---R◦
WAC1---R3
Horizon1---R•
defunct1---R•
Furman    
Southern1---R•
MEAC1---R•
Southland1---R•
SWAC1---R•
Bucknell    
Patriot1---R•
UC Davis    
Big West1---R•
ASUN1---R3
Memphis    
American1---R3
Hampton    
CAA1---R•
Penn    
Ivy League1---R•
defunct1---R•
Bryant    
America East1---R•
Big South1---R•
Ohio Valley1---R•
WAC1---R•
Missouri Valley1---R3
Pittsburgh    
ACC1---R2
St. John's    
Big East1---R•
Butler    
Big East1---R•
Big West1---R•
Samford    
Southern1---R•
Southern1---R•
Montana    
Big Sky1---R•
Horizon1---R•
Atlantic 101---R•
Missouri Valley1---R•
American1---R2
Atlantic 101---R•
MEAC1---R•
Dayton    
Atlantic 101---R•
Siena    
MAAC1---R•
Mercer    
Southern1---R2
ASUN1---R2
Atlantic 101---R•
West Coast1---R•
Akron    
MAC1---R3
WAC1---R•
Big Sky1---R•
Summit1---R3
Wagner    
NEC1---R•

List of NCAA Division I teams with no appearances

edit
List of schools
School Conference
UMass Lowell America East
Austin Peay ASUN[a]
Bellarmine ASUN
North Alabama ASUN[a]
Queens ASUN
West Georgia[b] ASUN[a]
Loyola Chicago Atlantic 10
St. Bonaventure Atlantic 10
Saint Joseph's Atlantic 10
Georgetown Big East
Gardner–Webb Big South
Presbyterian Big South
UC Riverside Big West
UC San Diego Big West[c]
Drexel CAA
North Carolina A&T CAA
Towson CAA
Delaware CUSA
UTEP CUSA[d]
IU Indy Horizon
Columbia Ivy League
Yale Ivy League
Merrimack MAAC
Mount St. Mary's MAAC
Quinnipiac MAAC
Buffalo MAC
Coppin State MEAC
Maryland Eastern Shore MEAC
Norfolk State MEAC
South Carolina State MEAC
Fairleigh Dickinson NEC
Le Moyne[e] NEC
Mercyhurst[b] NEC
New Haven[f] NEC
Stonehill NEC
Lindenwood Ohio Valley
Morehead State Ohio Valley
Southern Indiana Ohio Valley
Tennessee State Ohio Valley
Holy Cross Patriot
Lafayette Patriot
Western Carolina Southern
Wofford Southern
East Texas A&M Southland
Houston Christian Southland
Incarnate Word Southland
Lamar Southland
Alabama A&M SWAC
Arkansas–Pine Bluff SWAC
Grambling State SWAC
Kansas City Summit
North Dakota Summit
St. Thomas Summit
Appalachian State Sun Belt
San Diego West Coast
Abilene Christian WAC[g]
Tarleton State WAC[g]
Utah Tech WAC[h]
  1. 1 2 3 Joining the rebranded United Athletic Conference in July 2026.
  2. 1 2 Will become eligible for the tournament in 2028 after completing transition period from Division II.
  3. ↑ Joining the West Coast Conference in July 2027.
  4. ↑ Joining the Mountain West Conference in July 2026.
  5. ↑ Will become eligible for the tournament in 2027 after completing transition period from Division II.
  6. ↑ Will become eligible for the tournament in 2029 after completing transition period from Division II.
  7. 1 2 The Western Athletic Conference will rebrand as the United Athletic Conference in July 2026, with Abilene Christian and Tarleton State continuing as members.
  8. ↑ Joining the Big Sky Conference in July 2026.

Past formats

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Year Total Teams Region Super Regional College World Series
No. Teams Format Teams Format Championship
1982–1987 16[a] 8 2 Best-of-three 8 Double-elimination
1988–1993 20 2 (4 regions)
3 (4 regions) Double-elimination
1994–1998 32 4 Double-elimination Single game
1999–2002 48 6
2003–2004 64 8
2005–present 16 4 Best-of-three Best-of-three
  1. ↑ The 1986 tournament featured only 15 teams; the Midwest Regional was not held and Creighton automatically advanced to the Women's College World Series.

See also

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References

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