The Women’s College World Series begins Thursday, and the 64-team NCAA tournament bracket has quickly whittled down to eight survivors.
After two rounds of postseason play, it has five teams playing in Oklahoma City — even as No.
Boston University softball coach Ashley Waters, whose team lost to OU in the Norman regional, predicted Oklahoma, Florida or Tennessee as the eventual victor.
She also leads the team with 22 home runs, 72 runs scored, 17 doubles and an .818 slugging percentage.
Women’s College World Series schedule The WCWS is a double-elimination format.
Watch the Women’s College World Series live on The Athletic.
Eight teams remain in the 64-team NCAA tournament bracket as the Women’s College World Series gets underway on Thursday.
The SEC clearly controls the field, but three conferences are represented in the final eight. The SEC claimed seven of the top eight spots when the WCWS bracket was first released. Five teams, even as No. 1 seeds, are playing in Oklahoma City after two rounds of postseason play. Among the top eight seeds, only four made it to Oklahoma City, and Texas A&M lost their regional.
The field is prepared for a tournament that might be level, though. No. 2 Despite losing four of its seven games this season to two teams, Oklahoma is the favorite as it searches for a fifth straight championship. Tennessee 7 and No. 3. On its side of the bracket is Florida. In an interview with The Athletic, Mike Heard, coach of Omaha, which participated in the Norman regional earlier this month, stated that he believes six or seven teams, if not eight, could win the trophy in June. Coach Ashley Waters of Boston University softball, whose team lost to OU in the Norman regional, said that Tennessee, Florida, or Oklahoma would win in the end.
“I believe Oklahoma can succeed simply because, when they arrive, they know what it takes, regardless of prior experience.”. Their coaching staff is aware of what is required. Waters uttered the words, “. From a pitching standpoint, Florida is the most well-rounded, in my opinion, and Tennessee is very tough.
You have a chance, though, if you’re present. You stand a chance if you have your best softball weekend. “.”.
Check out these four plotlines.
No. 2 The five-peat is achieved by Oklahoma.
Thanks in large part to star pitcher Sam Landry, a transfer from Louisiana and SEC Newcomer of the Year, Oklahoma (59-7) has shown no signs of needing a reset or rebuild despite 14 newcomers.
Gabbie Garcia leads the Sooners in addition to Landry (1.92 ERA). Kasidi Pickering (360 batting average, 20 home runs). Ella Parker (413 average, 18 home runs). Ailana Agbayani ( 13 home runs, 416 average). 336 average, 11 steals) and Nelly McEnroe-Marinas (. offensively (15 home runs, 348 average).
The Sooners outscored opponents 47–5 to easily win their ninth consecutive WCWS. ESPN reports that their plus-42 run differential is the seventh-best in NCAA tournament history, with five of the previous six teams that achieved that number going on to win the championship.
“How much you prepare for them is irrelevant. They are skilled at winning, so you must play your best softball against them,” Waters advised.
No. 3. The young force for change in Florida.
With a .389 batting average and an NCAA-co-leading 86 RBIs, Taylor Shumaker of Florida was unanimously named the NFCA Freshman of the Year.
With 17 doubles, 72 runs scored, 22 home runs, and a .818 slugging percentage, she also leads the team.
Florida, which defeated the Sooners twice in a three-game series at the beginning of May, was the last team to defeat OU. The 48-15 Gators are vying for their first championship since 2015 and are participating in the WCWS for the third time in four years.
No. 7 Tennessee — you’ll miss it if you blink.
The fastest pitch in college softball history was set on March 24 by junior star Karlyn Pickens. Two months later, she broke her own record.
In the super regionals, Pickens threw a 79-point, 4-mph fireball against Nebraska star Jordy Bahl, something that ESPN analyst Jessica Mendoza claimed we “wouldn’t see in MLB.”.
In terms of reaction time, she stated, “that’s upwards of 108 to 110 mph.”. To experience what it’s like at 43 feet and 79 mph, put yourself in the batter’s box and turn the machine up to 108 or 109. It’s fantastic. “.”.
Pickens pitched just more than 17 innings in three games against Nebraska, recording 28 strikeouts and 11 hits given up. She secured the trip to Oklahoma City by shutting out the Cornhuskers in Game 3. She will take on Oklahoma on Thursday, which has one of the longest lineups in the nation.
During the regular season, Pickens earned two victories against OU despite giving up four runs in 12 2/3 innings.
Heard stated, “I think it will be exciting to watch Pickens pitch to Oklahoma because I think she is absolutely an elite pitcher and they are absolutely an elite offensive team, so that will be super fun to watch.”.
After Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady, Pickens has the second-best ERA in the country.
No. 12 Texas Tech makes a wise decision.
For Texas Tech, winning a national championship is a top priority.
In an attempt to make it to its first WCWS, the school made a significant name, image, and likeness move last summer by bringing in 6-foot Stanford junior ace Canady with an unprecedented NIL offer of over $1 million. The WCWS dreams of Canady and the Red Raiders were realized last week.
No. 12 Texas Tech won every game. After Canady threw every pitch for the Red Raiders and held Florida State to 5-of-49 hitting, the team defeated Florida State 5 in the Tallahassee super regionals. 102 in the series.
After two with the Cardinal, this will be Canady’s third straight WCWS appearance.
With a 0 point 89 ERA, Canady leads the country and has won NFCA Pitcher of the Year twice. Just once this season has she given up more than two earned runs in a game.
Agenda for the Women’s College World Series.
The format of the WCWS is double-elimination. After that, the top two teams compete for the national championship in a best-of-three series.
The double-elimination round starts Thursday for all eight teams. Times are all in ET.
First Bracket.
No. 3 Florida (48–15) against… No. At noon, 6 Texas (51-11).
No. 7 Tennessee (45-15) against… No. 2 Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m. (59-7). M.
Position 2.
No. Twelve Texas Tech (50-12) against… Seven p.m., Ole Miss (42-19). A.
No. Portland (53-8) vs. No. 9 p.m., UCLA (54-11). M.
(Image of Karlyn Pickens, a pitcher for Tennessee, courtesy of David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).
