Big East Conference softball tournament

Last updated
Big East Conference softball tournament
Conference softball championship
Sport Softball
Conference Big East Conference
Number of teams6
Format Single-elimination tournament
Current stadium Villanova Softball Complex
Current location Villanova, Pennsylvania
Played1990–present
Last contest2025
Current champion UConn
Most championships UConn (8)
Host stadiums
Glay Field (2022)
Connecticut Softball Stadium (1992–93, 1997, 1999, 2021, 2023)
The Ballpark at Rosemont (2014–17, 2022)
USF Softball Stadium (2013)
Melissa Cook Stadium (2012)
Ulmer Stadium (2008–11)
Ivy Field (1998, 2005–07)
SU Softball Stadium (2004)
Moyer Field (2002–03)
VU Softball Stadium (2001)
Shea Softball Field (1990–91, 1996, 2000)
Regal Field (1994–95)
Host locations
Providence, RI (2022)
Storrs, CT (1992–93, 1997, 1999, 2021, 2023)
Rosemont, IL (2014–17, 2022)
Rosemont, IL (2014–17)
Tampa, FL (2013)
Notre Dame, IN (1998, 2005–07, 2012)
Louisville, KY (2008–11)
Syracuse, NY (2004)
Salem, VA (2002–03)
Villanova, PA (2001)
Chestnut Hill, MA (1990–91, 1996, 2000)
Notre Dame, IN (1998)
Jamaica, NY (1994–95)

The Big East Conference softball tournament (sometimes known simply as the Big East Tournament) is the conference championship tournament in college softball for the Big East Conference. The winner receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I softball tournament. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Tournament

The top four regular season finishers compete in the single-elimination tournament. Beginning with the tournament's inception in 1990, four teams competed in the tournament. From 2006 through 2013, the top eight teams qualified for the event. Beginning in 2014, after the conference split, the Big East reverted to the four-team tournament. After the COVID-19 pandemic and with the return of UConn to the conference, the tournament expanded again to a six-team event, with the top two seeds receiving a single bye. [4]

Champions

Year-by-year

YearSchoolVenueMVP
1990 Connecticut Shea Softball FieldChestnut Hill, MA Sue Rybczyk, Connecticut
1991 Connecticut Shea Softball Field • Chestnut Hill, MAJanna Venice, Connecticut
1992 Connecticut Connecticut Softball StadiumStorrs, CT Kim Mizesko, Connecticut
1993 Connecticut Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CTJanna Venice, Connecticut
1994 Providence Regal FieldJamaica, NY Kim Robbins, Providence
1995 Connecticut Regal Field • Jamaica, NYBridgett McCaffery, Connecticut
1996 Connecticut Shea Softball Field • Chestnut Hill, MABridgett McCaffery, Connecticut
1997 Boston College Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CTMary Dietz, Boston College
1998 Boston College Ivy FieldNotre Dame, IN Chris Vicari, Boston College
1999 Notre Dame Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CTJennifer Sharron, Notre Dame
2000 Notre Dame Shea Softball Field • Chestnut Hill, MAMelanie Alkire, Notre Dame
2001 Connecticut VU Softball StadiumVillanova, PA Barb Cook, Connecticut
2002 Notre Dame Moyer FieldSalem, VA Andrea Loman, Notre Dame
2003 Notre Dame Moyer Field • Salem, VAAndrea Loman, Notre Dame
2004 Seton Hall SU Softball StadiumSyracuse, NY Megan Meyer, Seton Hall
2005 Seton Hall Ivy Field • Notre Dame, INMegan Meyer, Seton Hall
2006 Notre Dame Ivy Field • Notre Dame, INHeather Booth, Notre Dame
2007 Louisville Ivy Field • Notre Dame, INKristen Wadwell, Louisville
2008 DePaul Ulmer StadiumLouisville, KY Becca Heteniak, DePaul
2009 Notre Dame Ulmer Stadium • Louisville, KYBrittney Bargar, Notre Dame
2010 Syracuse Ulmer Stadium • Louisville, KY Jenna Caira, Syracuse
2011 Syracuse Ulmer Stadium • Louisville, KY Jenna Caira, Syracuse
2012 Louisville Melissa Cook Stadium • Notre Dame, INJordan Trimble, Louisville
2013 South Florida USF Softball StadiumTampa, FL Sara Nevins, South Florida
2014 DePaul The Ballpark at RosemontRosemont, IL Kristen Verdun, DePaul [5]
2015 St. John's The Ballpark at Rosemont • Rosemont, ILKrista Puga, St. John's [6]
2016 Butler The Ballpark at Rosemont • Rosemont, ILSarah Dixon, Butler [7]
2017 DePaul The Ballpark at Rosemont • Rosemont, ILDylan Christensen, DePaul [8]
2018 DePaul The Ballpark at Rosemont • Rosemont, IL
2019 DePaul The Ballpark at Rosemont • Rosemont, ILNatalie Halvorson, DePaul
2020Cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic
2021 Villanova Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CTPaige Rauch, Villanova
2022 Villanova The Ballpark at Rosemont • Rosemont, ILPaige Rauch, Villanova
2023 Seton Hall Connecticut Softball Stadium • Storrs, CTPaige Rauch, Villanova
2024 Villanova Glay FieldProvidence, RI Paige Rauch, Villanova
2025 UConn Villanova Softball Complex • Villanova, PA

By school

SchoolChampionshipsYears
UConn [a] 8 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2025
Notre Dame 6 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009
DePaul 5 2008, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019
Seton Hall 3 2004, 2005, 2023
Villanova 3 2021, 2022, 2024
Boston College 2 1997, 1998
Louisville 2 2007, 2012
Syracuse 2 2010, 2011
Butler 1 2016
Providence 1 1994
South Florida 1 2013
St. John's 1 2015

Italics indicate that the school no longer competes in Big East Conference softball.

Notes

  1. UConn played as part of the American Athletic Conference from 2014–2020.

References

  1. "Big East Softball Championship Central". Big East Conference. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  2. 2013 Softball Media Guide. Big East Conference. p. 50. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  3. 2025 Softball Record Book (PDF). Big East Conference. p. 8. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
  4. 2025 Softball Record Book (PDF). Big East Conference. p. 9. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
  5. "DePaul Captures BIG EAST Championship Crown". Big East Conference. May 10, 2014. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  6. "Champions At Last: St. John's Earns Program's First Ever Big East Championship Title". St. John's Red Storm. May 10, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  7. "@ButlerSoftball Wins BIG EAST Title with 10-8 Extra-Inning Victory over St. John's". Butler University. May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  8. "Big-Time Clutch Hitting Brings DePaul BIG EAST Title". CBS Interactive. May 13, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2017.