Women's College World Series

Last updated
Women's College World Series
First played 1969 (55 years ago)
Most recently played 2024
Current champion Oklahoma

The Women's College World Series (WCWS) is the final portion of the NCAA Division I softball tournament for college softball in the United States. The eight teams of the WCWS play a double-elimination tournament until just two teams remain. These two teams compete in a best-of-three series to determine the Division I WCWS National Champion. Previous WCWS losses do not factor into the best-of-three championship series, and the first team to win two of three games is declared the National Champion.

Contents

Like the Men's College World Series in baseball, the WCWS initially divides the eight teams ranked one (the top seed) thru eight and are then divided into two brackets of four teams. The teams play their first-round match up as follows: 1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6 and 4 v 5. Unique to the WCWS is that the loser of the first-round game[ clarification needed ] on one side of the bracket crosses over to the loser's bracket on the other side. Suffering a second loss eliminates said team from the WCWS. Round number two will feature the four winners of round-one games against each other, with the highest remaining seed vs the lowest remaining undefeated seed. In the losers bracket, the four first round losers face each other, with the two winners advancing while the losers who suffer their second loss are eliminated from tourney play. Round three features the two losing teams from round two (winners bracket) vs round two-winners (from losers bracket) while the remaining two undefeated teams get a day of rest. Once round three is complete, there will now be four teams eliminated. The remaining four teams will then play each other in round four, with one team with one loss playing one team with no losses. If a team with a loss loses again, they are eliminated. If teams with no losses suffer a (first) loss, the remaining teams will then be realigned and forced to play one last time, with the winners advancing to the best-of-three championship series. If by chance one or both unbeaten teams win in round four, then that team (or both teams) advances to the best-of-three championship series. From there games are cut to one game per day over the next three days (weather pending). This feature allows any two of the eight WCWS teams to potentially comprise the final two, unlike the MCWS, whose two halves remain separate until the championship series. [1]

The WCWS takes place at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. From 1969 to 1981, the women's collegiate softball championship was also known as the Women's College World Series and was promoted as such. [2] During 1969–1979, the series was played in Omaha, after which the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) held the series in 1980–1982 in Norman, Oklahoma. There were two competing World Series tournaments in 1982. The NCAA held its first six Division I tournaments in Omaha in 1982–1987, followed by Sunnyvale, California, in 1988–1989. The event has been held in Oklahoma City every year since then, except for 1996, when it was held at the softball venue for the '96 Olympic Games in Columbus, Georgia.

Softball was one of twelve women's sports added to the NCAA championship program for the 1981–82 school year, as the NCAA engaged in battle with the AIAW for sole governance of women's collegiate sports. The AIAW continued to conduct its established championship program in the same twelve (and other) sports. The 1982 softball championship tournaments of both the AIAW and the NCAA were called "Women's College World Series". However, after a year of dual women's championships, the NCAA won out over the AIAW. [3]

Division I

NCAA

YearLocationChampion [4] Title
series
score***
Runner-upSemifinalists/tie-3rdTie-5thTie-7th (first 2 eliminated)
1982 Seymour Smith Park
Omaha, NE
UCLA
WCAA
2–0 (8 inn) Fresno State
NorPac
Cal State Fullerton
WCAA
Arizona State
WCAA
Nebraska
Big Eight
Western Michigan
MAC
Creighton
Gateway
Oklahoma State
Big Eight
1983 Seymour Smith Park
Omaha, NE
Texas A&M
Southwest
2–0 (12 inn) Cal State Fullerton
WCAA
UCLA
WCAA
South Carolina
Independent
Louisiana Tech
Southland
Pacific
NorPac
Indiana
Big Ten
Missouri
Big Eight
1984 Seymour Smith Park
Omaha, NE
UCLA
WCAA
1–0 (13 inn) Texas A&M
Southwest
Northwestern
Big Ten
Nebraska
Big Eight
Adelphi
Atlantic 10
Fresno State
NorPac
Cal Poly Pomona
CCAA
Utah State
High Country
1985 Seymour Smith Park
Omaha, NE
UCLA
WCAA
2–1 (9 inn) Nebraska*
Big Eight
Cal State Fullerton
PCAA
Cal Poly Pomona
CCAA
Adelphi
Atlantic 10
Northwestern
Big Ten
Louisiana Tech
Southland
Utah
High Country
1986 Seymour Smith Park
Omaha, NE
Cal State Fullerton
PCAA
3–0 Texas A&M
Southwest
California
NorPac
Indiana
Big Ten
Creighton
Gateway
Long Beach State
PCAA
Louisiana Tech
Southland
Northwestern
Big Ten
1987 Seymour Smith Park
Omaha, NE
Texas A&M
Southwest
4–1 UCLA
Pac-10
Cal State Fullerton
PCAA
Nebraska
Big Eight
Central Michigan
MAC
Fresno State
PCAA
Arizona State
Pac-10
Florida State
Metro
1988 Twin Creeks Sports Complex
Sunnyvale, California
UCLA
Pac-10
3–0 Fresno State
PCAA
Arizona
Pac-10
Cal Poly Pomona
CCAA
Nebraska
Big Eight
Texas A&M
Southwest
Adelphi
Atlantic 10
Northern Illinois
North Star
1989 Twin Creeks Sports Complex
Sunnyvale, California
UCLA
Pac-10
1–0 Fresno State
Big West
Arizona
Pac-10
Oklahoma State
Big Eight
Cal Poly Pomona
CCAA
Oregon
Pac-10
South Carolina
Metro
Toledo
MAC
1990 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
UCLA
Pac-10
2–0 Fresno State
Big West
Florida State
Metro
Oklahoma State
Big Eight
Long Beach State
Big West
UNLV
Big West
Arizona
Pac-10
Kent State
MAC
1991 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Arizona
Pac-10
5–1 UCLA
Pac-10
Fresno State
Big West
Long Beach State
Big West
Florida State
Metro
Missouri
Big Eight
UNLV
Big West
Utah
WAC
1992 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
UCLA
Pac-10
2–0 Arizona
Pac-10
Fresno State
Big West
UMass
Atlantic 10
California
Pac-10
Long Beach State
Big West
Florida State
ACC
Kansas
Big Eight
1993 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Arizona
Pac-10
1–0 UCLA
Pac-10
Southwestern Louisiana
Sun Belt
Oklahoma State
Big Eight
Cal State Northridge
WAC
Connecticut
Big East
Florida State
ACC
Long Beach State
Big West
1994 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Arizona
Pac-10
4–0 Cal State Northridge
WAC
Oklahoma State
Big Eight
UCLA
Pac-10
Fresno State
WAC
Utah
WAC
Illinois–Chicago
Mid-Con
Missouri
Big Eight
1995 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
UCLA**
Pac-10
4–2 Arizona
Pac-10
Iowa
Big Ten
UNLV
Big West
Cal State Fullerton
Big West
Southwestern Louisiana
Sun Belt
Michigan
Big Ten
Princeton
Ivy
1996 Golden Park
Columbus, GA
Arizona
Pac-10
6–4 Washington
Pac-10
Iowa
Big Ten
UCLA
Pac-10
California
Pac-10
Southwestern Louisiana
Sun Belt
Michigan
Big Ten
Princeton
Ivy
1997 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Arizona
Pac-10
10–2 (5 inn) UCLA
Pac-10
Fresno State
WAC
Washington
Pac-10
Iowa
Big Ten
Michigan
Big Ten
UMass
Atlantic 10
South Carolina
SEC
1998 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Fresno State
WAC
1–0 Arizona
Pac-10
Oklahoma State
Big 12
Washington
Pac-10
Michigan
Big Ten
Nebraska
Big 12
UMass
Atlantic 10
Texas
Big 12
1999 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
UCLA
Pac-10
3–2 Washington
Pac-10
California
Pac-10
DePaul
Conference USA
Arizona
Pac-10
Fresno State
WAC
Arizona State
Pac-10
Southern Miss
Conference USA
2000 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma
Big 12
3–1 UCLA
Pac-10
Arizona
Pac-10
Southern Miss
Conference USA
Alabama
SEC
Washington
Pac-10
California
Pac-10
DePaul
Conference USA
2001 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Arizona
Pac-10
1–0 UCLA
Pac-10
LSU
SEC
Stanford
Pac-10
California
Pac-10
Oklahoma
Big 12
Iowa
Big Ten
Michigan
Big Ten
2002 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
California
Pac-10
6–0 Arizona
Pac-10
Arizona State
Pac-10
Florida State
ACC
Nebraska
Big 12
UCLA
Pac-10
Michigan
Big Ten
Oklahoma
Big 12
2003 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
UCLA
Pac-10
1–0 (9 inn) California
Pac-10
Arizona
Pac-10
Texas
Big 12
Oklahoma
Big 12
Washington
Pac-10
Alabama
SEC
Louisiana–Lafayette
Sun Belt
2004 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
UCLA
Pac-10
3–1 California
Pac-10
LSU
SEC
Stanford
Pac-10
Florida State
ACC
Oklahoma
Big 12
Michigan
Big Ten
Washington
Pac-10
2005*** USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Michigan
Big Ten
0–5
5–2
4–1 (10 inn)
UCLA
Pac-10
Tennessee
SEC
Texas
Big 12
Alabama
SEC
Arizona
Pac-10
California
Pac-10
DePaul
Conference USA
2006 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Arizona
Pac-10
8–0
5–0
Northwestern
Big Ten
Tennessee
SEC
UCLA
Pac-10
Arizona State
Pac-10
Texas
Big 12
Alabama
SEC
Oregon State
Pac-10
2007 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Arizona
Pac-10
0–3
1–0 (10 inn)
5–0
Tennessee
SEC
Northwestern
Big Ten
Washington
Pac-10
Baylor
Big 12
DePaul
Big East
Arizona State
Pac-10
Texas A&M
Big 12
2008 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Arizona State
Pac-10
3–0
11–0
Texas A&M
Big 12
Alabama
SEC
Florida
SEC
Louisiana–Lafayette
Sun Belt
UCLA
Pac-10
Arizona
Pac-10
Virginia Tech
ACC
2009 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Washington
Pac-10
8–0
3–2
Florida
SEC
Alabama
SEC
Georgia
SEC
Arizona
Pac-10
Michigan
Big Ten
Arizona State
Pac-10
Missouri
Big 12
2010 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
UCLA
Pac-10
6–5 (8 inn)
15–9
Arizona
Pac-10
Georgia
SEC
Tennessee
SEC
Florida
SEC
Hawaii
WAC
Missouri
Big 12
Washington
Pac-10
2011 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Arizona State
Pac-10
14–4
7–2
Florida
SEC
Alabama
SEC
Baylor
Big 12
California
Pac-10
Missouri
Big 12
Oklahoma
Big 12
Oklahoma State
Big 12
2012 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Alabama
SEC
1–4
8–6
5–4
Oklahoma
Big 12
California
Pac-12
Arizona State
Pac-12
Oregon
Pac-12
LSU
SEC
South Florida
Big East
Tennessee
SEC
2013 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma
Big 12
5–3 (12 inn)
4–0
Tennessee
SEC
Washington
Pac-12
Texas
Big 12
Michigan
Big Ten
Florida
SEC
Arizona State
Pac-12
Nebraska
Big Ten
2014 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Florida
SEC
5–0
6–3
Alabama
SEC
Oregon
Pac-12
Baylor
Big 12
Oklahoma
Big 12
Kentucky
SEC
Louisiana–Lafayette
Sun Belt
Florida State
ACC
2015 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Florida
SEC
3–2
0–1
4–1
Michigan
Big Ten
Auburn
SEC
LSU
SEC
UCLA
Pac-12
Alabama
SEC
Oregon
Pac-12
Tennessee
SEC
2016 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma
Big 12
3–2
7–11 (8 inn)
2–1
Auburn
SEC
Florida State
ACC
LSU
SEC
Michigan
Big Ten
Georgia
SEC
Alabama
SEC
UCLA
Pac-12
2017 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma
Big 12
7–5 (17 inn)
5–4
Florida
SEC
Oregon
Pac-12
Washington
Pac-12
LSU
SEC
UCLA
Pac-12
Baylor
Big 12
Texas A&M
SEC
2018 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Florida State
ACC
1–0
8–3
Washington
Pac-12
UCLA
Pac-12
Oklahoma
Big 12
Oregon
Pac-12
Florida
SEC
Georgia
SEC
Arizona State
Pac-12
2019 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
UCLA
Pac-12
16–3
5–4
Oklahoma
Big 12
Alabama
SEC
Washington
Pac-12
Arizona
Pac-12
Oklahoma State
Big 12
Florida
SEC
Minnesota
Big Ten
2020 No tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma
Big 12
4–8
6–2
5–1
Florida State
ACC
Alabama
SEC
James Madison
CAA
Oklahoma State
Big 12
UCLA
Pac-12
Arizona
Pac-12
Georgia
SEC
2022 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma
Big 12
16–1
10–5
Texas
Big 12
Oklahoma State
Big 12
UCLA
Pac-12
Arizona
Pac-12
Florida
SEC
Northwestern
Big Ten
Oregon State
Pac-12
2023 USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma
Big 12
5–0
3–1
Florida State
ACC
Stanford
Pac-12
Tennessee
SEC
Washington
Pac-12
Oklahoma State
Big 12
Utah
Pac-12
Alabama
SEC
2024 Devon Park
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma
Big 12
8–3
8–4
Texas
Big 12
Stanford
Pac-12
Florida
SEC
UCLA
Pac-12
Alabama
SEC
Duke
ACC
Oklahoma State
Big 12

* Nebraska's runner-up finish in 1985 was vacated by the NCAA.

** The 1995 title by UCLA and any related records have been vacated by the NCAA due to scholarship violations. Criticism also centered on UCLA player Tanya Harding who was recruited from Queensland, Australia, midway through the 1995 season. After UCLA captured the NCAA National Championship, Harding, the MVP of the tournament, returned to her homeland without taking final exams or earning a single college credit. Despite not violating any formal rules in recruiting Harding, the incident generated heated criticism that some foreign athletes were little more than hired guns. [5] [6]

*** Beginning in 2005, a best-of-three series determines the national championship.

AIAW

From 1969 to 1972, the DGWS (forerunner organization of the AIAW) recognized the WCWS, organized by the Amateur Softball Association, as the collegiate championship tournament. The AIAW assumed responsibilities from DGWS in 1973.

YearChampion [4] Title series game score(s)Runner-up
1969 John F. Kennedy College 2–0 Illinois State
1970 John F. Kennedy College 0–2
7–6
Southwest Missouri State
1971 John F. Kennedy College 6–0
4–0
Iowa State
1972 Arizona State 0–1
8–5 (11 inn)
Nihon University
1973 Arizona State 0–4
4–3 (16 inn)
Illinois State
1974 Southwest Missouri State 14–7 Northern Colorado
1975 Nebraska–Omaha 1–11
6–4
Northern Iowa
1976 Michigan State 3–0 Northern Colorado
1977 Northern Iowa 0–1 (9 inn)
7–0
Arizona
1978 UCLA 3–0 Northern Colorado
1979 Texas Woman's 1–0
1–0
UCLA
1980 [lower-alpha 1] Utah State 1–0
2–1
Indiana
1981 [lower-alpha 2] Utah State 1–6
4–3
Cal State Fullerton
1982 Texas A&M 4–1
5–3 (8 inn)
Oklahoma State
  1. Officially named the "AIAW Division I National Softball Championship." [4] :54
  2. Officially named the "AIAW College Softball World Series." [4] :58

NCAA team titles by school

TeamNumberWinning years
UCLA 12 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2019
Arizona 8 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2007
Oklahoma 8 2000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Arizona State 2 2008, 2011
Florida 2 2014, 2015
Texas A&M 2 1983, 1987
Alabama 1 2012
Cal State Fullerton 1 1986
California 1 2002
Florida State 1 2018
Fresno State 1 1998
Michigan 1 2005
Washington 1 2009

*UCLA also won the 1995 title, but it has since been vacated by the NCAA; see above.

AIAW team titles by school

From 1969 to 1972, the DGWS (forerunner organization of the AIAW) recognized the WCWS, organized by the Amateur Softball Association, as the collegiate championship tournament. The AIAW assumed responsibilities from DGWS in 1973.

SchoolChampionships [4] Years
John F. Kennedy College (Nebraska) 3 1969, 1970, 1971 (all DGWS)
Arizona State 2 1972 (DGWS), 1973
Utah State 2 1980, 1981
Florida State 2 1981, 1982 (both slow pitch)
(Southwest) Missouri State 1 1974
Nebraska–Omaha 1 1975
Michigan State 1 1976
Northern Iowa 1 1977
UCLA 1 1978
Texas Woman's 1 1979
Texas A&M 1 1982

Championships & appearances by school

  • Table is sortable
SchoolChampionships [4]
(through 2024)
Title games/series
(through 2024)
WCWS appearances
(through 2024)
WCWS appearances
(through 2024)
UCLA1322351978, 1979, 1981, 1982, [lower-alpha 1] 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024
Arizona814291974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2019, 2021, 2022
Oklahoma810211975, 1980, 1981, 1982, [lower-alpha 2] 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022,2023, 2024
Arizona State44191971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, [lower-alpha 1] 1987, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018
Oklahoma State01161977, 1980, 1981, 1982, [lower-alpha 2] 1982, [lower-alpha 1] 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2011, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Washington14151996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023
California13151980, 1981, 1982, [lower-alpha 2] 1986, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2012
Alabama12152000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
Michigan12131982, [lower-alpha 2] 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016
Florida25122008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024
Florida State13121987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2002, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023
Fresno State15121982, [lower-alpha 1] 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999
Texas A&M36121979, 1980, 1981, 1982, [lower-alpha 2] 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 2007, 2008, 2017
Northern Colorado 03111969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
South Carolina00111972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1989, 1997
Missouri State [lower-alpha 3] 12101969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982 [lower-alpha 2]
Omaha [lower-alpha 4] 11101969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
Nebraska0091970, 1971, 1982, [lower-alpha 1] 1984, 1987, 1988, 1998, 2002, 2013
Cal State Fullerton1381980, 1981, 1982, [lower-alpha 1] 1983, 1985, 1986 1987, 1995
Illinois State0281969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1981
Western Illinois0081970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982 [lower-alpha 2]
Oregon0081976, 1980, 1989, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018
Tennessee0282005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2023
Missouri0071981, 1983, 1991, 1994, 2009, 2010, 2011
Cal Poly Pomona0071978, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989
Texas0271998, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2022, 2024
Kansas0071973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1992
Michigan State1161973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981
Louisiana0061993, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2008, 2014
LSU0062001, 2004, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017
Utah0061976, 1982, [lower-alpha 2] 1985, 1991, 1994, 2023
Northwestern0161984, 1985, 1986, 2006, 2007, 2022
UMass0061974, 1978, 1980, 1992, 1997, 1998
Long Beach State0051986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
Creighton0051969, 1980, 1981, 1982, [lower-alpha 1] 1986
Georgia0052009, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2021
Oregon State0051977, 1978, 1979, 2006, 2022
Wayne State (NE)0051970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974
Utah State2241978, 1980, 1981, 1984
Northern Iowa1241973, 1975, 1976, 1977
Baylor0042007, 2011, 2014, 2017
Indiana0141979, 1980, 1983, 1986
DePaul0041999, 2000, 2005, 2007
Iowa0041995, 1996, 1997, 2001
Southern Illinois [lower-alpha 5] 0041970, 1971, 1977, 1978
South Dakota State0041971, 1972, 1973, 1974
Stanford0042001, 2004, 2023, 2024
Luther (IA)0041970, 1971, 1972, 1974
John F. Kennedy (NE)3331969, 1970, 1971
Texas Woman's1131975, 1978, 1979
Minnesota0031976, 1978, 2019
Louisiana Tech0031983, 1985, 1986
Adelphi0031984, 1985, 1988
UNLV0031990, 1991, 1995
Western Michigan0031980, 1981, 1982 [lower-alpha 1]
Nebraska–Kearney [lower-alpha 6] 0031969, 1970, 1971
Minot State0031970, 1971, 1972
Emporia State0031971, 1972, 1979
Weber State0031973, 1974, 1975
North Dakota State0031973, 1974, 1975
Iowa State0121971, 1973
Cal State Northridge0121993, 1994
Princeton0021995, 1996
Southern Miss0021999, 2000
Central Michigan0021982, [lower-alpha 2] 1987
Minnesota–Duluth0021970, 1971
Midland Lutheran (NE)0021970, 1971
New Mexico0021980, 1981
Rutgers0021979, 1981
Concordia (NE)0021970, 1971
Upper Iowa0021970, 1971
Eastern Illinois0021971, 1974
Central Missouri0021971, 1972
Ball State0021973, 1975
Indiana State0021974, 1976
East Stroudsburg0021975, 1976
Northern State0021975, 1976
UT Arlington0021976, 1977
Sacramento State0021976, 1977
Auburn0122015, 2016
Duke0012024
Hawaii0012010
James Madison0012021
Kent State0011990
Kentucky0012014
Northern Illinois0011988
Pacific [lower-alpha 7] 0011983
South Florida0012012
Toledo0011989
UConn0011993
UIC0011994
Virginia Tech0012008
St. Petersburg Junior College (FL)0011969
Black Hills State (SD)0011969
Midwestern (IA)0011970
Parsons (IA)0011971
Wartburg (IA)0011971
Wisconsin–Eau Claire [lower-alpha 8] 0011971
South Dakota0011971
Southwest Baptist (MO)0011971
Buena Vista (IA)0011971
Simpson (IA)0011971
University of Tokyo–Nihon0111972
Keene State0011972
Purdue0011972
West Georgia0011974
Golden West College (CA)0011974
Winona State0011974
Nassau Community College (NY)0011974
Western Oregon [lower-alpha 9] 0011975
Northwest Missouri State0011975
Ohio0011975
Minnesota State [lower-alpha 10] 0011975
Tarkio (MO)0011976
Northwestern Oklahoma State0011976
Mayville State (ND)0011976
West Chester (PA)0011977
Springfield (MA)0011977
Portland State0011978
Stephen F. Austin0011978
Chapman (CA)0011979
New Mexico State0011981
Ohio State0011982 [lower-alpha 2]
Rhode Island0011982 [lower-alpha 2]
U.S. International (CA) [lower-alpha 11] 0011982 [lower-alpha 2]

UCLA's 1995 NCAA championship and Nebraska's 1985 runner-up finish were vacated by the NCAA and are not counted

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 NCAA WCWS participant in 1982, when both the AIAW and NCAA conducted championships with the same name
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 AIAW WCWS participant in 1982, when both the AIAW and NCAA conducted championships with the same name
  3. All appearances to date made as Southwest Missouri State.
  4. All appearances to date made as Nebraska–Omaha.
  5. The NCAA uses "Southern Illinois" strictly to refer to the university's main campus in Carbondale. The Edwardsville campus is referred to as either "SIU Edwardsville" or "SIUE".
  6. Made all appearances as Kearney State.
  7. This is the Division I institution in California, in full the University of the Pacific. The Division III institution in Oregon named Pacific University is referred to as "Pacific (OR)".
  8. Made only appearance as Wisconsin State University–Eau Claire.
  9. Made only appearance as Oregon College of Education.
  10. Made only appearance as Mankato State.
  11. Now known as Alliant International; no longer sponsors athletics.

Championships and appearances by conference

This listing excludes results of the pre-NCAA Women's College World Series of 1969 through 1982 (both Division I tournaments in 1982—AIAW and NCAA—were called "Women's College World Series").

ConferenceChampionships
(Through 2024)
Title Game/Series Appearances
(Through 2024)
WCWS appearances
(Through 2024)
Pac-12 [c 1] 243999
SEC31051
Big 1281143
Big Ten1325
Big West [c 2] 1419
ACC1313
Big Eight [c 3] [c 4] 12
WAC [c 5] 1211
Atlantic 106
Southwest [c 6] [c 4] 245
Conference USA [c 7] 5
Sun Belt6
CCAA 4
MAC4
Metro [c 7] [c 4] 4
Southland3
Big East [c 8] 3
Ivy2
Missouri Valley [c 9] 2
CAA 1
Independent1
Summit League [c 10] 1
NorPac [c 11] [c 4] 13
North Star [c 12] [c 4] 1
WCAA [c 13] [c 4] 336

Championships coaches

Updated through 2024 World Series

Source: [7]

CoachNCAA Championships
(Through 2024)
Title Game/Series Appearances
(Through 2024)
WCWS appearances
(Through 2024)
Schools
Mike Candrea 8 (1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2007)1323 Arizona
Patty Gasso 8 (2000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)1017 Oklahoma
Sharron Backus 7 (1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992)1214 UCLA
Sue Enquist [c 14] 6 (1989, 1990, 1992, 1999, 2003, 2004)1316 UCLA
Bob Brock 2 (1983, 1987)45 Texas A&M
Clint Myers 2 (2008, 2011)39 Arizona State, Auburn
Kelly Inouye-Perez 2 (2010, 2019)29 UCLA
Tim Walton 2 (2014, 2015)311 Florida
Lonni Alameda 1 (2018)35 Florida State
Judi Garman 1 (1986)16 Cal State Fullerton
Carol Hutchins 1 (2005)212 Michigan
Patrick Murphy 1 (2012)214 Alabama
Diane Ninemire 1 (2002)311 California
Heather Tarr 1 (2009)28 Washington
Margie Wright 1 (1998)410 Fresno State
Notes
  1. UCLA's 1995 WCWS participation & title were vacated by the NCAA and are not included in these figures; see above. The Pac-12, which adopted its current name on July 1, 2011, retains all historical records from its years as the Pac-10. The conference had adopted the "Pac-10" name in 1978, but did not begin sponsoring women's sports until the 1986–87 school year.
  2. The Big West Conference was known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association until July 1988. Totals include all appearances by conference members under both names, but includes only appearances after the conference began sponsoring women's sports in 1984–85.
  3. Nebraska's 1985 WCWS participation & title game appearance were vacated by the NCAA and are not included in these totals. The Big Eight merged with four teams from the Southwest Conference to form the Big 12 in 1996.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Conference is now defunct.
  5. The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) did not sponsor women's sports until the 1990–91 academic year, after absorbing the High Country Athletic Conference (HCAC), a parallel women's-only conference. The WAC maintains all historic records from the HCAC; totals include Utah State's 1984 and Utah's 1985 appearances while in the HCAC.
  6. Texas A&M won two titles in four title game and five WCWS appearances while they were still members of the Southwest Conference, which is now defunct. Texas A&M was a charter member of the Big 12 in 1996, but left for the Southeastern Conference in July 2012.
  7. 1 2 Following the breakup of the Metro in 1991 by Florida State, South Carolina, Cincinnati, and Memphis, the Metro and its breakaway Great Midwest Conference reunified in 1995 as Conference USA.
  8. Although the American Athletic Conference inherited the charter of the original Big East Conference following the 2013 Big East split, the current Big East Conference maintains all athletic records of the original conference in all sports that it sponsors currently.
  9. Records include those of the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference when it was originally a women's-only conference parallel to the MVC. In 1985, after the MVC stopped sponsoring football, the Gateway took on football as its only men's sport. In 1992, the women's portion of the Gateway merged into the MVC, which maintains all historic records of Gateway women's sports. The football side of the conference maintained the Gateway charter, first as the Gateway Football Conference and now the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
  10. The Mid-Continent Conference adopted its current name of The Summit League in June 2007.
  11. The NorPac, in full the Northern Pacific Conference, was a women's-only conference that operated from 1982 to 1986. The conference disbanded when the then-Pac-10, home to five of the final seven NorPac members, began sponsoring women's sports in 1986–87. The remaining two schools, which were members of the PCAA for men's sports, moved their women's sports to that conference.
  12. The North Star Conference was a women's-only conference that merged into the Mid-Continent Conference, now The Summit League, in 1992. The Summit maintains all historic records of North Star sports.
  13. The WCAA, in full the Western Collegiate Athletic Association, was a women's-only conference that operated from 1981 to 1986. Its final five members were all members of the conference known at the time as the Pac-10 and moved their women's sports to that league.
  14. UCLA's 1995 WCWS participation & title were vacated by the NCAA and are not included in these figures; see above. The Pac-12, which adopted its current name on July 1, 2011, retains all historical records from its years as the Pac-10. The conference had adopted the "Pac-10" name in 1978, but did not begin sponsoring women's sports until the 1986–87 school year.

See also

Footnotes

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    References

    1. "8 things to know about the 2022 Women's College World Series | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
    2. Mary L. Littlewood (1998). Women's Fastpitch Softball – The Path to the Gold, An Historical Look at Women's Fastpitch in the United States (first ed.). National Fastpitch Coaches Association, Columbia, Missouri. pp. 145, 208. ISBN   0-9664310-0-6.
    3. Grundy, Pamela & Shackelford, Susan (2005). Shattering the Glass . The New Press. ISBN   1-56584-822-5.
    4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Plummer, William; Floyd, Larry C. (2013). A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States: Turnkey Communications Inc. ISBN   978-0-9893007-0-4.
    5. Starr, Mark (June 12, 1995). "No Credit For UCLA". Newsweek . p. 58.
    6. Montville, Leigh (June 12, 1995). "Ringer From Down Under". Sports Illustrated .
    7. "CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY".