Who will make Women's College World Series? NCAA softball tournament picks, predictions
Who will make Women's College World Series? NCAA softball tournament picks, predictions
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Legally blind pitcher Jenica Matos to play D1 softball
The Cheshire High School star in Connecticut can't see home plate but threw three no-hitters last year and will play Division I for the Red Storm.
The field has been set for the 2025 NCAA softball tournament, which means the road to the Women's College World Series is set, too.
As was expected going into the selection show, the SEC dominated: Fourteen of the conference's 16 teams are heading to the postseason, led by SEC tournament co-champions Texas A&M and Oklahoma, the top two seeds of the tournament, respectively. The SEC claimed seven of the top eight seeds and nine of the top 16 overall.
REQUIRED READING: NCAA softball tournament winners, losers, snubs from 2025 selection show
The Sooners are aiming for a dynastic fifth straight national championship, which would place them in rarefied air in all sports. But the field looks more perilous than it has in years past this year, with Patty Gasso's team lacking its usual pitching depth.
Here's a look at our predictions for the 2025 softball NCAA Tournament and Women's College World Series:
Bryan-College Station Regional
No. 1 Texas A&M (45-9)
Marist (47-7-1)
Liberty (47-12)
Saint Francis (26-24)
The Aggies should breeze through their regional with two wins and reach the championship game. Texas A&M will advance to the super regional.
Norman Regional
No. 2 Oklahoma (45-7)
Boston University (39-17)
Omaha (39-11)
Cal (35-19)
The Sooners are going to be motivated after not getting the No. 1 overall seed. Fully expect Gasso and Oklahoma to turn up the heat in their regional.
Gainesville Regional
No. 3 Florida (43-14)
Mercer (38-24)
Georgia Tech (27-22)
Florida Atlantic (44-10)
Florida was the No. 2-ranked team in RPI at the end of the season. The Gators finished sixth in the SEC, but played one of the toughest schedules in the nation.
Fayetteville Regional
No. 4 Arkansas (40-12)
Saint Louis (34-22)
Oklahoma State (33-18)
Indiana (33-18)
The Razorbacks have arguably the best player in the nation in Bri Ellis. That alone should carry them through the regional.
REQUIRED READING: NCAA softball tournament bracket: TV schedule, game times for regional round
Tallahassee Regional
No. 5 Florida State (46-9)
Robert Morris (30-16)
USF (43-14-1)
Auburn (32-22)
Florida State is playing as well as any team in the country, with a deep pitching staff and the best hitting lineup in the ACC. The Seminoles should breeze through their regional.
Austin Regional
No. 6 Texas (46-10)
Eastern Illinois (34-20)
Michigan (38-19)
UCF (33-22-1)
Big Ten tournament champion Michigan could prove to be a tough test for the Longhorns, but Texas is as battle-tested as any program in the country and should ultimately prevail.
Knoxville Regional
No. 7 Tennessee (40-14)
Miami (Ohio) (35-24)
North Carolina (40-15)
Ohio State (43-12-1)
The Lady Vols have one of the best pitchers in college softball in Karlyn Pickens and no one else in the regional can match her arm talent. Tennessee advances.
Columbia Regional
No. 8 South Carolina (40-15)
Elon (33-19)
North Florida (45-13)
Virginia (37-17)
South Carolina snuck in for the final super regional host site. The Gamecocks will take full advantage and have the opportunity to host UCLA in the next round.
REQUIRED READING: NCAA softball bracket: Matchups, top seeds, regional sites for 2025 NCAA Tournament
Los Angeles Regional
No. 9 UCLA (49-10)
UC Santa Barbara (34-24)
San Diego State (37-17)
Arizona State (35-19)
The Bruins, like Oklahoma, are going to be motivated after being "snubbed" for the final super regional host spot.
Baton Rouge Regional
No. 10 LSU (41-14)
SE Louisiana (48-14)
UConn (35-17)
Nebraska (39-13)
Jordy Bahl transferred to Nebraska to bring home a national championship. Bahl delivers for the Cornhuskers as they upset host LSU to advance to the super regionals.
Clemson Regional
No. 11 Clemson (44-12)
SC Upstate (39-14)
Northwestern (29-18-1)
Kentucky (29-26)
The Tigers should feel confident entering their regional after winning the ACC softball tournament championship. Clemson has the "it" factor when it comes to making comebacks and should be good enough to carry on to the super regional.
Lubbock Regional
No. 12 Texas Tech (45-12)
Brown (33-15)
Washington (34-17)
Mississippi State (37-17)
The Red Raiders outscored their opponents 26-0 over three games in the Big 12 Tournament and appear to be playing their best softball. It also helps to have NiJaree Canady on your side.
Tucson Regional
No. 13 Arizona (45-11)
Santa Clara (32-20)
Grand Canyon (46-6)
Ole Miss (37-17)
The Wildcats are ready for the regional round following wins over Alabama, Stanford and UCLA in nonconference play. But don't sleep on Ole Miss and Grand Canyon giving them a run for their money.
Durham Regional
No. 14 Duke (38-16)
Howard (31-18)
Coastal Carolina (41-17)
Georgia (31-20)
How about the Bulldogs showing off the strength of the SEC with a major upset over Duke in the Durham Regional? Georgia has the talent to pull off the upset.
Tuscaloosa Regional
No. 15 Alabama (37-21)
Jackson State (28-23)
Belmont (40-14)
Virginia Tech (41-11)
Virginia Tech had a strong season in the ACC and has a talented pitcher in Emma Lemley. She could carry the Hokies past host Alabama into the super regional round.
Eugene Regional
No. 16 Oregon (47-7)
Weber State (28-30)
Binghamton (36-12)
Stanford (40-11)
Oregon is another program that could feel "disrespected" after barely clinging on for the last national seed. The Ducks had nonconference wins over Florida State and Tennessee and won the Big Ten regular season championship.
REQUIRED READING: NCAA Softball Committee Chair explains why Texas A&M is No. 1 over Oklahoma
Super Regionals
Bryan-College Station Super Regional
No. 1 Texas A&M vs. No. 16 Oregon: Aggies win in three games
The Aggies are ranked No. 1 in RPI for a reason. Texas A&M is talented in all three phases of the game and, despite having a strong roster, Oregon is not a match. But the Ducks do force the "if necessary" game.
Norman Super Regional
No. 2 Oklahoma vs. Virginia Tech: Oklahoma sweeps
The magical run for the Hokies ends here with a motivated Oklahoma squad looking to make history. The Sooners just prove too much for Virginia Tech and earn the sweep.
Gainesville Super Regional
No. 3 Florida vs. Georgia: Florida sweeps
Who doesn't want to see the Gators and Bulldogs battle in the postseason, regardless of the sport? Florida will earn a sweep over their rivals and reach the WCWS once again.
Fayetteville Super Regional
No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Arizona: Arizona wins in three games
This could be a fun back-and-forth super regional with both teams ranking inside the top 12 in RPI. However, in the end, the Wildcats pull off the upset and advance to the WCWS.
Tallahassee Super Regional
No. 5 Florida State vs. No. 12 Texas Tech: Florida State wins in three games
Texas Tech has a strong batting lineup and Canady. However, the Seminoles are deeper in pitching and batting.
Austin Super Regional
No. 6 Texas vs. No. 11 Clemson: Texas wins in three games
The Longhorns and Tigers present another strong super regional matchup. However, the home field advantage for Texas proves to push the team over the top to advance to the WCWS again.
Knoxville Super Regional
No. 7 Tennessee vs. Nebraska: Nebraska wins in three games
Bahl vs. Pickens will be a treat for all college softball fans on a national stage. However, Bahl is going to continue to carry the Cornhuskers over the Lady Vols into the WCWS.
Columbia Super Regional
No. 8 South Carolina vs. No. 9 UCLA: UCLA wins in three games
The Bruins are motivated following the snub behind the Gamecocks. Expect UCLA to flex its offensive power against South Carolina and get back to the WCWS following a short stint away.
Women's College World Series
No. 1 Texas A&M
No. 2 Oklahoma
No. 3 Florida
No. 5 Florida State
No. 6 Texas
No. 9 UCLA
No. 13 Arizona
Nebraska
WCWS championship series
Prediction: No. 1 Texas A&M over No. 3 Florida in three games
The Aggies have been the most impressive team in college softball this season. Texas A&M will go 3-0 in the WCWS to get to the championship series. The Gators will dispose of the Sooners during their run but ultimately fall to Texas A&M in three games in the championship series.
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