The NCAA softball tournament 2025 field is set, and anticipation is soaring as 64 of the nation’s top teams embark on the road to Oklahoma City. The bracket was revealed during the NCAA softball selection show on Sunday, May 11, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. This prime-time softball selection show marked the official start of the national title chase, which will culminate in the Women’s College World Series at the end of the month=. Fans of NCAA softball and general sports enthusiasts alike can look forward to an exciting, double-elimination tournament featuring powerhouse programs, emerging contenders, and potential Cinderella stories.

Selection Process and Tournament Format

The NCAA softball selection show 2025 unveiled the full NCAA softball bracket, confirming which teams earned spots via automatic bids and which received at-large invitations. In total, 64 teams qualified for the NCAA softball tournament, with 32 automatic bids (awarded to conference champions) and 32 at-large bids decided by the NCAA Selection Committee. This mirrors the standard selection process: conference tournament winners (or regular-season champions for certain conferences) clinch automatic berths, while the committee fills the remaining slots based on national NCAA softball rankings, RPI, and overall resumes.

Once selected, teams are placed into 16 regional sites, each featuring a four-team, double-elimination bracket. The tournament format is familiar to veteran fans – survive a regional, win a best-of-three super regional, and advance to the Women’s College World Series. Every game matters in this NCAA tournament, as one or two losses can end a season. The opening softball regionals 2025 round begins May 16, followed by the super regionals from May 22–25. Ultimately, the final eight teams will meet in Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series from May 30 to June 6 to decide the 2025 national champion.

Rankings and Top Seeds

Heading into the tournament, a handful of elite teams have separated themselves in the polls and earned top seeds. Texas A&M surged late in the season to claim the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, after winning a pivotal series and the SEC regular season crown. Defending champion Oklahoma secured the No. 2 seed and enters the postseason on a quest for a historic fifth straight national title – the Sooners won the 2024 championship (their fourth in a row) and made college softball history with that four-peat. Other high seeds include No. 3 Florida and No. 4 Arkansas (both SEC powers), as well as No. 5 Florida State, the ACC champion. Texas, last year’s runner-up, earned the No. 6 seed and will be eager to capitalize on its strong season.

The preseason and regular season NCAA softball rankings were dominated by the Southeastern Conference, and that strength is reflected in the bracket. The SEC leads all leagues with 14 teams in the tournament field, and an astounding 9 of the 16 national seeds come from the SEC (including Oklahoma and Texas, new members of the conference). During the season the SEC placed 11 teams in the Top 25 rankings (with 6 in the Top 10), so it’s no surprise to see so many SEC hosts. The ACC also enjoys a big presence, sending 9 teams to regionals (boosted by new members like Stanford and California), highlighted by Florida State (No. 5 seed) and Duke (No. 14 seed). The Big Ten, bolstered by UCLA and Oregon joining, has 8 teams in the mix, with UCLA snagging the No. 9 seed and Oregon at No. 16. Meanwhile, the reshuffled Big 12 Conference secured 5 tournament bids; notably, Arizona (now in the Big 12) is the No. 13 seed and Texas Tech is No. 12. This year’s bracket truly reflects the new landscape of collegiate softball, with perennial powers and new contenders spread across multiple conferences.

Regional Matchups and Key Dates

With the bracket set, fans can pore over the regional matchups and envision the path to the World Series. Each of the 16 national seeds will host a regional on campus from May 16–18. The top seed, Texas A&M, welcomes three other teams to College Station and will be favored to emerge from its regional. Interestingly, if seeds hold, the Aggies would face No. 16 seed Oregon in the super regional – a tantalizing potential matchup between a newcomer to the SEC and a former Pac-12 powerhouse. Oregon’s seeding at 16 raised some eyebrows, given the Ducks’ stellar 47–6 record and conference title this year. But as the last seeded team, Oregon has a daunting road, potentially having to go through the No. 1 Aggies to reach Oklahoma City.

Other portions of the bracket promise high drama as well. No. 2 Oklahoma will host the Norman Regional and could see a super regional showdown with No. 15 seed Alabama, pitting two programs with multiple national titles. A heavyweight SEC clash is on the horizon if No. 7 Tennessee and No. 10 LSU win their regionals – that would set up a Knoxville vs. Baton Rouge super regional between conference rivals with World Series experience. Meanwhile, NCAA softball regionals 2025 play in Gainesville and Durham could lead to No. 3 Florida facing No. 14 Duke in the supers, a meeting of the SEC and ACC champions respectively. One of the most intriguing potential super regional pairings is No. 8 South Carolina vs. No. 9 UCLA. South Carolina was a surprise top-eight seed after a strong postseason run, and UCLA – a 12-time national champion program – brings pedigree and star power. A cross-country clash between the Gamecocks and Bruins with a Women’s College World Series berth at stake would be must-see TV for softball fans.

Key dates for the tournament are as follows: NCAA softball regionals 2025 are scheduled for May 16–18 (at 16 campus sites), the super regionals (the round of 16 teams) will run from May 22–25, and the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City is set for May 30–June 6. The WCWS will feature the final eight teams in a double-elimination bracket, ultimately deciding the two finalists who will play for the national championship in a best-of-three series. All eyes will be on Oklahoma City during that first week of June, as the sport crowns its 2025 champion.

Storylines and Players to Watch

This year’s NCAA softball tournament comes with no shortage of compelling storylines. Foremost is the Oklahoma dynasty: the Sooners are not only the four-time defending champions, but they’re also adjusting to a new conference (SEC) and chasing an unprecedented fifth consecutive title. Led by head coach Patty Gasso, Oklahoma reloaded its roster and will rely on both veteran leadership and new stars to keep the streak alive. Challenging them is a field of hungry contenders. Texas, which fell to OU in last year’s finals, is determined to claim its first NCAA softball crown. The Longhorns boast a balanced team and star power in players like catcher Reese Atwood, a Top 3 finalist for national player of the year. Texas A&M, the top seed, has emerged as a juggernaut behind a high-octane offense and solid pitching; the Aggies’ confidence is sky-high as they seek their first Women’s College World Series appearance in over a decade.

The depth of the SEC is another theme – with so many SEC teams in the bracket, intra-conference showdowns are inevitable. Teams like Florida and Tennessee have All-American talent on their rosters and are aiming to add to their trophy cases. Florida’s offense is catalyzed by speedster Korbe Otis, an outfielder who was among the national player of the year finalists, and the Gators’ defensive highlights (like Kendra Falby’s acrobatic catches) have been SportsCenter staples. Tennessee, the SEC Tournament champion, features ace pitcher Karlyn Pickens anchoring the staff and a lineup capable of going deep into June. From the ACC, Florida State brings postseason experience and a powerful lineup, while Clemson and Duke both continue to rise as softball programs with something to prove on the national stage.

Meanwhile, fans should keep an eye on the potential underdogs and breakout players who could steal the headlines. Smaller conference champions such as Grand Canyon, Santa Clara, and Eastern Illinois enter the tournament as long shots but with nothing to lose. Last year, we saw a team like Southeastern Louisiana make its tournament debut and inspire fans – this year there could be another mid-major ready to shock a powerhouse in regional play. Look for clutch performances from battle-tested veterans as well as freshmen making their first NCAA tournament impressions. In a sport known for its dramatic upsets and walk-off moments, the stage is set for new heroes to emerge.

As the NCAA softball tournament 2025 gets underway, softball fans can expect a celebration of the sport’s very best. From the intensity of the regionals to the pressure-packed super regionals and the grand stage of the Women’s College World Series, the next few weeks will showcase why college softball is must-watch excitement. With powerhouse teams looking to cement their legacies and underdogs dreaming of making history, the Road to Oklahoma City promises to be a thrilling ride. Stay tuned as the softball bracket unfolds – by early June, one team will be dogpiling on the dirt in Oklahoma City, hoisting the national championship trophy and etching their name into NCAA softball lore.