2021 NCAA Division I softball tournament

The 2021 NCAA Division I softball tournament was held from May 21 through June 10, 2021 as the final part of the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. 31 teams were awarded automatic bids as champions of their conferences after the Ivy League opted out of the 2021 softball season. The remaining 33 were selected at-large by the NCAA Division I softball selection committee on May 16, 2021. The tournament culminated with eight teams playing in the 2021 Women's College World Series at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.[1]

2021 NCAA Division I
softball tournament
Teams64
Finals site
ChampionsOklahoma (5th title)
Runner-upFlorida State (11th WCWS Appearance)
Winning coachPatty Gasso (5th title)
MOPGiselle Juarez (Oklahoma)
TelevisionESPN
ESPN2
ESPN3
ABC

Bids

Automatic bids

The Big Ten, Big West, Mountain West, Pac-12, and West Coast Conference bids were awarded to the regular-season champion. All other conferences had their automatic bid go to the conference tournament winner.

ConferenceSchoolBest finishReference
America EastUMBCRegionals
(2002, 2019)
AmericanWichita StateRegionals
(1989, 2005, 2016, 2018)
ACCDukeFirst appearance
A-10George WashingtonFirst appearance
ASUNLibertyRegionals
(2002, 2011, 2018)
Big 12OklahomaChampions
(2000, 2013, 2016, 2017)
Big EastVillanovaFirst appearance
Big SkyPortland StateRegionals
(2013)
Big SouthCampbellRegionals
(1995, 2008, 2009)
Big TenMichiganChampions
(2005)
Big WestLong Beach StateWCWS
(1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993)
CAAJames MadisonSuper Regionals
(2016, 2019)
Conference USAWestern KentuckyRegionals
(2013, 2015)
Horizon LeagueUICWCWS
(1994)
Ivy LeagueIvy League season canceled
MACMiami (OH)Regionals
(2005, 2009, 2012, 2016)
MAACManhattanRegionals
(1999)
MEACMorgan StateFirst appearance
MVCSouthern IllinoisWCWS
(1970, 1977, 1978)
Mountain WestFresno StateChampions
(1998)
NortheastSaint Francis (PA)Regionals
(2017, 2018, 2019)
OVCEastern KentuckyRegionals
(2002, 2004)
Pac-12UCLAChampions
(1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2019)
Patriot LeagueBoston UniversityRegionals
(1996, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019)
SECAlabamaChampions
(2012)
SoConUNC GreensboroRegionals
(1997, 2018)
SouthlandMcNeese StateRegionals
(1994, 2005, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018)
SWACAlabama StateRegionals
(2016, 2019)
Summit LeagueSouth Dakota StateFirst appearance
Sun BeltLouisianaWCWS
(1993, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2008, 2014)
WACSeattleRegionals
(2019)
West CoastBYUSuper Regionals
(2010)

At-large

TeamConference
ArizonaPac-12
Arizona StatePac-12
ArkansasSEC
AuburnSEC
BaylorBig 12
ClemsonACC
FloridaSEC
Florida StateACC
GeorgiaSEC
Iowa StateBig 12
KentuckySEC
Kennesaw StateASUN
LSUSEC
MinnesotaBig Ten
Mississippi StateSEC
MissouriSEC
Northern IowaMVC
NorthwesternBig Ten
Notre DameACC
Oklahoma StateBig 12
Ole MissSEC
OregonPac-12
South AlabamaSun Belt
South FloridaAmerican
StanfordPac-12
TennesseeSEC
TexasBig 12
Texas A&MSEC
Texas StateSun Belt
TroySun Belt
UCFAmerican
Virginia TechACC
WashingtonPac-12

By conference

Conference Total Schools
SEC 12 Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M
Pac-12 6 Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, Washington
ACC 5 Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech
Big 12 5 Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas
Sun Belt 4 Louisiana, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy
American 3 South Florida, UCF, Wichita State
Big Ten 3 Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern
ASUN 2 Liberty, Kennesaw State
Missouri Valley 2 Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois
Mountain West 1 Fresno State
America East 1 UMBC
Atlantic 10 1 George Washington
Big East 1 Villanova
Big Sky 1 Portland State
Big South 1 Campbell
Big West 1 Long Beach State
Colonial 1 James Madison
Conference USA 1 Western Kentucky
Horizon 1 UIC
MAAC 1 Manhattan
Mid-American 1 Miami (OH)
Mid-Eastern 1 Morgan State
Northeast 1 Saint Francis (PA)
Ohio Valley 1 Eastern Kentucky
Patriot 1 Boston University
SoCon 1 UNC Greensboro
Southland 1 McNeese State
Southwestern 1 Alabama State
Summit 1 South Dakota State
WAC 1 Seattle
West Coast 1 BYU

National seeds

16 National Seeds were announced on the Selection Show, on Sunday, May 16 at 9 p.m. EDT on ESPN2. 15 of the 16 national seeds hosted Regionals. Teams in italics advanced to Super Regionals. Teams in bold advanced to the Women's College World Series.

Regionals and Super Regionals

The Regionals took place May 20–23. The Super Regionals took place May 27–30.

Norman Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
1 Oklahoma 19(5)
Morgan State 0
1 Oklahoma 7
Wichita State 5
Texas A&M 7
Wichita State 9
1 Oklahoma 24
Norman Regional – OU Softball Complex
Wichita State 7
Morgan State 3
Texas A&M 10
Wichita State 9
Texas A&M 6
1 Oklahoma 4 9(5)
16 Washington 2 1
16 Washington 3
Portland State 0
16 Washington 1
Michigan 2
Seattle 0
Michigan 2
Michigan 0 5
Seattle Regional – Husky Softball Stadium
16 Washington 2 10
Portland State 5
Seattle 6
16 Washington 8(5)
Seattle 0

Columbia Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
8 Missouri 8(6)
UIC 0
8 Missouri 4
Northern Iowa 0
Northern Iowa 8(5)
Iowa State 0
8 Missouri 5
Columbia Regional – Mizzou Softball Stadium
Iowa State 0
Iowa State 4
UIC 0
Northern Iowa 3
Iowa State 4
8 Missouri 1 7 2
James Madison 2 1 7
9 Tennessee 8
Eastern Kentucky 1
9 Tennessee 1
James Madison 3
James Madison 4(10)
Liberty 3
James Madison 8
Knoxville Regional – Sherri Parker Lee Stadium
Liberty 5
Liberty 5
Eastern Kentucky 1
9 Tennessee 1
Liberty 3

Stillwater Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
5 Oklahoma State 10(5)
Campbell 0
5 Oklahoma State 9
Mississippi State 3
Boston University 1
Mississippi State 3
5 Oklahoma State 10(5)
Stillwater Regional – Cowgirl Stadium
Mississippi State 2
Campbell 7
Boston University 1
Mississippi State 12(5)
Campbell 0
5 Oklahoma State 6 2 2
12 Texas 1 4 0
12 Texas 12(5)
Saint Francis (PA) 0
12 Texas 6
Texas State 0
Texas State 5
Oregon 1
12 Texas 2 1
Austin Regional – Red and Charline McCombs Field
Oregon 3(8) 0
Oregon 7
Saint Francis (PA) 0
Texas State 0
Oregon 2

Gainesville Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
4 Florida 1
South Florida 0
4 Florida 10
South Alabama 0
South Alabama 2
Baylor 0
4 Florida 8
Gainesville Regional – Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium
South Florida 0
Baylor 0
South Florida 5
South Alabama 0
South Florida 1
4 Florida 0 0
Georgia 4 6
13 Duke 2
UNC Greensboro 0
13 Duke 0
Georgia 1
Western Kentucky 3
Georgia 11(6)
Georgia 10
Athens Regional – Jack Turner Stadium
13 Duke 9
UNC Greensboro 4
Western Kentucky 8
13 Duke 4(12)
Western Kentucky 0

Tuscaloosa Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
3 Alabama 9(6)
Alabama State 0
3 Alabama 6
Clemson 0
Troy 0
Clemson 8(5)
3 Alabama 5
Tuscaloosa Regional – Rhoads Stadium
Clemson 0
Alabama State 0
Troy 8(6)
Clemson 4
Troy 2
3 Alabama 4 4
14 Kentucky 3 1
14 Kentucky 3
Northwestern 2
14 Kentucky 3
Notre Dame 12(5)
Miami (OH) 2
Notre Dame 3
Notre Dame 0 0
Lexington Regional – John Cropp Stadium
14 Kentucky 7 4
Northwestern 7
Miami (OH) 1
14 Kentucky 7
Northwestern 2

Fayetteville Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
6 Arkansas 8(5)
Manhattan 0
6 Arkansas 4
South Dakota State 0
South Dakota State 7
Stanford 1
6 Arkansas 7
Fayetteville Regional – Bogle Park
Stanford 3
Stanford 11
Manhattan 2
South Dakota State 1
Stanford 2(10)
6 Arkansas 4 1
11 Arizona 10 4
11 Arizona 7
UMBC 0
11 Arizona 12
Ole Miss 6
Villanova 1
Ole Miss 5
11 Arizona 12
Tucson Regional – Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium
Ole Miss 6
UMBC 3
Villanova 4
Ole Miss 6
Villanova 2

Baton Rouge Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
7 LSU 10(6)
McNeese State 2
7 LSU 10
Louisiana 3
George Washington 0
Louisiana 1(11)
7 LSU 0 8
Baton Rouge Regional – Tiger Park
Louisiana 2 5
McNeese State 12(5)
George Washington 0
Louisiana 4
McNeese State 0
7 LSU 0 3
10 Florida State 1 4(9)
10 Florida State 6
Kennesaw State 2
10 Florida State 3
UCF 0
UCF 5
Auburn 4
10 Florida State 2
Tallahassee Regional – JoAnne Graf Field
UCF 0
Auburn 0
Kennesaw State 1
UCF 2
Kennesaw State 0

Los Angeles Super Regional

Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
2 UCLA 8(5)
Long Beach State 0
2 UCLA 5(8)
Fresno State 4
Fresno State 3
Minnesota 0
2 UCLA 2
Los Angeles Regional – Easton Stadium
Minnesota 1
Minnesota 11
Long Beach State 0
Fresno State 3
Minnesota 6
2 UCLA 2 2 6
Virginia Tech 7 0 0
15 Arizona State 7
Southern Illinois 4
15 Arizona State 2
Virginia Tech 8
BYU 2
Virginia Tech 5
Virginia Tech 11(5)
Tempe Regional – Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium
BYU 3
Southern Illinois 2
BYU 7
15 Arizona State 8
BYU 9

Women's College World Series

The Women's College World Series was held June 3 through June 10 in Oklahoma City.

Participants

SchoolConferenceRecord (conference)Head coachWCWS appearances†
(including 2021 WCWS)
WCWS best finish†*WCWS W–L record†
(excluding 2021 WCWS)
AlabamaSEC50–7 (18–6)Patrick Murphy13
(last: 2019)
1st
(2012)
20–23
ArizonaPac-1241–13 (12–10)Mike Candrea24
(last: 2019)
1st
(1991, 1993, 1994, 1996
1997, 2001, 2006, 2007)
62–34
Florida StateACC44-10-1 (26–5-1)Lonni Alameda11
(last: 2018)
1st
(2018)
13–18
GeorgiaSEC34–21 (7–17)Lu Harris-Champer5
(last: 2018)
3rd
(2009, 2010)
5–8
James MadisonCAA39–2 (17–1)Loren LaPorte1
OklahomaBig 1250–2 (16–1)Patty Gasso14
(last: 2019)
1st
(2000, 2013, 2016, 2017)
32–20
Oklahoma StateBig 1247–10 (15–3)Kenny Gajewski9
(last: 2019)
3rd
(1989, 1990, 1993, 1994)
12–16
UCLAPac-1246–5 (19–2)Kelly Inouye-Perez30
(last: 2019)
1st
(1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2019)
103–36

† = From NCAA Division I Softball Championship Results

Bracket

First round Second round Semifinals Finals
               
1 Oklahoma 3
James Madison 4(8)
James Madison 2
5 Oklahoma State 1
5 Oklahoma State 3
Georgia 2
James Madison 3 1
1 Oklahoma 6 7
1 Oklahoma 8(6)
Georgia 0
2 UCLA 3
1 Oklahoma 10
1 Oklahoma 4 6 5
10 Florida State 8 2 1
3 Alabama 5
11 Arizona 1
3 Alabama 6
2 UCLA 0
10 Florida State 0
2 UCLA 4
3 Alabama 0 5
10 Florida State 2 8
11 Arizona 3
10 Florida State 4
5 Oklahoma State 2
10 Florida State 4

Game results

Date[2] Game Winning team Score Losing team Winning pitcher Losing pitcher Save Notes
June 3 Game 1 James Madison4–3 (8)OklahomaOdicci Alexander (17–1)Shannon Saile (17–1)
Game 2 Oklahoma State3–2GeorgiaCarrie Eberle (26–3)Mary Wilson Avant (20–11)
Game 3 Alabama5–1ArizonaMontana Fouts (26–3)Hanah Bowen (11–3)
Game 4 UCLA4–0Florida StateRachel Garcia (18–1)Kathryn Sandercock (24–3)
June 4 Game 5 James Madison2–1Oklahoma StateOdicci Alexander (18–1)Carrie Eberle (26–4)JMU: First unseeded team in WCWS history to advance to the semifinals[3]
Game 6 Alabama6–0UCLAMontana Fouts (27–3)Rachel Garcia (18–2)Montana Fouts perfect game; sixth in WCWS history[4][5]:64
June 5 Game 7 Oklahoma8–0 (6)GeorgiaGiselle Juarez (19–1)Mary Wilson Avant (20–12)Georgia eliminated
Game 8 Florida State4–3ArizonaKathryn Sandercock (25–3)Mariah Lopez (9–3)Arizona eliminated
Game 9 Oklahoma10–3UCLAGiselle Juarez (20–1)Rachel Garcia (18–3)UCLA eliminated
Game 10 Florida State4–2Oklahoma StateKathryn Sandercock (26–3)Kelly Maxwell (15–5)Oklahoma State eliminated
June 6 Game 11 Oklahoma6–3James MadisonNicole May (15–1)Odicci Alexander (18–2)
Game 12 Florida State2–0AlabamaKathryn Sandercock (27–3)Lexi Kilfoyl (14–3)
June 7 Game 13 Oklahoma7–1James MadisonGiselle Juarez (21–1)Odicci Alexander (18–3)James Madison eliminated
Game 14 Florida State8–5AlabamaDanielle Watson (11–1)Montana Fouts (27–4)Alabama eliminated
Finals
June 8 Game 1 Florida State8–4OklahomaDanielle Watson (12–1)Nicole May (15–2)Florida State 1–0
June 9 Game 2 Oklahoma6–2Florida StateGiselle Juarez (22–1)Kathryn Sandercock (27–4)Tied 1–1
June 10 Game 3 Oklahoma5–1Florida StateGiselle Juarez (23–1)Danielle Watson (12–2)Oklahoma wins WCWS

Finals

June 8, 2021 – 6:30 p.m. (CDT) at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Team1234567RHE
Florida State00250018112
Oklahoma0002020483
WP: Danielle Watson (12–1)   LP: Nicole May (15–2)   Sv: Kathryn Sandercock (2)
Home runs:
FSU: Kalei Harding
OKLA: Kinzie Hansen, Nicole Mendes
Attendance: 12,173
Boxscore
June 9, 2021 – 6:00 p.m. (CDT) at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Team1234567RHE
Oklahoma00100416110
Florida State2000000241
WP: Giselle Juarez (22–1)   LP: Kathryn Sandercock (27–4)
Home runs:
OKLA: Jocelyn Alo, Jana Johns
FSU: Elizabeth Mason
Attendance: 12,115
Boxscore
June 10, 2021 – 2:00 p.m. (CDT) at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Team1234567RHE
Florida State0010000120
Oklahoma113000x550
WP: Giselle Juarez (23–1)   LP: Danielle Watson (12–2)
Home runs:
FSU: None
OKLA: Jocelyn Alo, Jayda Coleman
Attendance: 10,830
Boxscore

All-tournament Team

The following players were members of the Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team.

PositionPlayerSchool
PGiselle Juarez (MOP)Oklahoma
Odicci AlexanderJames Madison
Montana FoutsAlabama
Kathryn SandercockFlorida State
2BTiare JenningsOklahoma
OFMackenzie DonihooOklahoma
Kate GordonJames Madison
Nicole MendesOklahoma
Kaley MudgeFlorida State
CKinzie HansenOklahoma
UJocelyn AloOklahoma
Bailey HemphillAlabama

Record by conference

Conference # of Bids Record Win % RF SR WS NS F NC
Big 12 5 23–12 .657 4 3 2 1 1 1
ACC 5 19–11 .633 5 2 1 1 1
SEC 12 35–25 .583 9 7 2 1
CAA 1 7–3 .700 1 1 1 1
Pac-12 6 21–14 .600 5 3 2
American 3 6–6 .500 3
Big Ten 3 5–6 .455 2
ASUN 2 3–4 .429 1
Sun Belt 4 6–8 .429 1
WCC 1 2–2 .500 1
Other 22 8–44 .154

The columns RF, SR, WS, NS, F, and NC respectively stand for the Regional Finals, Super Regionals, College World Series Teams, National Semi-Finals, Finals, and National Champion.

Media coverage

Radio

For the first time ever Westwood One will provide nationwide radio coverage of every game in the Women's College World Series. It was streamed online at westwoodsports.com, through TuneIn, and on SiriusXM. Ryan Radtke and Leah Amico return as the broadcast team.

Television

ESPN held exclusive rights to the tournament. The network aired games across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, Longhorn Network, ACC Network and ESPN3. For just the fourth time in the history of the women's softball tournament, ESPN covered every regional. ABC will air a super regional game for the first time in tournament history.[6]

Broadcast assignments

References

  1. "2021 Women's College World Series schedule". NCAA.com. May 4, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  2. Chester, Michella (May 30, 2021). "2021 Women's College World Series: Bracket, schedule, scores". NCAA.com. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  3. Adelson, Andrea (June 5, 2021). "College softball: Inside Odicci Alexander, James Madison's Cinderella WCWS run". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  4. Brunt, Cliff (June 5, 2021). "Fouts throws perfect game, leads Alabama past UCLA in WCWS". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  5. Plummer III, 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. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-9893007-0-4. In the AIAW 1982 WCWS, Jenny Stallard of USIU pitched an 8-inning perfect game against top-seeded Texas A&M, winning 1-0.
  6. Elchlepp, Kimberly (May 26, 2021). "The Road to the WCWS: ESPN Networks to Televise Every Game of the NCAA Division I Softball Super Regionals". espnpressroom.com. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
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