- Up to 24 Games Available on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU Across Four Days
- Top Seeds: 15 of the 16 National Seeds Advance; James Madison First Unseeded Team to Advance since 2016
The road to the Women’s College World Series (WCWS) continues with NCAA Division I Softball Super Regionals beginning Thursday, May 23, and running through Sunday, May 26. A potential 24 games total will be available across the four days with up to 11 on ESPN, nine on ESPN2 and four on ESPNU. All games will also be available on the ESPN App.
The Field Tightens
After a record setting number of “if necessary” games during the NCAA Division I Softball Regionals and an extra day of action due to weather, the field of 64 has narrowed to 16, with 15 of the 16 national seeds punching their tickets to the Super Regional round.
Highlighting this week’s action, the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners will host No. 16 Northwestern in Norman, Okla. while the defending National Champions No. 4 Florida State host No. 13 Oklahoma State, who advanced to the Super Regionals for the second time in program history. James Madison, the first unseeded team to advance since 2016, will travel cross-country to face the No. 2 UCLA Bruins, the sport’s winningest program with 12 national titles.
WCWS Commentators
Part of ESPN’s WCWS commentator team reunites in Tuscaloosa when Sunday Night Baseball analyst and two-time Olympic softball player Jessica Mendoza joins the “voice of softball” Beth Mowins and lead softball analyst and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Michele Smith. The trio will be on the call as the No. 8 Alabama Crimson tide takes on the No. 9 Texas Longhorns.
WCWS reporter Holly Rowe will be on the ground in Seattle for No. 3 Washington vs. No. 14 Kentucky and lead softball analyst Amanda Scarborough will be in Tallahassee to call the action for the Seminoles vs. Cowgirls.
Shaggin’ Stats
- Only five teams have made at least 12 Super Regional appearances since the format change in 2005: Alabama (15), Arizona (14), Oklahoma (13), Washington (13) and Florida (12). Alabama is the only program to appear in every Super Regional.
- Minnesota hosts a Super Regional for the first time; Advances to Super Regionals for second time in program history
- Four teams advancing to Super Regionals make up the top four programs with most homeruns on the season: Florida State (104), Oklahoma (103), Arizona (103) and James Madison (101)
7Innings Podcast
The 7Innings Podcast continues to chronicle the Road to the Women’s College World Series with this week’s upcoming episode breaking down the bracket, answering questions submitted via twitter, Shaggin’ some Stats and playing a little over under. Episodes are posted to ESPN Audio, iTunes and Spotify weekly.
espnW
espnW will continue to provide the latest news, scores and highlights on its website and various social handles throughout Super Regional play. Look for these features and more:
- Before the season, UCLA’s Stevie Wisz was told she needed heart surgery immediately. Instead, she’s running the bases for the Bruins, hoping to help them win a national title.
- Spotlight on Tallahassee, where defending champion Florida State takes on Oklahoma State.
- With Amber Fiser in the circle, Minnesota takes aim at the Women’s College World Series.
Super Regionals Television Schedule and Commentators
Norman Super Regional
PxP: Tiffany Greene
Analyst: Kayla Braud
- College: Alabama
- Honors: National Champion (2012), two time All-American, SEC Freshman of the Year
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Network |
| Fri, May 24 | 3 p.m. | No. 16 Northwestern vs. No. 1 Oklahoma | ESPN2 |
| Sat, May 25 | 4 p.m. | No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 16 Northwestern | ESPN |
| Sun, May 26 | 2 p.m. | Game 3 (If Necessary) | ESPN |
Los Angeles Super Regional
PxP: Pam Ward
Analyst: Jenny Dalton-Hill
- College: Arizona
- Honors: National Player of the Year (1996) and Women’s College World Series MVP (’96), Four-time National Champion, winning three as a player (1993, ’94, and ’96) and one as an assistant coach, also with Arizona (1997)
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Network |
| Fri, May 24 | 9 p.m. | James Madison vs. No. 2 UCLA | ESPNU |
| Sat, May 25 | 8 p.m. | No. 2 UCLA vs. James Madison | ESPN |
| Sun, May 26 | 4 p.m. | Game 3 (If Necessary) | ESPNU |
Seattle Super Regional
PxP: Mark Neely
Reporter: Holly Rowe
Analyst: Danielle Lawrie
- College: Washington
- Honors: National Champion (2009), All-American, and played for Canadian National Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Network |
| Fri, May 24 | 9 p.m. | No. 14 Kentucky vs. No. 3 Washington | ESPN2 |
| Sat, May 25 | 10 p.m. | No. 3 Washington vs. No. 14 Kentucky | ESPN2 |
| Sun, May 26 | 10 p.m. | Game 3 (If Necessary) | ESPN2 |
Tallahassee Super Regional
PxP: Courtney Lyle
Analyst: Amanda Scarborough
- College: Texas A&M
- Honors: Two-time All-American (2005, ’07). Only player in Big 12 history to receive Freshman of the Year and Player of Year in same season (2005), played in two WCWS (2007, ’08)
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Network |
| Thu, May 23 | 7 p.m. | No. 13 Oklahoma State vs. No. 4 Florida State | ESPN |
| Fri, May 24 | 7 p.m. | No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 13 Oklahoma State | ESPN |
| Sat, May 25 | Noon | Game 3 (If Necessary) | ESPN |
Gainesville Super Regional
PxP: Eric Frede
Analyst: Madison Shipman
- College: Tennessee
- Analyst: Three time All-American, SEC Player of the Year, 2014 NPF Rookie of the Year
Date |
Time (ET) | Game | Network |
| Fri, May 24 | 7 p.m. | No. 12 Tennessee vs. No. 5 Florida | ESPN2 |
| Sat, May 25 | 6 p.m. | No. 5 Florida vs. No. 12 Tennessee | ESPN |
| Sun, May 26 | 2 p.m. | Game 3 (If Necessary) | ESPNU |
Tucson Super Regional
PxP: Mike Couzens
Analyst: Erin Miller
- College: Oklahoma
- Honors: Co-Big 12 Player of the Year (2016); Top 10 Finalist for 2016 Senior Class Award (2016); Two-time National Champion (2013, ’16); All-American (2016)
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Network |
| Fri, May 24 | 7 p.m. | No. 11 Ole Miss vs. No. 6 Arizona | ESPNU |
| Sat, May 25 | 8 p.m. | No. 6 Arizona vs. No. 11 Ole Miss | ESPN2 |
| Sun, May 26 | 8 p.m. | Game 3 (If Necessary) | ESPN2 |
Minneapolis Super Regional
PxP: Jenn Hildreth
Analyst: Carol Bruggeman
- College: Iowa
- Honors: As a Division I coach at Michigan, Purdue, and Louisville, achieved more than 700 combined wins; All Big-Ten and All-Mideast Region as a player, inducted into the Iowa Softball Association Hall of Fame (1997)
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Network |
| Fri, May 24 | 5 p.m. | No. 10 LSU vs. No. 7 Minnesota | ESPN2 |
| Sat, May 25 | 6 p.m. | No. 7 Minnesota vs. No.10 LSU | ESPN2 |
| Sun, May 26 | 4 p.m. | Game 3 (If Necessary) | ESPN |
Tuscaloosa Regional
PxP: Beth Mowins
Analysts:
Jessica Mendoza
- College: Stanford
- Honors: Four-time All-American (1999, 2000, ’01, ’02); member of gold medal-winning team at the 2004 Athens Olympics and silver medal winning team at 2008 Beijing Olympics
Michele Smith
- College: Oklahoma State
- Honors: Two-time All-American, two time Olympic Gold Medalist (1996, ’00) and eight time Japan Pro League MVP
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Network |
| Thu, May 23 | 9 p.m. | No. 9 Texas vs. No. 8 Alabama | ESPN |
| Fri, May 24 | 9 p.m. | No. 8 Alabama vs. No. 9 Texas | ESPN |
| Sat, May 25 | 2 p.m. | Game 3 (If Necessary) | ESPN |
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