The 2024 NCAA softball season is nearing its end, but not without crowning its next champion. Conference tournaments are set to wrap up this weekend in time for the NCAA selection show, where the 2024 tournament bracket and Women's College World Series hopefuls will be announced.
Though it's likely some shuffling will take place upon the end of the conference tournaments, the SEC will dominate the top 16 that are set to become regional hosts with seven in the Top 25 right now. The Big 12 is close with six teams in the rankings, and four in the current top five.
Texas has been a force all season and sits at number one heading into Selection Sunday, with Oklahoma State and Tennessee hot on its heels in second and third. Defending champion Oklahoma and Duke round out the top five. While the Sooners were overwhelming favorites last year, it looked like Texas would be the team to beat entering the 2024 tournament ... until the Sooners beat their arch-rivals for the Big 12 title.
Nevertheless, the WCWS is never devoid of excitement and upsets. Sunday is the first step to discovering who will take it all home at Hall of Fame Stadium in early June, but only the very best will make it to Oklahoma City.
The Sporting News has everything you need to know regarding the NCAA softball selection show, the Division I tournament and Women's World College Series:
When is the NCAA softball selection show in 2024?
- Date: Sunday, May 12
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
The 2024 NCAA Softball selection show will take place on Sunday, May 12, with the bracket scheduled to be unveiled beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
Like March Madness, the full bracket release for the 2024 Women's College World Series is predicated on each of the conference tournaments already being completed, thus securing each of the automatic bids.
What channel is the NCAA softball selection show on?
- TV channel: ESPN2
- Live stream: Fubo
This year's NCAA softball selection show will air on ESPN2. Streaming options includeFubo, which offers a free trial for potential subscribers so you can try before you buy.
If the NCAA selection show is not available to watch live in your location or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs provide a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.
WATCH FROM ANYWHERE: Sign up for NordVPN (30-day moneyback guarantee)
NCAA softball bracket predictions 2024
It remains to be seen how the teams will be seeded for the 2024 NCAA softball tournament. Here are the top 16 teams in the most recent college softball rankings, courtesy of the NCAA:
- No. 1: Texas
- No. 2: Oklahoma State
- No. 3: Tennessee
- No. 4: Oklahoma
- No. 5: Duke
- No. 6: UCLA
- No. 7: Florida
- No. 8: Stanford
- No. 9: LSU
- No. 10: Texas A&M
- No. 11: Washington
- No. 12: Missouri
- No. 13: Arkansas
- No. 14: Georgia
- No. 15: Virginia Tech
- No. 16: Florida State
NCAA softball tournament format 2024
The 2024 NCAA Division I softball tournament will consist of 64 teams: 32 automatic bids and 32 at-larges, selected by the tournament committee. The selection committee will seed the top teams, 1-16, to host regional sites.
Regionals
Each of the 16 regions will pit four teams against each other in a double-elimination format. One team from each region will advance to the super regionals (16 total).
Super Regionals
The winners of the 16 regionals will advance to the super regionals, which feature two teams facing off in a best-of-three series. The winner of the 1-seed region will face off against the winner of the 16-seed region; the 2-seed will face the 15-seed, and so on. The higher-seeded team in the series will host.
In the event two non-seeded teams face off in the super regionals, the team that won the higher-seeded regional will host. For example, the 2022 tournament saw Stanford — which advanced out of 6-seed Alabama's region — play at home vs. Oregon State, which advanced out of the 11-seed region hosted by Tennessee.
Women's College World Series
After the regional and super regional rounds are completed, only eight teams will remain in the NCAA Division I softball tournament. These teams will play in the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. The tournament will revert back to a double-elimination format, with the final two teams advancing to play a best-of-three series for the national championship.
NCAA softball tournament schedule 2024
The 2024 NCAA softball tournament starts with the regional round, which begins on the Thursday after the softball tournament selection show and ends the following Sunday. The dates for the super regionals are still to be finalized but will start no sooner than Thursday, May 23 and end no later than Sunday, May 26.
The Women's College World Series will begin on May 30 and end on June 6 or 7, depending on if a Game 3 is needed among the final two teams.
| Round | Dates |
| Selection show | May 12 |
| Regionals | May 16/17-19 |
| Super regionals | May 23-25/May 24-26 |
| Women's World College Series | May 30-June 6/7 |
| WCWS finals | June 5-7 |
Women's World College Series schedule 2024
The double-elimination portion of the Women's College World Series, which will determine the last two teams to compete for the national championship, will take place May 30-June 3.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV |
| Thursday, May 30 | Game 1 | 12 p.m. | ESPN,Fubo |
| Game 2 | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN,Fubo | |
| Game 3 | 7 p.m. | ESPN2,Fubo | |
| Game 4 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2,Fubo | |
| Friday, May 31 | Game 5 | 7 p.m. | ESPN2,Fubo |
| Game 6 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2,Fubo | |
| Saturday, June 1 | Game 7 | 3 p.m. | ABC,Fubo |
| Game 8 | 7 p.m. | ESPN,Fubo | |
| Sunday, June 2 | Game 9 | 3 p.m. | ABC,Fubo |
| Game 10 | 7 p.m. | ESPNU,Fubo | |
| Monday, June 3 | Game 11 | 12 p.m. | ESPN,Fubo |
| Game 12* | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN,Fubo | |
| Game 13 | 7 p.m. | ESPN2,Fubo | |
| Game 14* | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2,Fubo |
* If necessary
When are the Women's College World Series finals in 2024?
Following the double-elimination portion of the Women's World College Series, the last two teams standing will play in a best-of-three series to determine the national champion. Games 1 and 2 of the WCWS finals will take place on Wednesday, June 5 and Thursday, June 6, respectively. If necessary, Game 3 will take place on Friday, June 7.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV |
| Wednesday, June 5 | Game 1 | 8 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
| Thursday, June 6 | Game 2 | 8 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
| Friday, June 7 | Game 3* | 8 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
* If necessary
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