It’s that time of year again—when dreams are made in dugouts and legacies are written under the bright lights of Oklahoma City.
The 2025 NCAA Softball Tournament field is set, and the road to the Women’s College World Series is paved with powerhouse programs and bracket-busting underdogs. But which eight teams will survive the madness and make it to Devon Park?
We’ve studied the matchups, checked the stats, and made our picks. Here are the eight squads we believe will be standing when the dust settles and the WCWS begins.
No. 1 Texas A&M (45-9)
The Aggies carry the No. 1 seed and enter the tournament as the top-ranked RPI team in the nation for a reason. They lead the country with an impressive 19 wins against Top 25 opponents this season and are coming off a dominant showing in the SEC Tournament, capped off by a 14-2 victory over Texas in the semifinal. Emiley Kennedy is a true ace, and their offense, led by Mya Perez and Mac Barbara, is plenty lethal enough to power them to OKC.
A&M should make short work of their regional, and then I expect them to advance past Oregon in the Super Regional round.
No. 2 Oklahoma (45-7)
Oklahoma has won four consecutive national championships coming into this tournament, and despite starting a majority of underclassmen, the Sooners find themselves right in the mix for another title. The OU offense is still as powerful as any team in the country, topping 100 home runs on the year yet again. Patty Gasso has another title contender on her hands, and while they aren’t the overwhelming favorite to win a fifth-straight title, they’ve got the pieces to get it done.
The Sooners should have little trouble getting out of the first weekend, and I’ve got them advancing past Virginia Tech in the Super Regional.
No. 3 Florida (43-14)
Florida’s early exit from the SEC Tournament might have some folks hesitant to bet on the Gators making it out of a tricky regional and then past the winner of the Durham Regional. Anyone who’s watched this team knows that they have the firepower on offense to outscore pretty much anyone in the country. Yes, there might be a little more angst with UF dealing with teams like Georgia Tech and FAU during the first weekend, but they’re simply too well-rounded to go out that early.
Then, in the second weekend of action, I’ve got the Gators getting past a good Duke team. I’d pick the series to go a full three games, but I like the Gators to get it done in the end.
No. 4 Arkansas (40-12)
No disrespect to Oklahoma State, but I don’t see Arkansas having much trouble advancing out of their Regional bracket with how Bri Ellis and the Hogs are swinging the bats. Their tougher test comes in Super Regionals, when Arizona comes to Fayetteville with all the tools needed to take down a national title contender. Arizona has had to play second fiddle to Texas Tech throughout Big 12 play, but make no mistake—the Wildcats team has the pieces to make a run to OKC. ‘Zona doesn’t have just one, but two star two-way pitchers in the circle with Devyn Netz and Miranda Stoddard being damage in the circle and on the base paths.
In a series that goes the distance, I’ll take Arkansas to just barely edge out the Big 12 runner-up to advance to Oklahoma City.
No. 12 Texas Tech (45-12)
The Red Raiders might not be one of the top five teams in the bracket or RPI, but there might not be a team in the country that will be harder to beat in a three-game series. NiJaree Canady is the best pitcher in the country, and with her ability to throw an entire weekend, getting runs on the board will simply be too much for the vast majority of offenses.
Florida State is no joke, and their No. 3 ranking in RPI stands to prove as such. However, this time of year is all about matchups, and Canady is the biggest equalizer in the game. With her in the circle, Texas Tech is this year’s version of Stanford, just better at the plate.
No. 6 Texas (49-10)
There are many pundits worried that Texas might’ve peaked early this season, and their 8-7 record over the last month might give that opinion some credence. However, a deeper look at this team reveals the scary truth—there might not be a deeper, more experienced team in the field. If Texas is able to buck its downward trend in Regional play, they could easily become the team that nobody wants to see in OKC.
After dispatching Michigan and UCF in Austin, the Longhorns will host a red-hot Clemson team that just won the ACC. It won’t be easy, but Texas has been battle-tested and will stand up to the test that the Tigers present in Super Regionals.
Nebraska (39-13)
It’s hard to consider Texas Tech as an underdog, even if their seeding matchup against Florida State would suggest it. However, a non-seeded Nebraska team advancing out of the Baton Rouge Regional only to follow that up with a series win over No. 7 Tennessee would definitely make them the underdog story coming into Oklahoma City. Former Oklahoma star pitcher Jordy Bahl is the name to know here, as her history of hitting the next level in the postseason makes her difficult to pick against.
Like Canady, Bahl is a matchup nightmare for any offense, and even with Karyln Pickens on the other side, it feels like Nebraska is a team that can will its way to OKC.
No. 9 UCLA (49-10)
The only team more familiar with the WCWS than Oklahoma is UCLA, and picking the field for Oklahoma City without them feels wrong. Sure, we saw them get bounced in the opening round of the 2023 tournament, but the Bruins have appeared in every other WCWS field dating back to 2015. Yes, they’ll have to travel across the country to take on South Carolina in the Supers, but this team has all kinds of experience that should carry over for Kelly Inouye-Perez.
They won’t be anyone’s favorite to win the title, but would it really be that surprising to see them right in the mix for things come June? UCLA makes it OKC and gives us one more blueblood in a star-studded field.
