How the SEC’s softball dominance could carry it through to the Women’s College World Series
The Oklahoman’s Jenni Carlson shares the top storylines she’s following through the NCAA softball tournament, starting with the SEC’s biggest strengths.
Editor’s note: Here’s a look at Friday’s games at the Women’s College World Series.
Since Oklahoma wrapped up its fourth-consecutive national championship last June, college softball fans have anxiously awaited the return of the Women’s College World Series.
After 51 weeks, that wait is finally over.
The 2025 NCAA softball tournament continues this week with the start of the WCWS at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, the annual eight-team event that ends with the crowning of a national champion.
This year’s field features a number of familiar faces.
Coach Patty Gasso’s Oklahoma team is back, looking to win its fifth national title in a row and ninth overall. The Sooners are one of five teams from the SEC in the WCWS, a group that also includes Texas, which was swept by Oklahoma in last year’s WCWS championship series. UCLA, which has a Division I-leading 13 NCAA softball titles, is in the WCWS for the ninth time in the past 10 years in which the event has been held.Â
There are newcomers, as well. Ole Miss, the only team in the field that did not receive a top-16 national seed heading into the NCAA tournament, is in the WCWS for the first time. So is Texas Tech, which has followed the lead of million-dollar pitcher NiJaree Canady to a program-record 50 wins one year after it went just 8-16 in Big 12 play.
Here’s a look at the schedule for the opening day of the WCWS Thursday, including matchups, start times, TV channels and more:
Women’s College World Series games today
The WCWS kicks off Thursday with a full slate of four games. The winners of each game will advance to take on one another while the losers will aim to avoid elimination in a game against a loser of another game. The WCWS is a double-elimination tournament. When there are only two teams with fewer than two losses remaining, they play in a best-of-three championship series.
Here’s a look at Thursday’s Women’s College World Series schedule:
All times Eastern
- No. 3 Florida vs. No. 6 Texas | Noon | ESPN (Fubo)
- No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 7 Tennessee | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
- No. 12 Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
- No. 9 UCLA vs. No. 16 Oregon | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
The winners of the Florida-Texas and Oklahoma-Tennessee games will advance to play one another while the losers of those contests will do the same. The same holds true for the final two games, with the victorious sides in Texas Tech-Ole Miss and UCLA-Oregon squaring off while the losers of those games will play one another.
Who is in the Women’s College World Series?
The eight-team field for this year’s WCWS features five SEC teams, two Big Ten teams and one Big 12 team. Interestingly, four of the teams in the WCWS — Oklahoma, Texas, UCLA and Oregon — are in their first season in a new conference.
Here’s a look at the WCWS field, with national seeds, if applicable, listed next to a team’s name, along with their 2025 record:
- No. 2 Oklahoma (50-7)
- No. 3 Florida (48-15)
- No. 6 Texas (51-11)
- No. 7 Tennessee (45-15)
- No. 9 UCLA (54-11)
- No. 12 Texas Tech (50-12)
- No. 16 Oregon (53-8)
- Ole Miss (42-19)
Women’s College World Series bracket
Click here to see the official bracket for the 2025 WCWS.
When is the Women’s College World Series?
The WCWS begins Thursday, May 29 and will run through either Thursday, June 5 or Friday, June 6, depending on whether the best-of-three championship series goes two or three games.
Watch the Women’s College World Series live with Fubo (free trial)
What channel is the Women’s College World Series on?
Thursday’s WCWS games will air on ESPN and ESPN2, with the Florida-Texas and Oklahoma-Tennessee games appearing on the former while the Texas Tech-Ole Miss and UCLA-Oregon games matchups will be on the latter. Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Jessica Mendoza (analyst) and Michele Smith (analyst) will be on the call for the Florida-Texas and Oklahoma-Tennessee games while Holly Rowe will serve as the sideline reporter. The Texas Tech-Ole Miss and UCLA-Oregon games will be handled by Kevin Brown (play-by-play), Amanda Scarborough (analyst) and Taylor McGregor (sideline reporter).
Streaming options for all four games include the ESPN App, which requires a valid cable login to access, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
