The Women’s College World Series has arrived. The last eight teams standing have gathered in Oklahoma City. Weather permitting, they’ll all be in action Thursday, and in a little over a week, one of them will hoist the NCAA championship trophy.
If you need a quick refresher on the format, the participants are split into two four-team brackets. Similar to the regional round, both brackets will be double elimination, then the two survivors will meet in the best-of-three championship series.
We know at least one SEC team will be in the finals, as one bracket is made up exclusively of teams from that conference. That group includes league newcomers Oklahoma and Texas, though one team from the Big 12 Conference they left behind is also in the field here in the opposite bracket. Here’s your guide to the opening-day slate.
No. 3 Florida vs. No. 6 Texas
Time/TV: noon ET, ESPN
The afternoon session features what one might call the all SEC bracket. As such, there is no lack of familiarity for the teams involved. The Longhorns took two of three from the Gators on the road in March, touching up the Florida pitching staff for 20 runs in the first two contests before the Gators avoided the sweep with a 3-1 win. Both teams are capable of putting up big offensive numbers, with Florida’s Taylor Shumaker (86 RBI) and the Longhorns’ Reese Atwood (85) among the nation’s top run producers.
No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 7 Tennessee
Time/TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Sooners’ bid for a fifth consecutive title begins with a difficult assignment in the familiar Oklahoma City confines near their campus. Tennessee won two of three against at Oklahoma earlier this season as Volunteers pitcher Karlyn Pickens kept Oklahoma’s powerful bats quiet. Should the Sooners mount any rallies this time, All-America outfielder Kasidi Pickering will likely be in the midst of them.
No. 12 Texas Tech vs. Mississippi
Time/TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2
While the top eight seeds held in the other half of the bracket, the opposite occurred in this half. Both the Red Raiders and Rebels had to go on the road for super regionals last week but came away victorious. Texas Tech always likes its chances when national ERA leader NiJaree Canady (0.89) is in the circle. Ole Miss, making its first WCWS appearance in program history, has been getting timely deliveries from two-way standout Aliyah Binford and catcher Lexie Brady.
No. 9 UCLA vs. No. 16 Oregon
Time/TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
These longtime rivals from the west coast are perhaps best suited to be playing in the nightcap, although the Bruins accumulated plenty of travel miles for their super regional trip to South Carolina. Now Big Ten foes, the Ducks won their series at home against the Bruins, with Lyndsey Grein getting the better of UCLA’s potent batting order in both Oregon victories. But UCLA is always capable of a big inning when Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery are due up.