2024 NCAA Softball Tournament regional and Women's College World Series predictions
We're on the road to Devon Park in Oklahoma City and the Women's College World Series.
For the first time since 2019, the Oklahoma Sooners are not entering the NCAA softball tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. No worries for coach Patty Gasso and Co. The three-time defending champions are the No. 2 overall seed, while Texas takes top billing.
The 64-team tournament begins Friday and we'll exit the weekend with 16 teams headed for super regionals and then a final eight teams for the WCWS in OKC. Each round is a double-elimination format.
Here's how writers from across the USA Today Sports Network have made their picks for the winner of each regional and who will win the WCWS.
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Austin Regional
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Texas
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Texas
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Texas
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: Texas
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Texas
College Station Regional
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Texas State
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Texas A&M
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Texas State
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: Texas State
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Texas A&M
Stanford Regional
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Stanford
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Stanford
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Stanford
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: Stanford
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Stanford
Baton Rouge Regional
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: LSU
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: LSU
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: LSU
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: LSU
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: LSU
Stillwater Regional
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma State
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Michigan
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Oklahoma State
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: Oklahoma State
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma State
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Fayetteville Regional
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Arkansas
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Arizona
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Arizona
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: Arizona
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Arizona
Lafayette Regional
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Louisiana
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Louisiana
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Louisiana
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: Baylor
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Baylor
Gainesville Regional
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Florida
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Florida
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Florida
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: Florida
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Florida
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Knoxville Regional
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Tennessee
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Tennessee
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Tennessee
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: Tennessee
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Tennessee
Tuscaloosa Regional
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Clemson
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Clemson
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Clemson
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: Alabama
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Alabama
Athens Regional
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Georgia
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Charlotte
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Georgia
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: Charlotte
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Georgia
Los Angeles Regional
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: UCLA
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Virginia Tech
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: UCLA
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: UCLA
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: UCLA
Columbia Regional
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Washington
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Missouri
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Missouri
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: Missouri
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Washington
Durham Regional
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Duke
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Duke
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Duke
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: Duke
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Duke
Tallahassee Regional
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Florida State
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Florida State
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Auburn
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: Auburn
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Florida State
Norman Regional
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Oklahoma
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Oklahoma
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: Oklahoma
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma
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WCWS winner
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma. The Sooners are more vulnerable than they’ve been in several years but their win over Texas in the Big 12 Tournament final showed OU still has plenty of firepower. They’ve got a deep lineup, solid if not overwhelming pitching, strong defense and the home-field advantage throughout the tournament.
Cora Hall, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Tennessee. The Lady Vols are as talented and balanced as they have ever been. With the lethal pitching duo they have, and the consistency across the board they’ve shown all season, they are capable of winning the first national title in softball for UT.
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Texas. From pitching options to a loaded lineup, this Longhorn squad seems to have it all. I expect to see a fifth matchup with Oklahoma in the championship game, and the Sooners can’t win an unprecedented fourth consecutive national title, can they?
Noah Ram, The Gainesville Sun: Florida. Call it a homer pick if you must, and sure, picking the Gators is going out on a little bit of a limb. But with Oklahoma not as dominant this season, I’m going with the hottest team in the field, and that’s Florida. UF has won eight in a row and outscored opponents in the SEC Tournament 22-8, a tournament for the toughest conference in college softball. The Gators have the best offense in the country and an absolute ace in Keegan Rothrock. They need fellow freshman Ava Brown to step up behind her, but if she does, this Florida squad will be the team to beat in OKC.
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma. The Sooners regrouped after a pair of losses to their Bedlam rivals, then ran through the Big 12 Tournament. Sure, they have a few more losses than usual, but they have the firepower in the lineup and the experience on the pitching staff to go the distance again. And until someone dethrones the queens of softball, they are the rulers.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 2024 NCAA Softball Tournament: Regional predictions, WCWS champion