Everything there is to know about the Women's College World Series, seriously.
Beginning Thursday, here's a rundown on every team and the entire event schedule
OKLAHOMA CITY — This first section will be short and sweet.
The Women’s College World Series begins Thursday, where Oklahoma will be attempting to become the first three-peat champion since since UCLA pulled off the feat more than 30 years ago (1988-90). Over that time, several teams, yet only four programs, have had the same chance only to fail: Arizona in 1995, Arizona in 1998, UCLA in 2005, Arizona in 2008, Florida in 2016, Oklahoma in 2018.
Below is a rundown of every team in the field, what it’s done at the plate, what it’s done on the bases, what it’s done in the circle, a little history, distant and recent, and one player to watch from each team.
Below that is the complete WCWS schedule, with Central Time Zone times and channel listings, too.
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OKLAHOMA
Overall seed: 1
Coach: Patty Gasso
Record: 56-1 (18-0 Big 12)
That’s history: The Sooners are making their 16th trip to the World Series, trying to win their seventh national championship, their third straight and their fifth since 2016. This is also the fourth straight season OU has carried the No. 1 overall national seed into the bracket. The Sooners reached their first World Series in 2000, winning it in their first appearance.
Offensive numbers: .372/.462/.683; 112 HRs, 110 2B, 8 3B, 49 SB/57 SBA
Pitching numbers: 1.00 ERA, 351 IP, 422 SO, 89 BB, .159 OBA, 0.82 WHIP
One to watch: Tiare Jennings is enjoying a huge season, hitting a team-best .436, getting on base at a .500 clip, slugging .818 with 16 home runs, knocking in a team-high 60, while striking out just eight times all season long.
UTAH
Overall seed: 15
Coach: Amy Hogue
Record: 42-14 (15-9 Pac-12)
That’s history: The Utes are in the World Series one season after going 27-27 and finishing seventh in the Pac-12. They got to OKC by way of the Salt Lake City Super Regional over San Diego State because No. 2 overall seed UCLA failed to make its way out of its own regional, losing two straight games.
Offensive numbers: .332/.388/.491; 47 HR, 82 2B, 14 3B, 99 SB/114 SBA
Pitching numbers: 2.71 ERA, 371 2/3 IP, 334 SO, 157 BB, .235 OBA, 1.33 WHIP
One to watch: No Utah pitcher has a conference earned run average better than Mariah Lopez’s 3.30, so that may leave it to an offense sparked by Abby Dayton, who caught fire in conference play, hitting .442 with an on-base percentage of .508.
FLORIDA STATE
Overall seed: 3
Coach: Lonni Alameda
Record: 55-9 (22-2 ACC)
That’s history: The Seminoles have a past with the Sooners. They won the 2018 crown with Oklahoma in the field; fell to OU in the 2021 championship series: and this season came very close to topping the Sooners in Norman, taking a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth inning, only for OU to cap the scoring with two runs in the frame’s bottom half.
Offensive numbers: .307/.404/.503; 57 HR, 119 2B, 13 3B, 126 SB/144 SBA
Pitching numbers: 1.63 ERA, 412 1/3 IP, 338 SO, 118 BB, .189 OBA, 1.02 WHIP
One to watch: The Seminole offense is by committee, with a bunch of hitters hitting between .320 and .365, a couple with the ability to go deep, and several who run with abandon, leaving Katheryn Sandercock — 1.10 ERA, 172 1/3 IP, 107 SO, 17 BB — who threw a perfect game at South Carolina in a regional elimination contest, to make it work in the circle.
TENNESSEE
Overall seed: 4
Coach: Karen Weekly
Record: 49-8 (19-5 SEC)
That’s history: The Vols will be making their eighth World Series appearance, each once sine 2005. Though they’ve never won the national championship, they finished runner-up to Oklahoma in 2013 and were among the last four teams standing in 2005 and 2006.
Offensive numbers: .300/.426/.527; 76 HR, 79 2B, 7 3B, 86 SB/100 SBA
Pitching numbers: 1.48 ERA, 368 IP, 423 SO, 113 BB, .156 OBA, 0.86 WHIP
One to watch: Not on par with Oklahoma, but similar to Florida State, Tennessee can hit and score runs. Still, it’s the pitching of Ashley Rogers that may give them a chance to complete with the likes of the Sooners. Rogers sports a 0.75 earned run average and an 18-1 win-loss mark (0.89 and 8-0 against SEC foes).
ALABAMA
Overall seed: 5
Coach: Patrick Murphy
Record: 45-20 (14-10 SEC)
That’s history: Alabama had to win two straight games over Northwestern after losing its super regional opener to reach OKC. The Crimson Tide will be playing in its 14th World Series, still looking for its second national championship after topping Oklahoma after midnight in the rain in 2012.
Offensive numbers: .274/.353/.416; 55 HR, 67 2B, 3 3B, 66 SB/79 SBA
Pitching numbers: 1.99 ERA, 443 2/3 IP, 462 SO, 111 BB, .193 OBA, 0.96 WHIP
One to watch: The Tide’s scoring less than three earned runs per game, making fifth-year senior pitcher Montana Fouts seemingly it’s only chance. Fouts went 12-5 in the SEC with a sparkling 1.18 earned run average and an amazing 0.73 WHIP. Other ’Bama pitchers went 2-5 in the SEC with a 3.39 ERA.
OKLAHOMA STATE
Overall seed: 6
Coach: Kenny Gajewski
Record: 46-14 (10-8 Big 12)
That’s history: OSU was 39-3 after beating Iowa State 3-2 on April 15, before losing 11 of 13 games coming out of the Big 12 tournament. Nevertheless, the Cowgirls have been perfect since NCAA play began, running the table in both the Stillwater regional and Stillwater Super Regional, outscoring opponents 37-3.Â
Offensive numbers: .327/.414/.505; 52 HR, 107 2B, 10 3B, 48 SB/59 SBA
Pitching numbers: 2.06 ERA, 401 2/3 IP, 431 SO, 137 BB, .205 OBA, 1.09 WHIP
One to watch: Kelly Maxwell’s 1.77 earned run average is not crazy fantastic, but still really, really good and for a team that hit the skids offensively against Big 12 competition — .261/.345/.396 — so much figures to come down Maxwell, especially if the Cowgirls can win their first game.
WASHINGTON
Overall seed: 7
Coach: Heather Tarr
Record: 43-13 (16-8 Pac-12)
That’s history: The Huskies are making their 15th World Series appearance, winning the crown once, in 2009, topping Florida. This season, the Huskies have gone 4-4 against the World Series field, including a 5-4 loss to Oklahoma on Feb. 11. The Sooners did all their scoring against Husky starter Lindsay Loper, but could not get to reliever Ruby Meylan, who pitched the last three innings.
Offensive numbers: .304/.392/.501; 64 HR, 72 2B, 13 3B, 79 SB/95 SBA
Pitching numbers: 2.57 ERA, 364 2/3 IP, 402 SO, 116 BB, .224 OBA, 1.16 WHIP
One to watch: Perhaps like no player in the field, Baylee Klingler is the absolute leader of the Husky offense. Hitting. 388 (.408 against Pac-12 foes), getting on base at a .488 clip, slugging .680, clubbing a team-high 12 home runs and knocking in 47. How far can one player take her team?
STANFORD
Overall seed: 9
Coach: Jessica Allister
Record: 45-13 (14-10 Pac-12)
That’s history: Despite appearing in 20 NCAA draws and reaching six super regionals, this is still just the Cardinal’s third World Series appearance and its first since 2004. Stanford, which lost 10-1 to Oklahoma on Feb. 10, comes in hot, having gone 5-0 since NCAA plan began, including a sweep of No. 8 overall seed Duke at the Durham Super Regional.
Offensive numbers: .285/.353/.402; 24 HR, 72 2B, 15 3B, 46 SB/55 SBA
Pitching numbers: 1.55 ERA, 382 2/3 IP, 416 SO, 78 BB, .205 OBA, 0.96 WHIP
One to watch: Stanford, like Alabama, struggles to score runs, making freshman pitcher NiJarre Canady the focal point of its potential World Series success. Canady brings a 0.48 earned run average and a 16-1 record into the World Series. Against Pac-12 foes, those numbers were not quite so gaudy at 1.30 and 4-1. Still, she’s the Cardinal’s hope.
Schedule
Women’s College World Series
Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City
Thursday
Game 1: Tennessee vs. Alabama, 11 a.m. (ESPN)
Game 2: Oklahoma vs. Stanford, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 3: Florida State vs. Oklahoma State, 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4: Washington vs. Utah, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Friday
Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 2 p.m. (ABC)
Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Sunday
Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, 2 p.m. (ABC)
Game 10: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
Monday
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 11 a.m. (ESPN)
Game 12 (if necessary): Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 13: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10, 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 14 (if necessary): Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10, 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Championship Series
Game 1: Wednesday, June 7, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 2: Thursday, June 8, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 3: Friday, June 9, 7 p.m. (ESPN)