Sonny Dykes' journey from college baseball player to coach in the CFP semis
WCWS Fan Fest
The WCWS Fan Fest is the all-inclusive space for college softball fans to explore and celebrate the sport during the opening week of the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. Fan Fest will feature merchandise, sponsor activations, sport interactives, food, photo opportunities, and much more!
Cost Admission is FREE to all in attendance Location USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex Parking Lot Hours of Operation (Central Time) Thursday, May 30 TBA Friday, May 31 TBA Saturday, June 1 TBA Sunday, June 2 TBA Monday, June 3 TBA *Times Subject To ChangeThere's so much to do at Women's College World Series Fan Fest! Be sure to check out the amazing activities brought to you by our Corporate Champions & Partners! While you're here don't forget to cool off with your favorite beverages, grab a snack, and show your team spirit with our free face painting and glitter tattoos station!
Featured Fan Fest Attractions
AT&T
Come check out the AT&T Fan Zone, where you can relax and catch up on all your College World Series highlights via the AT&T Connected Car TV & Lounge space. Use this as a time to recharge, while learning about AT&T's best deals for new and existing customers!
Capital One The Capital One Clubhouse at Women's College World Series is the ultimate sports paradise for fans this year. Stop by our sport interactives to test your skills at Lacrosse and Speed Pitch and knock it out of the park in our Home Run Derby interactive. After you hit your home run, stop by the prize center to get your prize. Don't forget to get your photo with the 2023 NCAA Women's College World Series trophy before you head to the game.
Coca-Cola Swing by the Coca-Cola Mini IceHouse for two stories of shade and fun including a cool photo opp! Make sure to grab an ice-cold Coca-Cola to help beat the summer heat!
POWERADE
Get ready to give 50% more at Powerade's 50% MORE HOME PLATE CHALLENGE . We'll challenge fans to work on their fundamentals by taking 50% more swings, catching 50% more pop flies, and grabbing 50% more ground balls. POWERADE. 50% More ELECTROLYTES. 100% WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES.
BuickStop by the Buick display to see the newest lineup! Buick is a proud partner of the NCAA.
U.S. ArmyMany aren't aware of the world of possibilities that opens up to you when you become a Soldier in the U.S. Army. By recreating the sights, sounds, and excitement of real Army missions, this immersive experience will dare visitors to dream bigger and be all they can be.
Dick's Sporting GoodsCheck out the Dick's Sporting Goods activation for giveaways, a photo op and even try your hand at the accuracy toss interactive! GameChanger will be alongside Dick's Sporting Goods to celebrate softball and show you how you can be a GameChanger when you play.
NCAA® Authentic Team StoreStop by the NCAA® Authentic Team Store to purchase your commemorative keepsakes from the 2023 NCAA Women's College World Series®. Choose from a wide variety of headwear, novelty and apparel items all in one spot.
Rawlings Stop by the Rawlings footprint to pick up a new softball glove or even demo a new bat in the hitting tunnel! Make sure you get a picture with the giant inflatable softball before you head into the game!
ESPNWBe sure to take an Instagram-worthy photo in front of ESPNW's beautiful shimmer wall!
17 USA Players We Miss From Olympic Softball
The saying is true -- you don't know what you have until it's gone.The 2016 Rio Olympics are the second Games since we've been able to binge-watch the best international softball players for two weeks straight, and all the celebration of softball's reinstitution into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics has us missing some of our favorite softball Olympians. Take a look at our list, tell us who you miss, and rejoice that we get to see a whole new Team USA in 2020.
1. Laura Berg Olympics: 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008Why: She's the only USA Softball Olympian with four medals. At least we still get to see her on the sidelines for Team USA as the Junior Women's Nationals Team Head Coach, as well as the head coach of the Oregon State Beavers.
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5. Leah O'Brien-Amico Olympics: 1996, 2000, 2004Why: She's got three NCAA National Championships AND three Olympic gold medals. Yes, we sure miss Leah, but we're glad we see her every once in a while as an analyst for NCAA softball on ESPN and inspiring young softball players across the country.[tweet url="https://twitter.Com/leah20usa/status/746183762115854337" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
6. Lori Harrigan Olympics: 1996, 2000, 2004Why: A younger generation may know her as the Olympian who was on The Biggest Loser, but she deserves to be remembered as a three-time gold medalist and one of the best pitchers to play the game. Plus, she's doing camps with the next player on our list...[instagram url="https://www.Instagram.Com/p/BItp-K6DDmI/?Taken-by=lori.Harriganmack" hide_caption="0"]
7. Crystl Bustos Olympics: 2000, 2004, 2008Why: We all miss The Big Bruiser and her home-run swing, don't even pretend you don't. If you're in Nevada, check out her Ruthless Sports Training where she's creating the next generation of Olympic softball players.[instagram url="https://www.Instagram.Com/p/BI6EGeDApbd/?Taken-by=gotbustos6" hide_caption="0"]
8. Stacey Nuveman Olympics: 2000, 2004, 2008Why: She's arguably the best catcher to ever play the game. At least she's traded her position behind the plate for one in the dugout as the Associate Head Coach for San Diego State.
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10. Lovieanne Jung Olympics: 2004, 2008Why: She's a two-time Olympic medalist who has transformed her career into a full-time fire fighter. And she wrote a tear-jerker of a Mother's Day letter to her daughter.
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12. Jessica Mendoza Olympics: 2004, 2008Why: She shattered batting records, but now she's shattering something more important -- glass ceilings. She's the first woman to be a regular broadcaster for ESPN's Baseball Tonight.[tweet url="https://twitter.Com/Allure_magazine/status/762691106953830400" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
13. Cat Osterman Olympics: 2004, 2008Why: She's everyone's favorite Texan and one of the most dominant strikeout pitchers of this generation. Her "Last Ride" with the USSSA Pride left us in tears, but you can relive her storied career in our FloFilm Cat Osterman: The Last Ride.14. Natasha Watley Olympics: 2004, 2008Why: Known as one of the greatest slappers ever, she only retired from the NPF last year but not before leaving her legacy as the first African-American to represent USA Softball in the Olympics. She now runs her own charity organization, the Natasha Watley Foundation.15. Monica Abbott Olympics: 2008Why: Her million dollar arm! What more can we say? We want to see her in Tokyo in 2020.
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17. Caitlin Lowe Olympics: 2008Why: Another Olympic career cut short, she brought tears to our eyes with what we named "Softball's Best Story You Didn't Hear" with her goodbye letter to the sport she loves.
Road To The Championship
National ParticipationThere are 291 NCAA member institutions that sponsor Division I Softball teams and are eligible to compete in the National Championship. All 291 programs support approximately more than 6,000 Softball student-athletes across the country.
Selection ProcessThe Division I Softball Championship provides for a field of 64 teams to compete in the national tournament. Of the 64 teams, 32 teams will receive automatic qualification with the remaining best 32 teams selected on an at-large basis by the Division I Softball Committee. Sixteen teams will be seeded and each of the seeded teams will be placed at one of the regional sites.
Selection ShowThe NCAA Division I Softball Championship bracket will be announced during the Selection Show.
RegionalsRegionals for the NCAA Division I Softball Championship will be held on 16 campus sites. At each campus site, a four-team, double-elimination tournament will be conducted, and the 16 winning teams advanced to the Super Regionals.
Super RegionalsSuper Regionals for the NCAA Division I Softball Championship will be held on eight campus sites. At each site, two teams play in a best-of-three tournament format. The winners from each site advance to the NCAA Women's College World Series.
Women's College World SeriesThe NCAA Women's College World Series will be held at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium - OGE Energy Field in Oklahoma City. The eight teams will compete in a double elimination bracket with the final two teams then competing in a best of three format. The USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium - OGE Energy Field has hosted the annual NCAA Division I Softball Championship in Oklahoma City for years.
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