Who's going to the Women's College World Series? Experts make NCAA softball super regional picks
The Women's College World Series is fast approaching with 16 softball teams participating in the super regional round of the NCAA Tournament, all two wins away from a trip to Oklahoma City to play for the national championship.
But only eight can make it. The winners in the best-of-three super regionals on campus sites will advance to the WCWS.
So which eight will make it? Experts who cover softball for the USA TODAY Sports Network have picked the super regional winners and the eventual WCWS champion. Here are their picks:
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Tallahassee Super Regional
Georgia at Florida State
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Florida State
Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Florida State
Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Florida State
Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Florida State
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Florida State
Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: Florida State
Christina Long, Greenville News: Florida State
Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: Florida State
Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Florida State
Stillwater Super Regional
Oregon at Oklahoma State
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma State
Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Oregon
Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Oregon
Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Oregon
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Oklahoma State
Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat: Oregon
Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: Oklahoma State
Christina Long, Greenville News: Oklahoma State
Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: Oklahoma State
Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Oregon
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma State
Norman Super Regional
Clemson at Oklahoma
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma
Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Oklahoma
Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Oklahoma
Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Oklahoma
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Oklahoma
Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat: Oklahoma
Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: Oklahoma
Christina Long, Greenville News: Oklahoma
Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: Oklahoma
Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Oklahoma
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma
Durham Super Regional
Stanford at Duke
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Stanford
Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Stanford
Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Stanford
Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Stanford
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Duke
Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat: Stanford
Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: Stanford
Christina Long, Greenville News: Stanford
Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: Stanford
Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Stanford
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Stanford
Tuscaloosa Super Regional
Northwestern at Alabama
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Alabama
Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Alabama
Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Alabama
Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Alabama
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Alabama
Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat: Northwestern
Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: Alabama
Christina Long, Greenville News: Northwestern
Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: Alabama
Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Alabama
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Northwestern
Knoxville Super Regional
Texas at Tennessee
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Tennessee
Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Tennessee
Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Tennessee
Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Texas
Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: Tennessee
Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat: Tennessee
Christina Long, Greenville News: Tennessee
Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: Tennessee
Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Tennessee
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Texas
Seattle Super Regional
Louisiana at Washington
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Washington
Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Louisiana
Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Louisiana
Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Louisiana
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Washington
Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat: Washington
Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: Washington
Christina Long, Greenville News: Louisiana
Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: Washington
Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Louisiana
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Louisiana
Salt Lake City Super Regional
San Diego State at Utah
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Utah
Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Utah
Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Utah
Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Utah
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: San Diego State
Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat: San Diego State
Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: San Diego State
Christina Long, Greenville News: Utah
Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: San Diego State
Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Utah
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Utah
Women’s College World Series
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma. With UCLA out of the field, the number of teams that could even seriously push the Sooners for multiple games shrinks even more. The Sooners’ pitching depth is the primary reason why it’s hard to see anyone beating the Sooners over a series.
Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Florida State. The Seminoles tasted a little bit of adversity during regionals and came through went it mattered. That'll be all the lift FSU needs as Kathryn Sandercock and company have shown they can push through en route to emerging victorious in Oklahoma City.
Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Oklahoma. The Sooners are still the safe bet to win the softball title, and nothing happened in the regional round that should change that thought process.
Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Oklahoma. The Sooners showed no signs of slowing down in their regional, recording run-rule wins in every game. There are other legitimate contenders still in the mix, but none as well-rounded as Oklahoma, and it’s hard to imagine this season doesn’t end in a three-peat.
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Oklahoma. The Sooners entered the tournament as the heavy favorite to win a third straight title, and they did nothing to change anyone's opinion in the first round. Oklahoma tied a NCAA Tournament record with six home runs in a 16-3 win over California in the regional final and outscored its three regional foes 38-3.
Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State. The Seminoles exorcised their demons by overcoming last season’s upset loss at the hands of Mississippi State. Ace Kathryn Sandercock is hitting her stride at the right time, and freshman sensation Makenna Reid has improved as the season continues.
Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: Oklahoma. The NCAA’s regional round had a ton of drama. That is, with the exception of the Norman Regional, where the hometown Sooners outscored their opponents 38-3. Simply put, no one is playing better softball than Oklahoma right now.
Christina Long, Greenville News: Oklahoma. The Sooners are the most complete team in the field, and they have a deep pitching staff built for the postseason. They’ve won 46 straight, and it’s hard to imagine anyone stopping them now.
Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: Florida State. Picking Oklahoma might be the safe option, but don't sleep on Florida State. The Seminoles won the ACC regular-season and tournament championships, plus they have the league's pitcher and coach of the year.
Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Oklahoma. Still standing by the Sooners to win it all this spring. They’ve outscored their opposition 38-3 over three games and none of those games went over six innings. So far, they’ve been unchallenged.
Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma. The Sooners’ regional domination did nothing to detract from their status as the far-and-away favorite in this tournament. Whether it’s hitting, pitching or fielding, this team remains elite at everything it does.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: NCAA softball super regional predictions, Women's College World Series picks
