For No. 12 Northwestern, Kentucky, Miami and tournament newcomer Eastern Illinois, the road to the WCWS begins in the Evanston Regional.

For No. 6 Oklahoma State, Wichita State, Nebraska and UMBC, the road to the WCWS begins in the Stillwater Regional.

For No. 1 Oklahoma, Cal, Missouri and Hofstra, the road to the WCWS begins in the Norman Regional.

For No. 5 Alabama, Central Arkansas, Middle Tennessee and Long Island, the road to the WCWS begins in the Tuscaloosa Regional.

Oklahoma may prove to be unstoppable, but 63 teams are ready to try and prove otherwise. From freshman stars to innovative pitching, and from Austin to Seattle, what’s in store on the road to the Women’s College World Series?

Almost undone by one of the wilder plays of championship week, Northwestern rallied behind its fifth-year seniors to win the Big Ten title in walk-off fashion.

Haley Lee was an All-American before she got to Oklahoma, but she staked her claim as a Sooners superstar after leading the juggernaut to a Big 12 title.

While Friday’s semifinals lacked drama, Texas and Oklahoma’s combined excellence made a great advertisement for another edition of the Red River Rivalry.

Indiana made its hits count against Autumn Pease. Northwestern had too many hitters for Nebraska (again). It’s Hoosiers and Wildcats for the title.

The Big 12 team with all the momentum? Well, at least among those who took the field Thursday in OKC, Cinderella Iowa State fits the bill.

Indiana and Minnesota had to work overtime, but walk-off heroics staved off upsets in the Big Ten tournament.

Was Penn State’s wild walk-off win the final game of Michigan’s season? The first day of the Big Ten tournament offered plenty of drama.

Baylor catcher Sydney Collazos wants those who struggle in silence with the “yips” to know they aren’t alone.

With a historic win to sweep the season series against Arkansas, Central Arkansas offered a fitting opening act for a big weekend in the mid-major ranks.

In rethinking how to assemble, utilize and measure a pitching staff, Florida State coach Lonni Alameda is one of the prophets of a new era in college softball.

Graduate transfers Reedy Davenport, Caroline Jacobsen and Ally Miklesh may be the final puzzle pieces for a program that didn’t exist when they debuted.

Charlotte registered Wednesday’s big win at Virginia Tech to boost its stock, but Central Arkansas is the most upwardly mobile mid-major after a perfect ASUN start.

Softball beyond the Power 5 is rich with stars and stories. Wichita State’s power and pitching lead the D1Softball Mid-Major Rankings.

Monica Abbott’s softball career both defined and defied the times she played through. And her sustained excellence set a standard that may never be matched.

Rather than join a trend of single-sport specialization, Taylor Hogan kept playing everything—and emerged a two-sport champion in college.

Marshall and James Madison arrive to strengthen the Sun Belt, but star-studded Louisiana is still the team to beat in a league full of standouts.

UCF and Wichita State share loaded lineups and pitching question marks, which could produce one of the nation’s most exciting title races.

North Texas returns a loaded roster from a regional finalist and has its eyes on more. But with the likes of Charlotte’s Bailey Vannoy around, Conference USA isn’t short on must-see talent.

AUX is trading palm trees for deep dish, with the second season of the pro softball competition moving from San Diego to Chicago.

Northwestern still has Danielle Williams as the Wildcats chase back-to-back WCWS trips, but the rest of the Big Ten has a lot to offer the champs.

Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are still loaded, national finalist Texas wants to prove it can start how it finished and a deeper league means there will be no easy weekends in the Big 12.

To send off Montana Fouts with an WCWS sequel, a star-studded freshman class will need to adapt quickly to Alabama’s enduring standard of excellence.

North Texas was ahead of schedule in reaching a regional final with one of the NCAA tournament’s youngest teams. That bodes well for an ascendent program’s next step.

With Kat Sandercock and much of its lineup returning, a familiar-looking Florida State could return to familiar postseason territory this season.