Central Arkansas was one of the nation’s best squads last season, but saw their stellar pitching depart. Speaking of departures, two teams that are traditionally near the top of the league also left this summer. The result of it all is a league full of parity and ripe for the picking.

Follow along all weekend as the Tuscaloosa Regional unfolds on the road to the Women’s College World Series.

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

After the final weekend of the regular season, things remained steady at the very top of the Top 25 rankings. But there was movement below as teams battle for postseason positioning.

While the top of the D1Softball Top 25 remains largely unchanged, Minnesota’s sweep at Ohio State has the red-hot Gophers tunneling into the rankings this week.

Texas climbs to a season-high ranking after sweeping Oklahoma State, while Louisville adds another ACC entry to the list.

Reese Atwood did it again as Texas earns the sweep.

Central Arkansas shines atop the ASUN.

Montana Fouts gets her day.

Baylee Klingler wins it this time for Washington.

Following a week of high volatility, there was some movement in the D1Softball Top 25 poll. Central Arkansas and South Carolina join the rankings for the first time.

What lessons did the weekend hold? OU hitters adjusting to pitching changes, South Carolina, Utah and Northern Iowa making sweeping statements and Skylar Wallace and Maya Brady mashing.

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.

Don’t let the last pitch fool you; Georgia and Kylie Macy were among the weekend’s big winners. But Florida State, UCSB and those Texas and UCLA freshmen also excelled.

Oklahoma and Texas provided plenty of drama, on and off the field. UCLA swept aside Stanford. And Montana Fouts just keeps pitching. That and more in What We Learned.

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.

If at first you don’t succeed against Oklahoma, keep trying. And trying. Baylor’s persistence ended OU’s reign at No. 1. And that’s just one of Week 2’s lessons.

There were homers and no-hitters everywhere. Kara Dill’s team upset her former coach. Texas A&M’s pitching staff shined. That and more in D1Softball’s Daily Dozen.

Rachel Garcia-less UCLA mounts an epic comeback, home runs fly and conference foes square off. That and more in Saturday’s Daily Dozen.