Softball: Strength and Success! The Women’s College World Series and Why It Matters
A Big Moment in Sports
Something really exciting is happening in sports right now. More people than ever are watching college softball. More girls are playing, and the best college teams in America all want to win one thing: the Women’s College World Series (WCWS).
Every spring, the top teams travel to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for this huge tournament. Thousands of fans fill the stadium. Millions more watch on TV. It’s one of the biggest events in all of college sports.
But the WCWS isn’t just about winning games. The skills these players learn on the field help them for the rest of their lives. Playing softball teaches young women how to lead, work hard, and believe in themselves.
In this article, you’ll learn about the WCWS, the special stadium where it’s played, the 2025 and 2026 championships, how the catcher position works, and how sports can help girls grow into great leaders.
Part 1: Softball Is Getting More Popular Than Ever
Softball has been growing fast. A few years ago, not many people watched college softball on TV. Today, millions of people tune in every year.
TV Numbers Are Breaking Records
In 2025, the WCWS set a new all-time record. An average of 1.3 million people watched each game on ESPN. That’s a 24% jump from 2024.
The championship game that year was even bigger. About 2.4 million people watched it — making it the most-watched college softball game EVER.
On top of that, the games leading up to the championship averaged about 591,000 viewers. That’s the most in four years.
Social Media Is Exploding Too
It’s not just TV. Softball fans are very active online. In 2025, college softball programs saw a 37% jump in how often fans liked, shared, and commented on their posts. That’s even bigger than the growth seen in college baseball.
Here are some highlights:
The University of Oklahoma got 154.8 million social media views in 2025. That’s more than any other softball program.
The Texas Longhorns, the 2025 national champions, got over 2 million views on a single post about winning the title.
Texas Tech saw a 419% jump in social media attention and the highest fan engagement rate in the whole country.
Other schools like Ole Miss, Florida, Tennessee, and Oregon also saw big jumps in fans watching and following their teams.
These numbers show that America is falling in love with fastpitch softball. The players are amazing athletes. The games are fast and exciting. And the fans are loyal and passionate.
Part 2: Devon Park — The Home of Champions
Every great sport needs a great place to be played. For college softball, that place is Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
People call it the “Softball Capital of the World.” That nickname fits perfectly. Devon Park has been home to the WCWS since 1987. It’s where champions are made.
How Big Is Devon Park?
Devon Park holds 13,000 fans in the main stadium. That’s a LOT of people. For comparison, the stadium at UCLA, one of the top softball schools in the country, holds only about 1,300 fans. Devon Park is ten times larger!
On June 7, 2024, Devon Park set an all-time record: 12,324 fans packed the stadium for one game.
The complex has four separate playing fields. This means four games can happen at the same time during the tournament. More than 150,000 players and fans visit Devon Park every year.
How the Stadium Grew Over Time
Devon Park didn’t start out this big. It has been updated and expanded many times over the years:
2003: First big renovation
2013-2015: New dugouts, underground locker rooms, and training rooms were added
2018: A brand-new press box and a giant video scoreboard were built
2020: The biggest upgrade yet — a $27.5 million project added a second level of seats, giving the stadium 4,000 more seats
The city of Oklahoma City helped pay for many of these upgrades. They know that having such a great facility is good for the whole city.
More improvements are on the way. A new $15 million project will add an indoor batting cage, pitching tunnels, and a sports medicine area connected by an underground tunnel.
The Stadium’s Name
The stadium has had a few different names over the years. It opened in 1987 as the “Don E. Porter ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.” In 2017 it became the “USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.” Then in May 2024, an oil and gas company called Devon Energy paid to have the stadium renamed “Devon Park.” Devon Energy is based right there in Oklahoma City.
Thanks to this deal, Devon Park will stay the home of the WCWS through at least 2035.
Devon Park and the Olympics
Here’s something amazing: Oklahoma City was chosen to host the softball events for the 2028 Summer Olympics! Even though the Olympics will be in Los Angeles, the city didn’t have a good enough stadium for softball. So the organizers decided to use Devon Park instead — even though it’s about 1,300 miles away.
That’s how good Devon Park is. It’s Olympic-level.
Next to the Hall of Fame
Right next to Devon Park is the National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum. It celebrates the best players, coaches, and umpires in the history of the sport. Being inducted there is one of the biggest honors in softball.
The “Debutante Curse”
Did you know that teams playing in the WCWS for the first time usually struggle? This is called the “debutante curse.” (A “debutante” is someone appearing somewhere for the first time.)
In the 2026 WCWS, both Mississippi State and Arkansas were playing in their first-ever WCWS. Both teams were knocked out in the first two rounds. Only three first-time teams have ever won the whole tournament.
Devon Park is a big, loud, exciting, and scary place to play. Experience matters!
Part 3: The 2025 and 2026 Championships
How the Tournament Works
The WCWS starts with 64 teams from all across the country. Only the top 8 make it to Oklahoma City.
Those 8 teams play a “double elimination” format. That means you aren’t out until you lose two games. If you lose your first game, you’re not done — you go to the loser’s bracket and get another chance. The last two teams standing play a best-of-three series to decide the national champion.
The 2025 Championship: Texas vs. Texas Tech
In 2025, two Texas schools — the Longhorns (University of Texas) and the Red Raiders (Texas Tech) — faced off in the championship.
Texas was only the 6th seed, which means they weren’t expected to win. But they did it anyway, making history. Texas won the championship — their very first ever — by beating Texas Tech 10-4 in Game 3.
Texas put up five runs early. One big hit was a three-run home run by a player named Leighann. Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan was named the Most Outstanding Player of the whole tournament.
It was a huge deal: Texas became the first SEC (Southeastern Conference) school to win the softball national championship since Florida did it back-to-back in 2014 and 2015.
The 2026 Championship: A Rematch!
The 2026 WCWS started with a rematch nobody expected: Texas vs. Texas Tech AGAIN.
Texas came in as the #2 seed. Their team was hitting .336 as a team (very good!) and had already hit 98 home runs. Their pitchers had a 2.41 ERA (that means they don’t let many runs score).
Texas Tech came in as the #11 seed, looking for revenge and their first national championship.
2026 WCWS: Game-by-Game Results
Texas Tech’s journey was incredible. They had to survive FOUR elimination games just to reach the finals. Their coach, Gerry Glasco, kept reminding them that they hadn’t lost two games in a row all season. That gave them the confidence to keep fighting.
Texas lost their first game to Tennessee, then won five straight to reach the championship series.
In Game 1 of the Finals on June 3, 2026, Texas won 7-3. The Longhorns scored five runs in the very first inning. Texas Tech’s Mia Williams hit a home run, and Mihyia Davis hit her 10th homer of the year, but the Red Raiders could not come back from the early deficit. Game 2 is scheduled for June 4, 2026, at 8 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
Part 4: The Catcher — The Leader Behind Home Plate
Every player on a softball team has an important job. But one position is the most important for leadership: the catcher.
Why the Catcher Is Special
Think about where the catcher stands. They squat right behind home plate, facing OUTWARD. That means they can see the entire field, all nine players, and everything that’s happening in the game.
No other player has that view.
Because of this, the catcher has a huge job:
They call each pitch (they tell the pitcher what type of pitch to throw)
They position the fielders (they wave players to move left or right)
They protect home plate (if someone tries to score, the catcher is there to tag them out)
They catch the ball on every single pitch — and block wild pitches that bounce in the dirt
They back up the first and third basemen
They throw out runners trying to steal bases
That’s why coaches often call the catcher the “quarterback” of the team.
The Gear a Catcher Wears
Catching is not easy on the body. A catcher puts on a lot of equipment before every game:
A helmet with a face mask
A chest protector (like a thick vest)
Shin guards on both legs
They wear all this gear in the summer heat, and they squat down hundreds of times every game. It takes a tough person to be a catcher.
A fastpitch softball is thrown from only 43 feet away — that’s very close. The pitcher can throw it more than 65 miles per hour. A catcher has to react in less than a blink of an eye to catch it, or drop to their knees to block it.
How Catchers Learn the Right Mechanics
Good catchers practice their footwork and body position constantly. Here are some key rules:
Weight should be on the balls of your feet, NOT on your heels
Feet should be shoulder-width apart with toes pointed outward
For a right-handed catcher, the left foot is slightly in front of the right
When a pitch goes wild, get your BODY in front of it — don’t just reach with your glove
Coach Dennis Sarow, who has trained catchers for over 25 years, says: “You can’t throw runners out if you’re not stopping the ball.” He trains catchers by bouncing tennis balls wide to make them practice diving sideways.
Catchers Are Leaders With Their Voice
The best catchers don’t just catch the ball. They TALK. Constantly.
A catcher calls out warnings, moves fielders, encourages the pitcher, and keeps everyone focused. A quiet catcher is a problem. Coach Sarow tells his players: “Just pretend you’re yelling at your brother!” — meaning, be loud and clear.
UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez called her catcher Sharlize Palacios the “quarterback behind the plate.” Palacios helped guide UCLA’s young pitchers through the pressure of the playoffs.
Famous Catchers Who Are Role Models
Some catchers have become legends:
Aubree Munro played at the University of Florida and won an Olympic gold medal. She was so good at throwing that in 2016, opponents barely even TRIED to steal bases against her.
Jen Schroeder (Schro) was a three-time WCWS catcher at UCLA. After playing, she built one of the top catcher training programs in the country. Her students have won 9 of the last 10 WCWS championships, and all three Team USA catchers trained with her. She proves that great catchers don’t just play the game — they teach it.
Kinzie Hansen plays at the University of Oklahoma (jersey #9). Even in high school, she was a star, hitting .426 with 7 home runs. Today she is known for being the kind of leader who lifts up everyone around her.
Part 5: Sports Make Girls Into Great Leaders
Playing softball — and sports in general — does more than make girls better athletes. Research shows it makes them better people, better students, and better leaders.
What the Research Shows
The Women’s Sports Foundation studied women across seven age groups, from their 20s all the way into their 80s. They wanted to know: does playing sports as a kid actually change your life?
The answer was YES. Big time.
67% of women said sports taught them lessons they still use today as adults
49% said sports taught them specific leadership skills
73% said the biggest lesson was teamwork
71% of women who held leadership jobs (like Manager, Director, or CEO) had played sports
And here’s something important: you don’t have to be a STAR athlete to get these benefits. Even playing recreationally — just for fun on a community team — gives you the same core skills.
Athletes vs. Non-Athletes: The Numbers Are Stunning
A huge study looked at more than 30,000 girls and compared those who played sports to those who didn’t:
Sports don’t just make girls more fit. They help them make better choices, feel better about themselves, and succeed in school. That’s a big deal.
Sports and Self-Confidence
One huge gift sports gives to girls is self-confidence. When you learn to hit a curveball, block a wild pitch, or make a big play under pressure, you learn something: YOU are capable of hard things.
That confidence stays with you. A girl who knows her body is strong and capable doesn’t need other people’s approval to feel good about herself. She knows what she can do.
From the Field to the Boardroom
When those girls grow up, many of them become leaders at the highest levels of business. Here’s what research found about female executives (top bosses) and sports:
Think about that. Nearly all of the most powerful women in American business played sports. That’s not a coincidence.
The Softball Player in the Boardroom
Think about what a catcher does. She calls pitches under pressure. She makes split-second decisions. She leads her team even when things aren’t going well. She gets hit by wild pitches and gets back up.
Now imagine that same woman in a business meeting. An investor says no. A project fails. The market gets rough. Does she panic? No. She’s been through harder things on the softball diamond.
The Playing Field Isn’t Level Yet
Here’s the bad news: not all girls get equal chances to play sports.
Only 1 in 3 girls ages 6-12 play sports regularly
40% of teenage girls don’t play any sports
Boys get more than 1 MILLION more sports opportunities per year than girls
Every one of those missed opportunities is a missed lesson in teamwork, confidence, and leadership. Experts say we need to keep working to make sure all girls get the chance to play.
Four Ways We Can Do Better
Experts from EY and espnW suggest four big steps:
Support girls’ sports programs at all levels
Help people understand WHY sports matter for girls’ development
Look for athletes when hiring for leadership jobs
Make sure girls and women have equal opportunities at every level of school and work
Part 6: A Message to Young Players
Right now, somewhere, the fans at Devon Park are cheering. The lights are bright. The crowd is loud. 13,000 people are on their feet.
And somewhere, a young girl is watching. Maybe she’s on the couch at home. Maybe she’s at a community park swinging a bat. Maybe she just learned how to strap on a catcher’s mask.
This article is for her.
To Every Young Softball Player
When you step onto the softball diamond, you’re not just playing a game. You’re joining a legacy. Pioneers fought for the right for girls to play. Now it’s your turn.
When you stand in the batter’s box, you’re learning how to face your fears. When you strap on the catcher’s gear, you’re learning to lead. When you dive for a ball in the dirt, you’re learning that your body is strong.
The bruises will heal. The sore muscles will go away. But the lessons? Those last forever.
What Sports Give You
Playing softball teaches you things you can’t learn in a classroom:
How to be part of a team
How to lose and keep going
How to lead people who are counting on you
How to stay calm when everything feels out of control
How to believe in yourself even when it’s hard
Those skills will carry you far — whether you go on to play in the WCWS, run a company, teach students, or lead a community.
The World Is Watching
The Women’s College World Series keeps growing. More people watch it every year. More girls play softball every year. And more women who grew up on the diamond go on to become leaders.
The best part? The story isn’t finished. Right now, the 2026 WCWS is happening. Texas and Texas Tech are fighting it out in Oklahoma City. But the most important games haven’t been played yet — they’ll be played by YOU and your teammates in parks, backyards, and fields all across the country.
Pick up the ball. Get behind the plate. Lead your team.
The diamond is waiting.
Works cited
Nebraska Softball Sets Record for Most-Watched WCWS Opening Thursday Broadcast, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.si.com/college/nebraska/softball/nebraska-softball-sets-record-for-most-watched-wcws-opening-thursday-broadcast-2026
ESPN Delivers Most-Watched NCAA Division I Women’s College …, accessed June 4, 2026, https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2025/06/espn-delivers-most-watched-ncaa-division-i-womens-college-world-series-on-record/
Multiple viewership milestones for Women’s College World Series – Sports Media Watch, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/06/womens-college-world-series-viewership-highs/
The Digital Dugout: Data from the 2025 NCAA Baseball and Softball Seasons – Learfield, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.learfield.com/2025/06/the-digital-dugout-data-from-the-2025-ncaa-baseball-and-softball-seasons/
Devon Park | Oklahoma City, OK, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.visitokc.com/listing/devon-park/795/
Devon Park (stadium) – Wikipedia, accessed June 4, 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devon_Park_(stadium)
Renovations – USA Softball, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.usasoftball.com/devon-park/renovations/
Five Things: UCLA softball’s opening 2 games at the WCWS – Daily Bruin, accessed June 4, 2026, https://dailybruin.com/2026/05/31/five-things-ucla-softballs-opening-2-games-at-the-wcws
OKC Stadium Upgrades : r/CollegeSoftball – Reddit, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.reddit.com/r/CollegeSoftball/comments/1f4wouh/okc_stadium_upgrades/
About the National Softball Hall of Fame, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.usasoftball.com/national-hall-of-fame-museum/about-the-national-softball-hall-of-fame/
2025 NCAA Division I softball tournament – Wikipedia, accessed June 4, 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_NCAA_Division_I_softball_tournament
Women’s College World Series – Wikipedia, accessed June 4, 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_College_World_Series
Light It Up: No. 3/4 Softball wins first ever National Championship – Texas Longhorns, accessed June 4, 2026, https://texaslonghorns.com/news/2025/6/7/light-it-up-no-3-4-softball-wins-first-ever-national-championship
2026 Women’s College World Series Bracket: Updated matchups, scores, schedule, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.on3.com/news/2026-womens-college-world-series-bracket-updated-matchups-scores-schedule-wcws/
No. 11 Tech looks to force WCWS Finals deciding game – Texas Tech Red Raiders, accessed June 4, 2026, https://texastech.com/news/2026/6/4/softball-no-11-tech-looks-to-force-wcws-finals-deciding-game
No. 11 Tech falls to No. 2 Texas in WCWS Finals opener, accessed June 4, 2026, https://texastech.com/news/2026/6/3/softball-no-11-red-raiders-fall-to-no-2-longhorns-in-wcws-finals-opener
Softball Positions & Skills: Finding the Perfect Fit on the Field, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.fscamps.com/blog/softball-positions-and-skills
Catcher Mechanics & Fundamentals There is no place like home! – Ngin, accessed June 4, 2026, https://cdn2.sportngin.com/attachments/document/3896-2433181/catcher2.pdf
3 Things All Catchers Must Know – Little League, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.littleleague.org/university/articles/3-things-all-catchers-must-know/
ADRIANNA WILSON IS LEADING BY EXAMPLE – University of Tennessee Athletics, accessed June 4, 2026, https://utsports.com/news/2002/4/10/ADRIANNA_WILSON_IS_LEADING_BY_EXAMPLE
Fielding a bright future: Mary Washington commit reflects on LCHS journey – The Central Virginian, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.thecentralvirginian.com/sports/2026/06/03/fielding-a-bright-future-mary-washington-commit-reflects-on-lchs-journey/
Catcher Tips for Softball: Improve Your Position & Skills – League Outfitters, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.leagueoutfitters.com/blogs/news/catcher-tips-for-softball
Postgame Quotes – UCLA 6, Georgia 1 – UCLA Athletics, accessed June 4, 2026, https://uclabruins.com/sports/2024/5/25/postgame-quotes-ucla-6-georgia-1
SPOTLIGHT: Lauren Allred – Texas Tech Red Raiders, accessed June 4, 2026, https://texastech.com/news/2026/6/2/softball-spotlight-lauren-allred
Jen Schro Catching: Home, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.jenschrocatching.com/
Florida defeats UCF to advance to NCAA Regional Final – Southeastern Conference, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.secsports.com/news/2016/05/florida-defeats-ucf-to-advance-to-ncaa-regional-final
2017 MaxPreps preseason top 50 high school softball rankings, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.maxpreps.com/news/Ws40Y3VPt0uoq9gT2blXHQ/2017-maxpreps-preseason-top-50-high-school-softball-rankings.htm
Elite Prospect Spotlight: Maylee Young (2032); C/UTL; TN Mojo 2013-Hunter, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.legacyandlegendssoftball.com/elite-prospect-spotlight-maylee-young-2032-catcher-utility-athletics-mercado-2013-hunter
Elite 2029 Prospect Spotlight: Laila “Cheeze” Mejia: C/UTL; Beverly Bandits – Perry; 1.7 Pop Time, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.legacyandlegendssoftball.com/post/elite-2029-prospect-spotlight-laila-cheeze-mejia-c-utl-beverly-bandits-perry-1-7-pop-time
New Women’s Sports Foundation® Research Proves Youth Sports …, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/press_release/new-womens-sports-foundation-research-proves-youth-sports-fuel-womens-leadership-when-girls-play-we-all-win/
Self-Esteem, Wellbeing, and Health Status of Female Athletes in the Context of Sport Performance – PMC, accessed June 4, 2026, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11773174/
You Go Girl ! The Link Between Girls’ Positive Self-Esteem and Sports – The Sport Journal, accessed June 4, 2026, https://thesportjournal.org/article/you-go-girl/
Sport is a critical lever in advancing women at all levels, according to new EY/espnW report, accessed June 4, 2026, https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2015/10/sport-is-a-critical-lever-in-advancing-women-at-all-levels-according-to-new-eyespnw-report/
Empowering Girls Through Sports: Building Confidence and Leadership Skills, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.318foundation.org/blog/empowering-girls-through-sports-building-confidence-and-leadership-skills
Empowering Women: The Role of Sports, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.womensportsusa.org/post/the-impact-of-sports-on-women-s-confidence-and-leadership
Female executives say participation in sport helps accelerate leadership and career potential – ESPN Press Room, accessed June 4, 2026, https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2014/10/female-executives-say-participation-in-sport-helps-accelerate-leadership-and-career-potential/
Why a female athlete should be your next leader | EY – New Zealand, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.ey.com/en_nz/athlete-programs/why-a-female-athlete-should-be-your-next-leader
Why female athletes make winning entrepreneurs | EY, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.ey.com/content/dam/ey-unified-site/ey-com/ja-jp/campaigns/entrepreneurial-winning-women/documents/ey-why-female-athletes-make-winning-entrepreneurs.pdf
Where will you find your next leader? – EY, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.ey.com/content/dam/ey-unified-site/ey-com/en-au/campaigns/athlete-programs/documents/ey-where-will-you-find-your-next-leader.pdf