Women's College World Series | |
---|---|
First played | 1969 (54 years ago) |
Most recently played | 2023 |
Current champion | Oklahoma |
The Women's College World Series (WCWS) is the final portion of the NCAA Division I softball tournament for college softball in the United States. Eight teams participate in the WCWS, which begins with a double-elimination tournament. In other words, a team is eliminated when it has lost two games. After six teams have been eliminated, the remaining two teams compete in a best-of-three series to determine the Division I WCWS National Champion.
Opponents are chosen in such a way that it is possible for any two of the eight teams to meet in the championship series. In this respect the WCWS differs from the Men's College World Series in baseball, in which the eight teams are divided into two brackets of four teams each, and the winner of one bracket meets the winner of the other bracket in the best-of-three championship series.
The WCWS takes place at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. From 1969 to 1981, the women's collegiate softball championship was also known as the Women's College World Series and was promoted as such. [1] During 1969–1979, the series was played in Omaha, after which the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) held the series in 1980–1982 in Norman, Oklahoma. There were two competing World Series tournaments in 1982. The NCAA held its first six Division I tournaments in Omaha in 1982–1987, followed by Sunnyvale, California in 1988–1989. The event has been held in Oklahoma City every year since then, except for 1996, when it was held at the softball venue for the upcoming Olympic Games in Columbus, Georgia.
Softball was one of twelve women's sports added to the NCAA championship program for the 1981–82 school year, as the NCAA engaged in battle with the AIAW for sole governance of women's collegiate sports. The AIAW continued to conduct its established championship program in the same twelve (and other) sports. The 1982 softball championship tournaments of both the AIAW and the NCAA were called "Women's College World Series". However, after a year of dual women's championships, the NCAA won out over the AIAW. [2] Pac-12 schools have won 65% of the Championships since 1982, followed by the Big 12 with 10%, and the SEC, with 7.8% (Texas A&M played in the Southwest when it won its 2 championships).
* Nebraska's runner-up finish in 1985 was vacated by the NCAA.
** The 1995 title by UCLA and any related records have been vacated by the NCAA due to scholarship violations. Criticism also centered on UCLA player Tanya Harding who was recruited from Queensland, Australia midway through the 1995 season. After UCLA captured the NCAA National Championship, Harding, the MVP of the tournament, returned to her homeland without taking final exams or earning a single college credit. Despite not violating any formal rules in recruiting Harding, the incident generated heated criticism that some foreign athletes were little more than hired guns. [4] [5]
*** Beginning in 2005, a best-of-three series determines the national championship.
From 1969 to 1972, the DGWS (forerunner organization of the AIAW) recognized the WCWS, organized by the Amateur Softball Association, as the collegiate championship tournament. The AIAW assumed responsibilities from DGWS in 1973.
Year | Champion [3] | Title series game score(s) | Runner-up |
1969 | John F. Kennedy College | 2–0 | Illinois State |
1970 | John F. Kennedy College | 0–2 7–6 | Southwest Missouri State |
1971 | John F. Kennedy College | 6–0 4–0 | Iowa State |
1972 | Arizona State | 0–1 8–5 (11 inn) | Nihon University |
1973 | Arizona State | 0–4 4–3 (16 inn) | Illinois State |
1974 | Southwest Missouri State | 14–7 | Northern Colorado |
1975 | Nebraska–Omaha | 1–11 6–4 | Northern Iowa |
1976 | Michigan State | 3–0 | Northern Colorado |
1977 | Northern Iowa | 0–1 (9 inn) 7–0 | Arizona |
1978 | UCLA | 3–0 | Northern Colorado |
1979 | Texas Woman's | 1–0 1–0 | UCLA |
1980 [lower-alpha 1] | Utah State | 1–0 2–1 | Indiana |
1981 [lower-alpha 2] | Utah State | 1–6 4–3 | Cal State Fullerton |
1982 | Texas A&M | 4–1 5–3 (8 inn) | Oklahoma State |
Team | Number | Winning years |
---|---|---|
UCLA | 12 | 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2019 |
Arizona | 8 | 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2007 |
Oklahoma | 7 | 2000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
Arizona State | 2 | 2008, 2011 |
Florida | 2 | 2014, 2015 |
Texas A&M | 2 | 1983, 1987 |
Alabama | 1 | 2012 |
Cal State Fullerton | 1 | 1986 |
California | 1 | 2002 |
Florida State | 1 | 2018 |
Fresno State | 1 | 1998 |
Michigan | 1 | 2005 |
Washington | 1 | 2009 |
*UCLA also won the 1995 title, but it has since been vacated by the NCAA; see above.
From 1969 to 1972, the DGWS (forerunner organization of the AIAW) recognized the WCWS, organized by the Amateur Softball Association, as the collegiate championship tournament. The AIAW assumed responsibilities from DGWS in 1973.
School | Championships [3] | Years |
---|---|---|
John F. Kennedy College (Nebraska) | 3 | 1969, 1970, 1971 (all DGWS) |
Arizona State | 2 | 1972 (DGWS), 1973 |
Utah State | 2 | 1980, 1981 |
Florida State | 2 | 1981, 1982 (both slow pitch) |
(Southwest) Missouri State | 1 | 1974 |
Nebraska–Omaha | 1 | 1975 |
Michigan State | 1 | 1976 |
Northern Iowa | 1 | 1977 |
UCLA | 1 | 1978 |
Texas Woman's | 1 | 1979 |
Texas A&M | 1 | 1982 |
School | Championships [3] (through 2023) | Title games/series (through 2023) | WCWS appearances (through 2023) | WCWS appearances (through 2023) |
---|---|---|---|---|
UCLA‡ | 13 | 22 | 34 | 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, [lower-alpha 1] 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 |
Arizona | 8 | 14 | 29 | 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2019, 2021, 2022 |
Oklahoma | 7 | 9 | 20 | 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982, [lower-alpha 2] 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022,2023 |
Arizona State | 4 | 4 | 19 | 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, [lower-alpha 1] 1987, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018 |
Washington | 1 | 4 | 15 | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023 |
California | 1 | 3 | 15 | 1980, 1981, 1982, [lower-alpha 2] 1986, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2012 |
Oklahoma State | 0 | 1 | 15 | 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, [lower-alpha 2] 1982, [lower-alpha 1] 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2011, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
Alabama | 1 | 2 | 14 | 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023 |
Michigan | 1 | 2 | 13 | 1982, [lower-alpha 2] 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016 |
Florida State | 1 | 3 | 12 | 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2002, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023 |
Fresno State | 1 | 5 | 12 | 1982, [lower-alpha 1] 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999 |
Texas A&M | 3 | 6 | 12 | 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, [lower-alpha 2] 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 2007, 2008, 2017 |
Northern Colorado | 0 | 3 | 11 | 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 |
South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1989, 1997 |
Florida | 2 | 5 | 11 | 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 |
Missouri State [lower-alpha 3] | 1 | 2 | 10 | 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982 [lower-alpha 2] |
Omaha [lower-alpha 4] | 1 | 1 | 10 | 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 |
Nebraska‡ | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1970, 1971, 1982, [lower-alpha 1] 1984, 1987, 1988, 1998, 2002, 2013 |
Cal State Fullerton | 1 | 3 | 8 | 1980, 1981, 1982, [lower-alpha 1] 1983, 1985, 1986 1987, 1995 |
Illinois State | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1981 |
Western Illinois | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982 [lower-alpha 2] |
Oregon | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1976, 1980, 1989, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 |
Tennessee | 0 | 2 | 8 | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2023 |
Missouri | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1981, 1983, 1991, 1994, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
Cal Poly Pomona | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989 |
Kansas | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1992 |
Michigan State | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981 |
Louisiana | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1993, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2008, 2014 |
LSU | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2001, 2004, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Utah | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1976, 1982, [lower-alpha 2] 1985, 1991, 1994, 2023 |
Northwestern | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1984, 1985, 1986, 2006, 2007, 2022 |
Texas | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1998, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2022 |
UMass | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1974, 1978, 1980, 1992, 1997, 1998 |
Long Beach State | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 |
Creighton | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1969, 1980, 1981, 1982, [lower-alpha 1] 1986 |
Wayne State (NE) | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 |
Utah State | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984 |
Northern Iowa | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977 |
Indiana | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1979, 1980, 1983, 1986 |
DePaul | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007 |
Iowa | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001 |
Georgia | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2009, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2021 |
Oregon State | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1977, 1978, 1979, 2006, 2022 |
Southern Illinois [lower-alpha 5] | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1970, 1971, 1977, 1978 |
South Dakota State | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 |
Luther (IA) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974 |
John F. Kennedy (NE) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1969, 1970, 1971 |
Texas Woman's | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1975, 1978, 1979 |
Baylor | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2007, 2011, 2014, 2017 |
Stanford | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2001, 2004, 2023 |
Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1976, 1978, 2019 |
Louisiana Tech | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1983, 1985, 1986 |
Adelphi | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1984, 1985, 1988 |
UNLV | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1990, 1991, 1995 |
Western Michigan | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1980, 1981, 1982 [lower-alpha 1] |
Nebraska–Kearney [lower-alpha 6] | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1969, 1970, 1971 |
Minot State | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1970, 1971, 1972 |
Emporia State | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1971, 1972, 1979 |
Weber State | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1973, 1974, 1975 |
North Dakota State | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1973, 1974, 1975 |
Iowa State | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1971, 1973 |
Cal State Northridge | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1993, 1994 |
Princeton | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1995, 1996 |
Southern Miss | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1999, 2000 |
Central Michigan | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1982, [lower-alpha 2] 1987 |
Minnesota–Duluth | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1970, 1971 |
Midland Lutheran (NE) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1970, 1971 |
New Mexico | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1980, 1981 |
Rutgers | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1979, 1981 |
Concordia (NE) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1970, 1971 |
Upper Iowa | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1970, 1971 |
Eastern Illinois | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1971, 1974 |
Central Missouri | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1971, 1972 |
Ball State | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1973, 1975 |
Indiana State | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1974, 1976 |
East Stroudsburg | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1975, 1976 |
Northern State | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1975, 1976 |
UT Arlington | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1976, 1977 |
Sacramento State | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1976, 1977 |
Auburn | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2015, 2016 |
Hawaii | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2010 |
James Madison | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2021 |
Kent State | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1990 |
Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2014 |
Northern Illinois | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1988 |
Pacific [lower-alpha 7] | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1983 |
South Florida | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2012 |
Toledo | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1989 |
UConn | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1993 |
UIC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1994 |
Virginia Tech | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2008 |
St. Petersburg Junior College (FL) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1969 |
Black Hills State (SD) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1969 |
Midwestern (IA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1970 |
Parsons (IA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1971 |
Wartburg (IA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1971 |
Wisconsin–Eau Claire [lower-alpha 8] | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1971 |
South Dakota | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1971 |
Southwest Baptist (MO) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1971 |
Buena Vista (IA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1971 |
Simpson (IA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1971 |
University of Tokyo–Nihon | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1972 |
Keene State | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1972 |
Purdue | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1972 |
West Georgia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1974 |
Golden West College (CA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1974 |
Winona State | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1974 |
Nassau Community College (NY) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1974 |
Western Oregon [lower-alpha 9] | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1975 |
Northwest Missouri State | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1975 |
Ohio | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1975 |
Minnesota State [lower-alpha 10] | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1975 |
Tarkio (MO) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1976 |
Northwestern Oklahoma State | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1976 |
Mayville State (ND) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1976 |
West Chester (PA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1977 |
Springfield (MA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1977 |
Portland State | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1978 |
Stephen F. Austin | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1978 |
Chapman (CA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1979 |
New Mexico State | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1981 |
Ohio State | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1982 [lower-alpha 2] |
Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1982 [lower-alpha 2] |
U.S. International (CA) [lower-alpha 11] | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1982 [lower-alpha 2] |
‡ UCLA's 1995 NCAA championship and Nebraska's 1985 runner-up finish were vacated by the NCAA and are not counted
This listing excludes results of the pre-NCAA Women's College World Series of 1969 through 1982 (both Division I tournaments in 1982—AIAW and NCAA—were called "Women's College World Series").
Conference | Championships (Through 2023) | Title Game/Series Appearances (Through 2023) | WCWS appearances (Through 2023) |
---|---|---|---|
Pac-12 [c 1] | 24 | 39 | 97 |
SEC | 3 | 10 | 49 |
Big 12 | 7 | 9 | 40 |
Big Ten | 1 | 3 | 25 |
Big West [c 2] | 1 | 4 | 19 |
ACC | 1 | 3 | 12 |
Big Eight [c 3] [c 4] | 12 | ||
WAC [c 5] | 1 | 2 | 11 |
Atlantic 10 | 6 | ||
Southwest [c 6] [c 4] | 2 | 4 | 5 |
Conference USA [c 7] | 5 | ||
Sun Belt | 6 | ||
CCAA | 4 | ||
MAC | 4 | ||
Metro [c 7] [c 4] | 4 | ||
Southland | 3 | ||
Big East [c 8] | 3 | ||
Ivy | 2 | ||
Missouri Valley [c 9] | 2 | ||
CAA | 1 | ||
Independent | 1 | ||
Summit League [c 10] | 1 | ||
NorPac [c 11] [c 4] | 1 | 3 | |
North Star [c 12] [c 4] | 1 | ||
WCAA [c 13] [c 4] | 3 | 3 | 6 |
Updated through 2023 World Series
Source: [6]
Coach | NCAA Championships (Through 2023) | Title Game/Series Appearances (Through 2023) | WCWS appearances (Through 2023) | Schools |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mike Candrea | 8 (1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2007) | 13 | 23 | Arizona |
Sharron Backus | 7 (1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992) | 12 | 14 | UCLA |
Patty Gasso | 7 (2000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023) | 9 | 16 | Oklahoma |
Sue Enquist [c 14] | 6 (1989, 1990, 1992, 1999, 2003, 2004) | 13 | 16 | UCLA |
Bob Brock | 2 (1983, 1987) | 4 | 5 | Texas A&M |
Clint Myers | 2 (2008, 2011) | 3 | 9 | Arizona State, Auburn |
Kelly Inouye-Perez | 2 (2010, 2019) | 2 | 9 | UCLA |
Tim Walton | 2 (2014, 2015) | 3 | 11 | Florida |
Lonni Alameda | 1 (2018) | 3 | 5 | Florida State |
Judi Garman | 1 (1986) | 1 | 6 | Cal State Fullerton |
Carol Hutchins | 1 (2005) | 2 | 12 | Michigan |
Patrick Murphy | 1 (2012) | 2 | 14 | Alabama |
Diane Ninemire | 1 (2002) | 3 | 11 | California |
Heather Tarr | 1 (2009) | 2 | 8 | Washington |
Margie Wright | 1 (1998) | 4 | 10 | Fresno State |
The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) was a college athletics organization in the United States, founded in 1971 to govern women's college competitions in the country and to administer national championships. It evolved out of the "Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women" (CIAW), founded in 1967. The association was one of the biggest advancements for women's athletics on the collegiate level. Throughout the 1970s, the AIAW grew rapidly in membership and influence, in parallel with the national growth of women's sports following the enactment of Title IX.
The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women was founded in 1971 to govern collegiate women's athletics and to administer national championships. During its existence, the AIAW and its predecessor, the Division for Girls' and Women's Sports (DGWS), recognized via these championships the teams and individuals who excelled at the highest level of women's collegiate competition.
College softball is softball as played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education, predominantly in the United States. College softball is normally played by women at the Intercollegiate level, whereas college baseball is normally played by men.
The UCLA Bruins are the athletic teams that represent the University of California, Los Angeles. The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pac-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I. UCLA is second to only Stanford University as the school with the most NCAA team championships at 123 NCAA team championships. UCLA offers 11 varsity sports programs for men and 14 for women.
The Arizona State Sun Devils softball team represents Arizona State University in NCAA Division I College softball. The team competes in the Pac-12 Conference, and plays its home games at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Clint Myers, former head coach of the Sun Devils, guided the team to the Women's College World Series in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013. The Sun Devils team won the National Championship in 2008 & 2011.
The Arizona Wildcats softball team represents the University of Arizona in NCAA Division I Softball. Having claimed eight national championships, the team is one of the most successful in the history of the sport. It plays its home games at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium in Tucson, AZ. The team was formerly coached by Mike Candrea, who began his UA coaching career in 1986 and announced his retirement on June 8, 2021. He retired as the all time winningest coach in Collegiate softball history with 1,674 wins, more Collegiate national titles with 8 and the fourth most wins of any coach in any NCAA sport.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers softball team represents the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the Big Ten Conference of NCAA Division I. The program was founded in 1976 as a club sport and became an officially sanctioned varsity sport the next year. NU plays its home games at Bowlin Stadium, constructed in 2001 as part of the Haymarket Park complex. Nebraska has made twenty-five appearances in the NCAA Division I softball tournament, with seven Women's College World Series berths. The team has been coached by Rhonda Revelle since 1993.
The 1982 AIAW Women's College World Series was held from May 20 through May 25 in Norman, Oklahoma. The final two games were postponed by rain for two days. Twelve Division I college softball teams met in what was to become the last AIAW softball tournament of that organization's history. After playing their way through the regular season and regional tournaments, the 12 advancing teams met for the AIAW Division I college softball championship. Days later, Oklahoma State went on to participate also in the NCAA WCWS tournament in Omaha. In 1982, the Division I softball tournaments of both the AIAW and the NCAA were called "Women's College World Series." That moniker has been used for the annual topmost-level collegiate women's softball tournaments since the first one in 1969. Historian Bill Plummer III wrote, "With their 77-8 season record, Texas A&M could have been a contender in Omaha − maybe even the top seed − against perennial softball powers like UCLA and Fresno State. The Aggies had been invited to the NCAA's first national tournament, but chose not to go. A&M coach Bob Brock had high respect for the eleven-year-old AIAW, even as the NCAA began to overshadow it. Out of a sense of loyalty to the AIAW, Brock said, his school chose the 1982 Norman championship over the NCAA's first in Omaha."