With the start of the 2022 softball season just days away, let's look at which teams are projected to be among the nation's best. As shown in the chart below, all four preseason polls I could find agree that defending Women's College World Series champion Oklahoma is still the team to beat. With the exception of the Softball America poll (which has Oklahoma State at No. 2) Alabama is the consensus pick as the nation's second-best team. The polls are divided as to whether UCLA should be No. 3 or 4. Florida and Florida State are No. 5 and 6 in most polls, although there are differences in whether the Gators or Seminoles are ranked higher.
| Team (Most Recent Title) |
ESPN.com/ USA Softball |
USA Today/ NFCA |
Softball America |
D1 Softball |
| Oklahoma (2021) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Alabama (2012) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| UCLA (2019) | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Oklahoma St. (---) | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Florida (2015) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Florida St. (2018) | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
College softball is currently in a "usual suspects" mode, where the same teams (for the most part) appear atop the rankings and in the WCWS year after year. As shown above, five of the six top teams in this year's preseason polls have won the national championship between 2012-2021 (with no 2020 tournament due to COVID-19). Again, the exception is Oklahoma State, which although never having won the WCWS, has played in it nine times (under NCAA auspices), including 2019 and 2021.
Here is where the top six teams will be opening their seasons this weekend (beginning Thursday):
- Oklahoma: Mark Campbell Invitational at UC Irvine, which includes a Saturday showdown with UCLA.
- Alabama: Mike Candrea Classic at the University of Arizona, named for the newly retired U of A coach. The Crimson Tide and Wildcats (ranked anywhere from 7 to 15 in the four polls) will meet Saturday.
- UCLA: Hosts Cal State Northridge on Thursday) and UC San Diego and Nevada (Friday), before heading down to Irvine for a limited appearance in the Campbell Invitational.
- Oklahoma State: Kajikawa Classic at Arizona State. The Cowgirls will feature pitcher Miranda Elish (rhymes with relish), who will be playing for her third school (Oregon, Texas, and now OSU).
- Florida: University of South Florida tournament.
- Florida State: Hosts JoAnne Graf Classic.