Here is my annual list of graduating seniors and key returnees for the teams in the recently concluded Women's College World Series, as well as other top players not in the WCWS. To construct the lists, I looked at the NFCA and Easton All-America teams, finalists for Player of the Year, and various All-Region and All-Conference teams. You can click on the chart to enlarge it.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON... Here's how I live-blogged the final at-bats of the game: Washington is two outs away from the national championship, leading Florida 3-2 in the top of the seventh. But the Gators just got a double, putting the tying run on second... The next batter walks, putting runners on first and second... Strike-out, the Huskies are one out away... And another strike-out... THE HUSKIES ARE THE CHAMPIONS! Here's an article posted tonight on the UW athletics site about the championship.

Washington gets an easy win over Florida tonight in Game 1 of the NCAA Women's College World Series final round and thus stands just one win away from the championship.

Washington used a first-inning grand-slam homer from pitcher Danielle Lawrie and some late insurance runs to defeat Georgia by a score of 9-3 in tonight's late game. The win gives U-Dub a spot in the best-of-three championship series against Florida starting Monday (Georgia had defeated Washington earlier today, 9-8 in nine innings, to force tonight's rematch). The Huskies thus claimed "top dog" status over Georgia on their side of the bracket. Florida got a two-out grand-slam homer from Ali Gardiner in the bottom of the seventh to edge Alabama 6-5. The Crimson Tide made a strong recovery in the tournament after looking "not ready for prime time" in an opening-round loss to Michigan. But, as a result of tonight's heartbreaking loss to the Gators, Bama is now eliminated. Lowrie's and Gardiner's grand-slams are among four that have been hit so far in this World Series.

With today's action now complete, we're down to four teams -- and three of them are from the SEC. Sunday's schedule is as follows: *Washington will face Georgia at 1:00 Eastern. If the Huskies win, they advance to the championship series. If the Bulldogs win, the teams will have a decisive rematch at 7:00 Eastern. *Florida and Alabama will play at 3:00 Eastern. A win by the Gators will put them in the championship round, whereas a Tide win will force a rematch at 9:00 Eastern. Here is a summary of Saturday's results... Evening Session Alabama eliminated its second Arizona-based opponent of the day, defeating ASU, 6-2, in the nightcap. A fourth-inning grand-slam by Jazlyn Lunceford was the big blow for the Crimson Tide. Georgia sent Michigan back home to Ann Arbor, by a 7-5 score. The star of the game had to be the Bulldogs' Taylor Schlopy, who homered twice -- solo in the first, a three-run job in the second. Afternoon Session Alabama drubbed Arizona, 14-0, ...

If you like pitchers' duels, tonight was your night at the Women's College World Series. If you like to see a lot of runs being scored, it wasn't your night. Florida used Stacey Nelson's one-hit pitching and a sixth-inning homer by Megan Bush to edge Michigan, 1-0. In the earlier game, Washington defeated Arizona State, 1-0, in eight innings. Tomorrow will be a busy day, with all teams except Florida and Washington taking the field as part of "Elimination Saturday."

No. 1 seeded Florida closed out the first day at the NCAA Women's College World Series by shutting out Arizona, 3-0. The Gator win prevents the SEC from going winless on the day, while also halting what had been a perfect day by Pac 10 teams. Florida will next meet Michigan, who defeated Alabama, 6-1. The Gator-Wolverine battle will be Friday night 9:00 Eastern on ESPN. The two other winning teams from today, Arizona State and Washington, will play Friday night at 7:00 Eastern on ESPN 2. ASU got out to a fast 6-0 lead against Mizzou in Thursday afternoon action, and coasted to a 7-3 victory. Washington took the opener , 3-1 over Georgia. The teams that lost today will have until Saturday to regroup, before beginning play in the losers' bracket of this double-elimination event.