ESPN will be the home of the 2014 NCAA Division I Softball Championship presented by Capital One beginning Friday, May 16, featuring exclusive coverage from seven Regional sites, all eight Super Regionals and the Women's College World Series. Regional round coverage (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3) features up to 49 games from seven campus sites (May 16 - May 18). ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will televise every game from the eight Super Regionals (May 22 - May 25) and Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. (May 29 - June 4). ESPN began televising the entire Women's College World Series in 2001 and Super Regionals in 2007.
ESPN's Regional coverage will feature six of the top 11 seeds in the tournament, including No. 2 Alabama (Tuscaloosa Regional) and No. 3 UCLA (Los Angeles Regional). Additional top seeds include No. 6 Louisiana Lafayette (Lafayette Regional), No. 7 and defending champion Oklahoma (Norman Regional), No. 8 Florida State (Tallahassee Regional), No. 9 Arizona State (Tempe Regional), and No. 11 Arizona (Tucson Regional).
ESPN will carry every game from these seven Regionals - a four-team, double-elimination tournament with one team from each site advancing to the Super Regionals. A full schedule is provided below.
The 2014 NCAA Division I Softball Championship bracket was unveiled during ESPNU's NCAA Softball Championship Selection Show presented by Capital One on Sunday, May 11. The Southeastern Conference received the most bids (11), followed by the Big Ten (5), Pac 12 (5), Atlantic Coast (4), Big 12 (4), and American Athletic (3). Overall, 32 conferences are represented in the field and six teams will make their first appearance: Bryant University, Charleston Southern University, Dartmouth University, Utah Valley University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Texas Southern University. The complete 64-team bracket can be seen here.
ESPN's NCAA Division I Softball Championship Coverage Highlights
ESPN Analysts: ESPN's softball analysts are accomplished former college, Olympic and professional softball players.
· Kayla Braud - Lafayette Regional
· College: Alabama
· Honors: Three-time All American, National Champion (2012), SEC Freshmen of the Year (2010)
· Jenny Dalton-Hill - Norman Regional
· College: Arizona
· Honors: National Player of the Year (1996) and Women's College
World Series MVP ('96) Four-time National Champion, winning three as a player (1993, '94, and '96) and one as an assistant coach, also with Arizona (1997)
· Amanda Freed - Los Angeles Regional
· College: UCLA
· Honors: National Champion (1999), pitched in the three other WCWS (2000, '01, '02, '03), member of gold medal-winning team at the 2004 Athens Olympics
· Jessica Mendoza - Tempe Regional
· College: Stanford
· Honors: Four-time All-American (1999, 2000, '01, '02), member of gold medal-winning team at the 2004 Athens Olympics and silver medal winning team at 2008 Beijing Olympics
· Leah O'Brien-Amico - Tuscaloosa Regional
· College: Arizona
· Honors: Won three national championships (1993, '94, '97), member of goal medal-winning teams at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2004 Athens Olympics
· Amanda Scarborough - Tucson Regional
· College: Texas A&M
· Honors: Two-time All-American (2005, '07). Only player in Big 12 history to receive Freshman of the Year and Player of Year in same season (2005), played in two WCWS (2007, '08)
· Michele Smith - Tallahassee Regional
· College: Oklahoma State
· Honors: Two-time All American, member of goal medal-winning teams at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 2000 Sydney Olympics, eight-time Japan Pro League MVP
Garland Cooper, three-time Big Ten Play of the Year, and Cheri Kempf, Hall of Famer, will be in-studio throughout the Regionals.
espnW.com -- The online destination for 2014 NCAA Division I Softball Championship coverage.
· Comprehensive Recaps: Graham Hays will provide daily recaps in a "five things you should know" format.
· Tourney Snapshots: Behind-the-scenes video and photos from teams and student athletes participating in the championship. Fans can submit their photos by tagging them #RoadtoWCWS in the Regionals and Super Regionals and then #WCWS during the Women's College World Series.
· Student-Athlete Perspective: Six student-athletes will blog throughout their championship experience: Ally Carda (UCLA) Amber Freeman (Arizona State),
Victoria Hayward (Washington), Ellen Renfroe (Tennessee), Janie Takeda (Oregon), and Lacey Waldrop (Florida State).
Social Media Integration:
· @ESPNU and @espnW will provide news, game updates, photos and videos throughout the championship. Fans can join the conversation by tagging their tweets with #RoadtoWCWS in the Regionals and Super Regionals and then #WCWS during the Women's College World Series.
ESPN Regional Coverage Information (May 16 - 18)
Please note: A day-by-day Regional Schedule, can be found here
Region by Region Schedule
Tallahassee Regional
Date Time (ET) Game/Commentators Network
Fri, May 16 4:30 p.m. South Florida vs. South Carolina Pam Ward, Michele Smith
ESPN2 7 p.m. Fordham vs. No. 8 Florida State ESPN2
Sat, May 17 Noon Game: No. 3
ESPN 2:30 p.m. Game: No. 4
ESPN 5 p.m. Game: No. 5 ESPN3
Sun, May 18 Noon Game: No. 6
ESPN2 2:30 p.m. Game: No. 7 (if nec) ESPN2
Tempe Regional
Date Time (ET) Game/Commentators Network
Fri, May 16 3:30 p.m. San Diego State vs. Michigan Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza
ESPNU 6 p.m. Dartmouth vs. No. 9 Arizona State ESPNU
Sat, May 17 6 p.m. Game: No. 3
ESPNU 8:30 p.m. Game: No. 4
ESPNU 11 p.m. Game: No. 5 ESPNU
Sun, May 18 5:30 p.m. Game: No. 6
ESPNU 8 p.m. Game: No. 7 (if nec) ESPNU
Tucson Regional
Date Time (ET) Game/Commentators Network
Fri, May 16 8 p.m. Louisville vs. LSU Adam Amin, Amanda Scarborough ESPN3 11 p.m. Boston University vs. No. 11 Arizona ESPNU
Sat, May 17 4:30 p.m. Game: No. 3
ESPN 7 p.m. Game: No. 4
ESPN 9:30 p.m. Game: No. 5 ESPN
Sun, May 18 4:30 p.m. Game: No. 6
ESPN2 7 p.m. Game: No. 7 (if nec) ESPN2
Los Angeles Regional
Date Time (ET) Game/Commentators Network
Fri, May 16 6 p.m. Long Beach State vs. Notre Dame Tracy Warren, Amanda Freed ESPN3 9 p.m. Southern Utah vs. No. 3 UCLA ESPN3
Sat, May 17 3 p.m. Game: No. 3 ESPN3 6 p.m. Game: No. 4 ESPN3 9 p.m. Game: No. 5 ESPN3
Sun, May 18 3 p.m. Game: No. 6 ESPN3 6 p.m. Game: No. 7 (if nec) ESPN3
Norman Regional
Date Time (ET) Game/Commentators Network
Fri, May 16 6 p.m. Hofstra vs. Texas A&M Mark Neely, Jenny Dalton-Hill ESPN3 8:30 p.m. Bryant vs. No. 7 Oklahoma ESPN3
Sat, May 17 2 p.m. Game: No. 3 ESPN3 4:30 p.m. Game: No. 4 ESPN3 7 p.m. Game: No. 5 ESPN3
Sun, May 18 2 p.m. Game: No. 6 ESPN3 4:30 p.m. Game: No. 7 (if nec) ESPN3
Tuscaloosa Regional
Date Time (ET) Game/Commentators Network
Fri, May 16 4:30 p.m. USC Upstate vs. South Alabama Cara Capuano, Leah O'Brien-Amico ESPN3 7 p.m. SIU Edwardsville vs. No. 2 Alabama ESPN3
Sat, May 17 2 p.m. Game: No. 3 ESPN3 4:30 p.m. Game: No. 4 ESPN3 7 p.m. Game: No. 5 ESPN3
Sun, May 18 2 p.m. Game: No. 6 ESPN3 4:30- p.m. Game: No. 7 (if nec) ESPN3
Lafayette Regional
Date Time (ET) Game/Commentators Network
Fri, May 16 4 p.m. Mississippi State vs. Texas Melissa Lee, Kayla Braud ESPN3 7 p.m. Texas Southern vs. No. 6 Louisiana Lafayette ESPN3
Sat, May 17 1 p.m. Game: No. 3 ESPN3 4 p.m. Game: No. 4 ESPN3 7 p.m. Game: No. 5 ESPN3
Sun, May 18 1 p.m. Game: No. 6 ESPN3 4 p.m. Game: No. 7 (if nec) ESPN3
ESPN Super Regionals Television Schedule (May 22-25)
Commentators will be announced after the Regional round
Date Time (ET) Site and Game Network
Thur, May 22 7 p.m. Site No. 1: Game No. 1
ESPN2 9 p.m. Site No. 2: Game No. 1 ESPN2
Fri, May 23 2 p.m. Site No. 3: Game No. 1
ESPNU 4 p.m. Site No. 1: Game No. 2
ESPNU 6 p.m. Site No. 2: Game No. 2
ESPNU 7 p.m. Site No. 1: Game No. 3 (if nec)
ESPN 7 p.m. Site No. 4: Game No. 1
ESPN2 9 p.m. Site No. 2: Game No. 3 (if nec)
ESPN 9 p.m. Site No. 5: Game No. 1 ESPNU
Sat, May 24 Noon Site No. 3: Game No. 2
ESPN 1 p.m. Site No. 6: Game No. 1
ESPNU 3 p.m. Site No. 3: Game No. 3 (if nec)
ESPN 3 p.m. Site No. 5: Game No. 2
ESPNU 5 p.m. Site No. 4: Game No. 2
ESPN 6 p.m. Site No. 5: Game No. 2
ESPNU 8 p.m. Site No. 4: Game No. No. 3 (if nec)
ESPN2 8 p.m. Site No. 7: Game No. 1
ESPNU 10 p.m. Site No. 8: Game No. 1 ESPN2
Sun, May 25 Noon Site No. 6: Game No. 2
ESPN 3 p.m. Site No. 6: Game No. 3 (if nec)
ESPN 3 p.m. Site No. 7: Game No. 2
ESPNU 5 p.m. Site No. 8: Game No. 2
ESPN 6 p.m. Site No. 7: Game No. No. 3 (if nec)
ESPNU 8 p.m. Site No. 8: Game No. No. 3 (if nec) ESPN2
ESPN Women's College
World Series Television Schedule (May 29 - June 4)
Commentators will be announced after the Super Regionals
Date Time (ET) Game Network
Thurs, May 29 Noon WCWS: Game No. 1
ESPN 2:30 p.m. WCWS: Game No. 2
ESPN 7:00 p.m. WCWS: Game No. 3
ESPN2 9:30 p.m. WCWS: Game No. 4 ESPN2
Friday, May 30 7 p.m. WCWS: Game No. 5
ESPN2 9:30 p.m. WCWS: Game No. 6 ESPN2
Sat, May 31 Noon WCWS: Game No. 7
ESPN2 2:30 p.m. WCWS: Game No. 8
ESPN2 7 p.m. WCWS: Game No. 9
ESPN 9:30 p.m. WCWS: Game No. 10 ESPN
Sun, June 1 1 p.m. WCWS: Game No. 11
ESPN 3:30 p.m. WCWS: Game No. 12
ESPN 7 p.m. WCWS: Game No. 13( if nec)
ESPNU 9:30 p.m. WCWS: Game No. 14 (if nec) ESPNU
Mon, June 2 8 p.m. WCWS Finals: Game No. 1 ESPN2
Tue, June 3 8 p.m. WCWS Finals: Game No. 2 ESPN
Wed, June 4 8 p.m. WCWS Finals: Game No. 3 (if nec) ESPN
Networks and times are subject to change
