NCAA Division I softball tournament

The NCAA Division I softball tournament is held annually in May/June and features 64 college softball teams in the United States, culminating in the Women's College World Series (WCWS), which is played in Oklahoma City.

NCAA Division I softball tournament
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024 NCAA Division I softball tournament
SportCollege softball
Founded1982
No. of teams64
Most recent
champion(s)
Oklahoma (8)
Most titlesUCLA (12)
TV partner(s)ESPN
ESPN2
Official websiteNCAA.com

Tournament play and team selection

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The tournament is different from many college tournaments in that it features four tiers of competition and a loss does not necessarily eliminate a team from contention. In fact, throughout the entire tournament a team can lose as many as four games and still be crowned champions.

A total of 64 teams compete in the tournament. 32 teams gain automatic entry into the tournament while the other 32 are selected by the Division I Softball committee. From this field of 64, 16 teams will be given "national seeds" and placed at one of the assigned regional sites, often the home field of each national seed.[1]

The first round of the tournament, called "regionals", consists of 16 locations that include four teams competing in a double elimination bracket. The winner of each regional moves on to the second round, the "super regionals."

For the super regionals, the regional containing overall #1 seed will be matched up with the regional containing the overall #16 seed, the #2 seed regional will be matched up with the #15 seed regional, and so on. The higher seed of the two teams usually hosts the best-of-three series, with the winner moving on to the Women's College World Series.

The final eight teams meet at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City in the Women's College World Series. The WCWS is further divided into two sections. The first part resembles the regional round, as teams are broken in two groups of four to play in a double-elimination bracket. The winners of each bracket then meet in a championship series similar to the super regional tier in that it is a best-of-three series. The winner of the WCWS is crowned national champion.

Team titles

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឴឴឵UCLA
 
Arizona
 
Oklahoma
 
Arizona State
 
Florida
 
Texas
A&M
 
Alabama
 
Cal State Fullerton
 
California
 
Florida
State
 
Fresno
State
 
Michigan
 
Washington
Schools that have won the NCAA Championship
  12,   8,   2,   1
Team No. Years
UCLA 12 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2019
Arizona 8 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2007
Oklahoma 2000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Florida 2 2014, 2015
Arizona State 2008, 2011
Texas A&M 1983, 1987
Florida State 1 2018
Alabama 2012
Washington 2009
Michigan 2005
California 2002
Fresno State 1998
Cal State Fullerton 1986

Appearances by team

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Total Columns

  • School refers to the current name and branding of the softball team.
  • Conference shows where the school as of the 2024 season.
  •  #  Total appearances in the NCAA Tournament, not counting vacated appearances.
  •  16  Finished in the top 16 of the tournament: top 2 in a Regional (1982 through 2004) or won a Regional (2005 to present).
  •  WS  Total appearances in the College World Series
  •  CH  National Championships

Table Entries

  •  CH  National Champion
  •  RU  National Runner-up
  •  W3   W4   W5   W7  Played in the College World Series with the given placement. All World Series have had 2 teams finish in 5th and two teams finish in 7th. Since 1995, all have had 2 teams finish in 3rd, but before then, some years would have separate 3rd and 4th place teams, depending on how the bracket played out.

Starting in 2003, the NCAA seeded the top 8 teams, which are shown in double underline. Starting in 2005, the next 8 seeds are shown with single underline. These seeded teams are not always the host of the Regional, but in recent years, the list of hosts aligns very closely to the list of top seeds.

School Conference
(as of 2024)
# 16 WS CH 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24

UCLA Pac-12 39 34 32 12 CH W3 CH CH RU CH CH CH RU CH RU W3 CH W3 RU CH RU RU W5 CH CH RU W3 R3 W5 SR CH R2 R R2 SR W5 W7 W5 W3 CH W5 W3 R W5
Arizona Pac-12 37 35 25 8 R2 R2 W3 W3 W7 CH RU CH CH RU CH CH RU W5 W3 CH RU W3 R3 W5 CH CH W7 W7 RU SR SR R3 SR SR SR SR SR W5 W7 W5 SR
Oklahoma Big 12 30 26 17 8 R2 R2 R2 R3 R2 R CH W5 W7 W5 W5 SR R2 SR SR R3 SR W7 RU CH W5 SR CH CH W3 RU CH CH CH CH
Arizona State Pac-12 31 20 12 2 W3 R2 W7 R2 R2 R2 R2 R3 R3 W7 R2 R3 W3 R R3 W5 W7 CH W5 SR CH W3 W7 R2 R2 R2 R3 W7 R2 R3 SR
Florida SEC 24 15 12 2 R R3 R R R R R3 SR W3 RU W5 RU R2 W5 CH CH SR RU W5 W7 SR W5 R2 W3
Texas A&M SEC 34 18 8 2 CH RU R2 RU CH W5 R3 R2 R2 R R R R2 R2 R SR R3 W7 RU R3 R2 SR R2 SR R2 R2 R2 W7 SR R R3 R2 R2 SR
Washington Pac-12 30 24 15 1 R3 R2 RU W3 W3 RU W5 R2 R3 W5 W7 SR SR W3 R2 CH W7 SR SR W3 SR R2 SR W3 RU W3 SR R2 W5 R3
Alabama SEC 25 21 15 1 R W5 R3 R W7 R2 W5 W7 SR W3 W3 SR W3 CH SR RU W5 W7 SR SR W3 W3 R2 W7 W5
California Pac-12 35 24 12 1 R2 W3 R2 R2 R2 R2 R2 W5 R2 R3 R3 W5 R2 R3 W3 W7 W5 CH RU RU W7 SR R3 SR SR SR W5 W3 R2 R3 R2 R2 R3 R2 R3
Florida State ACC 36 23 12 1 R2 W7 R3 R3 W3 W5 W7 W7 R R2 R2 R R2 R2 W3 R W5 R2 SR R R3 R3 R3 R2 R3 SR W7 SR W3 SR CH SR RU R2 RU SR
Michigan Big Ten 29 21 12 1 R2 R2 W7 W7 W5 W5 R R2 W7 W7 W7 CH SR SR SR W5 SR R2 SR W5 SR RU W5 R2 R3 R2 R2 R2 R2
Fresno State Mountain West 34 19 12 1 RU R2 W5 R2 R2 W5 RU RU RU W3 W3 R2 W5 R2 R2 W3 CH W5 R2 R R R3 R R2 R2 R3 R2 R2 R2 R3 R R3 R3 R3
Cal State Fullerton Big West 32 18 6 1 W3 RU R2 W3 CH W3 R2 R2 R2 R2 R2 R2 R2 W5 R2 R3 R R2 R2 R R2 R3 SR R R3 R2 R2 R2 R R3 R3 R2
Oklahoma State Big 12 26 18 12 - W7 R2 R2 W3 W3 R2 R2 W4 W3 R3 R2 R2 W3 R3 R2 R2 R3 W7 R2 R2 R3 W5 W5 W3 W5 W7
Tennessee SEC 22 13 8 - R R R W3 W3 RU R2 R2 W3 R2 W7 RU SR W7 R2 SR SR SR R3 R2 W3 SR
Nebraska Big Ten 26 12 7 - W5 W3 RU W3 W5 R3 R3 R2 W5 R2 R2 R3 W5 R3 R2 R3 R2 R R3 R3 R2 W7 SR R3 R2 R3 R2
Texas Big 12 24 11 7 - W7 R R R W3 W3 W5 R2 R3 R2 R3 R3 SR W3 R2 R3 R3 R2 R3 SR SR RU SR RU
Louisiana Sun Belt 33 19 6 - R2 R3 R2 W3 R2 W5 W5 R2 R2 R R2 R W7 R2 R3 R2 R W5 R2 SR R2 SR SR W7 SR SR R2 R2 R2 R2 R2 SR R2
Missouri SEC 27 15 6 - R2 W7 W5 W7 R R R2 R R R2 R2 SR W7 W7 W5 SR SR R2 SR SR R R2 R2 SR R2 R3 SR
LSU SEC 25 15 6 - R2 R3 R2 W3 R2 R W3 SR SR R2 R2 R3 R2 W5 R2 R2 W3 W3 W5 SR SR SR R R2 SR
Oregon Pac-12 24 15 6 - W5 R3 R2 R2 R3 R3 R2 R2 R2 R2 R2 SR SR W5 SR W3 W7 SR W3 W5 R2 R2 SR R2
Northwestern Big Ten 22 11 6 - W3 W5 W7 R2 R3 R R SR RU W3 SR R R2 R2 R R3 R2 SR R3 W7 SR R2
Georgia SEC 22 14 5 - R3 R R2 SR R2 R2 SR W3 W3 SR SR R2 SR SR W5 R2 W7 R2 W7 R2 SR SR
Long Beach State Big West 26 8 5 - W5 R2 R2 R2 W5 W4 W5 W7 R3 R3 R3 R3 R R R3 R R3 R3 R3 R3 R3 R3 R3 R3 R R
Stanford Pac-12 21 11 4 - R2 R R W3 R3 R W3 SR SR R2 SR SR R3 SR R2 R2 R3 R2 SR W3 W3
Utah Pac-12 17 10 4 - R2 W7 R2 W7 R2 W5 R R3 R2 R R R2 R2 SR SR W7 R3
Cal Poly Pomona D2 8 8 4 - R2 R2 W7 W4 R2 R2 W3 W5
DePaul Big East 21 7 4 - R R R2 R2 W3 W7 R3 R2 R3 R W7 W5 R2 R2 R3 R2 R3 R2 R R R3
Baylor Big 12 16 7 4 - R3 SR R2 W5 SR W3 R3 R2 W3 R2 R2 W7 R2 R R3 SR
Iowa Big Ten 16 6 4 - R3 R2 R3 W3 W3 W5 R3 R3 W7 R R2 R R2 R R2 R
South Carolina SEC 24 9 3 - R2 W4 R2 W7 R3 R3 R2 W7 R3 R3 R R2 R3 R SR R2 R3 R3 R2 R2 SR R2 R2 R2
Louisiana Tech CUSA 11 7 3 - W5 R2 W7 W7 R2 R2 R2 R R2 R3 R3
UMass Atlantic 10 21 6 3 - R2 R3 R2 W3 R R3 W7 W7 R3 R R3 R3 R3 R R SR R2 R2 R2 R R
Adelphi D2 6 6 3 - R2 W5 W5 R2 W7 R2
UNLV Mountain West 9 5 3 - W5 W7 R3 R2 R2 W3 R R3 R
Oregon State Pac-12 15 6 2 - R2 R2 R R3 R2 R2 R2 W7 R2 R2 R3 R R R2 W7
Creighton Big East 12 5 2 - W7 W5 R2 R2 R2 R R R3 R R3 R R
Cal State Northridge Big West 14 4 2 - R2 W5 RU R2 R3 R R R R R R R R R
Indiana Big Ten 9 4 2 - W7 R2 W3 R2 R3 R3 R R2 R
Auburn SEC 19 3 2 - R R R3 R2 R3 R3 R3 R3 R R2 W3 RU SR R3 R2 R R3 R2 R2
Princeton Ivy League 12 2 2 - R3 W7 W7 R R R3 R R R R R R3
Southern Miss Sun Belt 4 2 2 - W7 W3 R R
Kentucky SEC 15 8 1 - R2 R3 SR R3 SR W5 SR R2 SR SR SR SR R2 R3 R3
Pacific West Coast 13 7 1 - R2 W5 R2 R2 R2 R2 R R2 R R R R2 R
Central Michigan Mid-American 14 6 1 - R2 R2 R2 W5 R2 R R3 R2 R R3 R R R R
Kansas Big 12 12 6 1 - R2 R2 R2 W7 R2 R3 R2 R3 R3 R2 R3 R2
Hawaii Mountain West 11 5 1 - R2 R2 R3 R2 R R3 SR R2 W5 R R2
South Florida American 17 4 1 - R3 R3 R2 R2 R R3 R2 SR R W7 R2 R2 R3 R3 R3 R2 R3
UConn Big East 8 4 1 - R2 R3 R3 R2 W5 R2 R R
Minnesota Big Ten 17 3 1 - R3 R3 R R2 R3 R3 R R3 SR R2 R2 R2 R2 W7 R2 R3 R3
Virginia Tech ACC 13 3 1 - R3 R3 R3 W7 R2 R2 R3 R R2 SR SR R2 R3
James Madison Colonial 9 3 1 - R R3 R3 R3 SR R2 R3 SR W3
Duke ACC 4 3 1 - R2 SR SR W7
Western Michigan Mid-American 4 2 1 - W5 R2 R R
Utah State Mountain West 4 2 1 - W7 R3 R3 R2
UIC Horizon 12 1 1 - W7 R3 R3 R3 R3 R R R3 R R3 R R
Kent State Mid-American 4 1 1 - W7 R3 R2 R3
Toledo Mid-American 3 1 1 - W7 R3 R
Northern Illinois Mid-American 2 1 1 - W7 R3
Notre Dame ACC 27 3 - - R3 R2 R R R R2 R2 R R R2 R2 R3 R3 R2 R2 R3 R2 R R2 R2 R2 R3 R2 R3 R2 R3 R3
Arkansas SEC 13 3 - - R R3 R3 R R2 R2 R SR R SR SR R2 R3
Ohio State Big Ten 12 3 - - R2 R2 R R3 R2 SR R2 R3 R R2 R3 R3
Hofstra Colonial 18 2 - - R3 R3 R R R R R2 R2 R3 R3 R2 R2 SR R2 R3 R3 R3 R
San Diego State Mountain West 14 2 - - R2 R R2 R3 R R3 R2 R2 R3 R3 R2 R2 SR R
Georgia Tech ACC 12 2 - - R2 R R3 R2 R2 R3 R3 SR R2 R3 R3 R3
Penn State Big Ten 11 2 - - R2 R2 R R R R R2 R2 R R2 R3
Houston Big 12 9 2 - - R R2 SR SR R3 R3 R3 R3 R2
Ole Miss SEC 8 2 - - R2 SR R2 SR R2 R2 R2 R
Michigan State Big Ten 4 2 - - R3 R2 R2 R
Clemson ACC 4 2 - - R2 SR SR R3
Mississippi State SEC 18 1 - - R3 R R R R2 R3 R3 R R R3 R3 R3 R R2 R2 R2 SR R3
BYU Big 12 17 1 - - R R3 R3 R2 R2 R3 SR R2 R2 R R3 R3 R3 R2 R3 R3 R2
Boston University Patriot 12 2 - - R2 R R R2 R3 R3 R3 R R R R R3 R3
Texas State Sun Belt 12 1 - - R R3 R2 R3 R R3 R3 R3 R3 R3 R3 R2
Southern Illinois Missouri Valley 11 1 - - R3 R2 R3 R3 R3 R3 R R3 R R R2
UCF Big 12 11 1 - - R3 R2 R3 R R2 R2 R2 R2 SR R3 R3
Bethune–Cookman SWAC 10 1 - - R R R R SR R R R R R
North Dakota State Summit 10 1 - - SR R R R3 R3 R2 R3 R3 R3 R
Illinois State Missouri Valley 9 1 - - R2 R3 R R R3 R2 R R3 R2
Jacksonville State CUSA 9 1 - - R R2 SR R R3 R R2 R3 R2
Illinois Big Ten 8 1 - - R R2 R R2 R3 R2 R3 R
Missouri State Missouri Valley 7 1 - - R2 R R R3 R R3 R3
Wichita State American 7 1 - - R2 R R3 R2 R2 R3 R3
Texas Tech Big 12 6 1 - - R2 R R2 R2 R3 R2
NC State ACC 5 1 - - R3 R3 R2 R2 SR
UAB American 5 1 - - R3 R3 R SR R3
Bowling Green Mid-American 4 1 - - R2 R3 R3 R
San Jose State Mountain West 4 1 - - R3 R2 R R3
Maryland Big Ten 4 1 - - R2 R3 R3 R
Northern Iowa Missouri Valley 3 1 - - R2 R3 R3
Nicholls Southland 3 1 - - R3 R2 R
Colorado State Mountain West 3 1 - - R2 R R3
Rutgers Big Ten 2 1 - - R2 R
Wyoming Mountain West 1 1 - - R2
New Mexico Mountain West 1 1 - - R2
Rhode Island Atlantic 10 1 1 - - R2
North Carolina ACC 15 - - - R R R R2 R R3 R R2 R2 R2 R3 R3 R3 R2 R2
Louisville ACC 15 - - - R R3 R2 R3 R3 R3 R2 R2 R2 R3 R R R R2 R3
Chattanooga Southern 13 - - - R R R3 R R R R R2 R R R R3
Lehigh Patriot 11 - - - R R R R2 R3 R2 R R R3 R R3
Tulsa American 11 - - - R R R2 R2 R3 R R2 R R2 R3 R2
Florida Atlantic American 10 - - - R3 R R3 R R R R2 R2 R3 R
LIU Northeast 10 - - - R R R R R3 R R2 R R R
Fordham Atlantic 10 10 - - - R2 R3 R3 R R2 R R3 R R R
Canisius MAAC 9 - - - R3 R R R R R R3 R R
McNeese Southland 9 - - - R R3 R R3 R3 R3 R3 R2 R2
Wisconsin Big Ten 9 - - - R3 R R R2 R2 R2 R3 R2 R2
Harvard Ivy League 8 - - - R3 R R R R2 R R R
Florida A&M SWAC 8 - - - R R R3 R R R R R
Mississippi Valley State SWAC 8 - - - R R R R R R3 R R
Albany America East 8 - - - R R R2 R R3 R R R
Miami (OH) Mid-American 8 - - - R R3 R3 R3 R R3 R2 R3
Liberty CUSA 7 - - - R R R2 R2 R3 R2 R2
Campbell Big South 6 - - - R R3 R R3 R R3
UMBC America East 6 - - - R R R R R R
Portland State Big Sky 6 - - - R3 R R R3 R R
South Alabama Sun Belt 6 - - - R2 R2 R2 R2 R3 R2
USC Upstate Big South 6 - - - R3 R3 R3 R3 R3 R
Saint Francis (PA) Northeast 6 - - - R3 R R R R R3
Coastal Carolina Sun Belt 5 - - - R R3 R R R3
Northwestern State Southland 5 - - - R R R R R
Cornell Ivy League 5 - - - R R R R R
Longwood Big South 5 - - - R R3 R2 R2 R
Western Illinois Summit 4 - - - R3 R R R3
Sacramento State Big Sky 4 - - - R3 R R R
Drake Missouri Valley 4 - - - R R R2 R3
UNC Greensboro Southern 4 - - - R R R R
East Carolina American 4 - - - R R3 R2 R2
Seton Hall Big East 4 - - - R R R3 R
Oakland Horizon 4 - - - R R R R
Wright State Horizon 4 - - - R R R R3
Loyola Marymount West Coast 4 - - - R R2 R3 R3
Tennessee Tech Ohio Valley 4 - - - R R R2 R3
Marist MAAC 4 - - - R R R R
Iona MAAC 4 - - - R R R R
New Mexico State WAC 4 - - - R3 R3 R R
Weber State Big Sky 4 - - - R R R3 R
Maine America East 3 - - - R R R
Ohio Mid-American 3 - - - R R R2
Boston College ACC 3 - - - R3 R R
Cleveland State Horizon 3 - - - R R R
Ball State Mid-American 3 - - - R R R3
Colgate Patriot 3 - - - R R R
Southeast Missouri State Ohio Valley 3 - - - R R3 R
Army Patriot 3 - - - R R R
Middle Tennessee CUSA 3 - - - R R R2
Eastern Kentucky Ohio Valley 3 - - - R R R
FIU CUSA 3 - - - R R2 R3
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Southland 3 - - - R R R3
UC Santa Barbara Big West 3 - - - R R R
Georgia Southern Southland 3 - - - R3 R R3
Nevada Mountain West 3 - - - R R2 R3
Southern Utah WAC 3 - - - R R3 R
Lipscomb ASUN 3 - - - R2 R2 R3
Syracuse ACC 3 - - - R R3 R2
Valparaiso Missouri Valley 3 - - - R R3 R
Western Kentucky CUSA 3 - - - R2 R2 R3
Texas Southern SWAC 3 - - - R R R
Alabama State SWAC 3 - - - R R R
Prairie View A&M SWAC 3 - - - R R R
Villanova Big East 3 - - - R3 R R2
Grand Canyon WAC 3 - - - R R3 R2
Iowa State Big 12 2 - - - R3 R2
Georgia State Sun Belt 2 - - - R R
Troy Sun Belt 2 - - - R R3
Rider MAAC 2 - - - R R
Manhattan MAAC 2 - - - R R
Southern SWAC 2 - - - R R
Centenary D3 2 - - - R R
UTSA American 2 - - - R R
Green Bay Horizon 2 - - - R3 R
Cal Poly Big West 2 - - - R R2
Howard MEAC 2 - - - R R
Sam Houston Southland 2 - - - R3 R3
Stetson ASUN 2 - - - R R3
Winthrop Big South 2 - - - R2 R
Purdue Big Ten 2 - - - R3 R2
Stony Brook America East 2 - - - R R
Bradley Missouri Valley 2 - - - R3 R
Radford Big South 2 - - - R3 R2
Sacred Heart Northeast 2 - - - R3 R
UT Martin Ohio Valley 2 - - - R R
Saint Mary's West Coast 2 - - - R R
Virginia ACC 2 - - - R3 R2
Jackson State SWAC 2 - - - R R
Florida Gulf Coast ASUN 2 - - - R3 R3
Central Connecticut Northeast 2 - - - R3 R
Marshall Sun Belt 2 - - - R3 R3
Dartmouth Ivy League 2 - - - R R
Central Arkansas Southland 2 - - - R R3
Fairfield MAAC 2 - - - R R
Boise State Mountain West 2 - - - R R2
Kennesaw State ASUN 2 - - - R R3
Monmouth MAAC 2 - - - R R
Seattle WAC 2 - - - R3 R3
Morgan State MEAC 2 - - - R R
South Dakota State Summit 2 - - - R3 R3
UNC Wilmington Colonial 2 - - - R R
Charlotte American 2 - - - R2 R3
Northern Colorado Big Sky 2 - - - R R
Omaha Summit 2 - - - R3 R2
Providence Big East 1 - - - R3
Brown Ivy League 1 - - - R
Louisiana–Monroe Sun Belt 1 - - - R3
Niagara MAAC 1 - - - R
Saint Peter's MAAC 1 - - - R
Evansville Missouri Valley 1 - - - R
UT Arlington Sun Belt 1 - - - R3
Charleston Colonial 1 - - - R2
Robert Morris Horizon 1 - - - R
Youngstown State Horizon 1 - - - R
Eastern Michigan Mid-American 1 - - - R
Furman Southern 1 - - - R
Delaware State MEAC 1 - - - R
Stephen F. Austin WAC 1 - - - R
Alcorn State SWAC 1 - - - R
Bucknell Patriot 1 - - - R
Elon Colonial 1 - - - R
UC Davis Big West 1 - - - R
Jacksonville ASUN 1 - - - R3
Memphis American 1 - - - R3
Hampton Colonial 1 - - - R
Penn Ivy League 1 - - - R
Purdue Fort Wayne Horizon 1 - - - R
Bryant Northeast 1 - - - R
Charleston Southern Big South 1 - - - R
SIU Edwardsville Ohio Valley 1 - - - R
Utah Valley WAC 1 - - - R
Binghamton America East 1 - - - R
Indiana State Missouri Valley 1 - - - R3
Pittsburgh ACC 1 - - - R2
St. John's Big East 1 - - - R
Butler Big East 1 - - - R
Cal State Bakersfield Big West 1 - - - R
Samford Southern 1 - - - R
East Tennessee State Southern 1 - - - R
Montana Big Sky 1 - - - R
Detroit Horizon 1 - - - R
George Washington Atlantic 10 1 - - - R
Murray State Missouri Valley 1 - - - R
North Texas American 1 - - - R2
Eastern Illinois Ohio Valley 1 - - - R
George Mason Atlantic 10 1 - - - R
North Carolina Central MEAC 1 - - - R
Northern Kentucky Horizon 1 - - - R
Dayton Atlantic 10 1 - - - R
Siena MAAC 1 - - - R
Southeastern Louisiana Southland 1 - - - R2

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Road to the Championship | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
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