The first half of the 2025 college softball season has already provided a lot of exaggeration.
SEC has played at a high level this year, with all 15 teams at least one appearance in our weekly top 25 poles. Big Ten is leading the nation in a house run with Ohio State (71) and Nebraska (63). And in the circe, Texas Tech Ace Neeri Canadian has been for campaigning so far, and Jordan Bahl of Nebraska is playing on top of his game.
There are many other interesting storylines, so we asked our experts six big questions. Which teams are the highest to prove? Who are the top candidates for the Player of the Year? They also choose top teams, sleepers and cap things with their 2025 Women’s College World Series Pix.
jump to:
Top teams | Most to prove. Poy pics
Trend/Storyline | Sleeper teams | Wcws predictions
Which team has affected you the most in the first half of the season?
Jenny Dalton-Hil: Florida State. It is a team that seems to be caused by unwanted losses in most years in the season, but there is no one to pursue coach Loni Almeda panic button. Seminols started the season with damage to the Oklahoma State and lost to both Texas A&M and Oregon twice, but the group could score in bunches with a 15-run-win win in 2025. The latest hit parade was against ACUD Duke in Durham.
Michelle Smith: LSU. This talented team has the opportunity to punch their tickets for WCWS for the first time since 2017. Tigers are better hitting the ball over the years – their .369 batting average is fifth in the nation – and he has some great experience in the circle. This is interesting because they lose a lot of senior leadership and experience over the years, but it is a talented team that is making early statements in the season.
Madison Shipman: Mississippi state. I had chosen the same team at this point last season, but I think the same this year! I think for the last few sessions, we have seen that bulldogs keep getting better and better. The team is headed by Sierra Saco and Nadia Barbari, who are doing great sessions so far. The Mississippi state has six different players with 20 or more RBI during the season during the season. And in the circle, Railin Chaffin has stepped as Ace.
Amanda Scarboro: South Carolina. I like the way I fight this team. GameCox was selected to finalize in SEC this year. And although it is still in a hurry to play the conference, I don’t think this is going to happen. They play as if they have something to prove every game. This team does not give up and to return to the talent and plate in the circle.
Which team has to prove the most to prove as a season?
Dalton-Hil: It looks like a stuffed question because everyone still has something to prove. There are many seasons left, so each team aims to develop stability, grip and tenacity to score a deep run with the National Championship. It is being said that Obern landed for a warm start under the new co-intended coach, Kate and Chris Malvox, but has since been defeated by 10 of his last 11 matches and the winner in SEC play. The path for OKC is not easy because the tigers still have a four SEC series to play against the top 25 teams.
Smith: Texas Tech and Nebraska. Both teams have star pitchers, which have moved – Texas Tech’s Nizri Canadian and Nebraska’s Jordan Bahl – which was most accepted will take them all the way for WCWS. But this is a team game, so these teams have to prove that they are ready to compete in the day and day. Reders and Cornhockers need to show that they can defend the ball behind their ace pitcher and score runs on the board.
Shipman: Tenasi. Lady Wols won the back-to-back regular season SEC championship in 2023 and 2024, but last season expected the Super Regional after losing to Alabama at the Super Regional. They are firm to return it to WCWS, which proceeds to the circle with Carlin Pickens.
0:30
Carlin Picense NCAA of Tennessee throws the fastest pitch in softball history
Tennessy Pitcher Carlin Pickens launched a bitter strike of 78.2 mph for the fastest recorded pitch in the college’s softball history.
Scarborough: Oklahoma. Even after winning four national championships in a row, if I were in the team, I wanted to prove that we could win the game despite being the best senior class graduation to play the game. Suuners have such a young team with many new faces, but the expectation to win netty is the same. That championship mentality made him extraordinary in the last four sessions and created a permanent heritage. Oklahoma should still continue to be raised, the standard must determine and all should prove wrong (and correct themselves).
Why is your player of the year more now?
Dalton-Hil: I hope Nebraska Pitcher Jordan Bahl would return to his ACL injury and be ready to compete, but he has crossed the expectations not only in the circle but also in the plate. He has posted 1.69 ERA in 91 innings and is a team-lead. 473-with 11 domestic runs. Whereas there can be other people who have single data which are better, no one is doing the way Bahl is at this time.
Smith: I think if the pitcher cannadi can remain healthy and help Texas Tech make Texas Tech in WCWS, then it will win the back-to-back player of the year awards. She is also hitting well like Bahl this season, and I agree with Jenny that killing the pitchers is special if they can be elite on both sides of the ball. Canadi hit .300 and has a minuscule. 64 ERA. However, she is not killing in March, so she may have been closed to the aggressive side to stay healthy.
Shipman: Can I choose a pitcher and a player year? This is happening! My pitcher so far is Canadian. She dominates the circle with 137 strikes this season. My Player of the Year Pick Arkanses’s Bree Alice. She is batting more than 500 with 1-headed 17 homers halfway through the season!
Scarborough: Due to Bahl, how is he excellent on both sides of the ball. As of now, Nebraska has no more rank opponent on its schedule, so the hair has a chance to make her already further improved the stellar data. This season is fun to see her hit for herself – an opportunity that she was not given in Oklahoma – and we are able to see that she is fully capable because she proves that she is much higher than just a major pitcher.
What is the biggest story/trend to see in the rest of the season?
Dalton-Hil: I still see that the impact conference is on reality power 4. The teams which had perennial powers in their respective conferences are now being challenged by the addition of displaced PAC -12 teams. FSU will not meet Stanford until the ACC tournament. Northwestern faced the UCLA in its final regular season series of the year. Oklahoma and Texas are being added to SEC, making that conference even stronger. And Arizona sits on top of Big -12. There are lots of unique and difficult matches that are not used to see us!
2:05
Around Diamond: Another day of dominance in SEC
SEC now exposes impressive plays from crew softball as they continue to show why SEC remains the most prominent conference in diamonds.
Shipman: I am going to keep an eye on how pitching is used for the rest of the season. There are a lot of teams that use four, five or six weapons in circles. Once we get closer to Postsen, will we still see using so many pitches, or will the teams turn more and more in a traditional ace that are to take them down?
Scarborough: Availability of Pitcher Kegan Rothrocrock for Florida. The last time he picked, 22 February; Will we see him again this season? Without him, Florida is still a very talented team that can quickly score a lot of runs, but do they have staff to score a run without Rothrocrock in the National Championship?
Which sleeper team (out of the current top 10 rankings) you think is the best chance to score a deep run in WCWS?
Dalton-Hil: Stanford. Former experience in scoring a deep run in OKC is a huge factor, and Cardinal has traveled there in the last two sessions. His roster given will not have this year’s player this year as Canadian Texas left for Tech, but this team has only lost three seasons. This is a group that I would not like to see in regional or super regional.
Scarborough: Virginia Tech. Emma Lamle feels that she is doing the best pitch in her career and can beat anyone in the country with her dirty rhizball. In addition, Virginia Tech is a historically a crime that can score runs in bunches. After the success of Hokies’s regular season of 2024, but falls less than WCWS, it is a team that finally wants to reach the circle in Lamle’s last season.
Shipman: I am thinking on this like Amanda; Virginia is a team to see Tech. Lamla dominates the circle with 1.97 ERA, and Hoki is aggressively led by Corey McMillan and his 13 domestic runs. The second impressive piece of his game is his protection. Hoki is currently third in the country with a .983 fielding percentage. This is a team I do not want to face in Postsen.
Who will be the last four teams standing in 2025 WCWS?
Dalton-Hil: Oaklahoma, Texas, Florida and Florida states
Shipman: Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and LSU
Scarborough: UCLA, Texas, LSU and Arizona
