The college softball season has officially begun, which means the road to the 2024 Women's College World Series begins now.
From Oklahoma's quest to make history to the many impact players who transferred during the offseason, this year is sure to be a memorable one. We'll also say goodbye to the game's most storied conference, the Pac-12, due to realignment.
We asked our college softball experts to answer some of the game's biggest questions. Can the Sooners really make it to fourth place? Which newcomers will have an impact?
They also made early player of the year picks, WCWS predictions, and named sleeper teams to watch. Finally, with the Clearwater Invitational starting on February 15, they shared what games they have on their calendars.
Jump to:
Most important stories | Can OU do four-peat?
New arrivals | POY selections
Sleeper equipment | WCWS Predictions
Clearwater Invitation
What's the biggest story out of Oklahoma for 2024?
Jenny Dalton-Hill: I'm looking at impact transfers across the country. Big names and big players are in new squads. Can these players who have won player of the year awards in different conferences step in without missing a beat and make an immediate difference on their new teams? Does NIL create additional pressure for some players to perform in their new environments? Will they be able to put their heads down and work, or will they read and believe the hype?
Michelle Smith: I'm interested to see how conference realignments shape up with those additions starting in 2024. Adding BYU, UCF and Houston to the Big 12 helps the conference in 2024 and takes it to a new level with Oklahoma's impending departure and Texas to the SEC next year. With the addition of Utah, Arizona and Arizona State in 2025, the Big 12 becomes a powerhouse conference.
Madison Shipman: I'm looking forward to seeing if the teams that made it to the WCWS in recent seasons and relied heavily on their aces can return with new pitching. Alabama lost Montana Fouts, Florida State lost Kathryn Sandercock, Tennessee lost Ashley Rogers, UCLA lost Megan Faraimo and Brooke Yanez, and Northwestern lost Danielle Williams. Who will emerge as the new aces of that pitching staff?
Amanda Scarborough: The Pac-12. This is the last year for us to see the most decorated conference in softball with 24 national championships held by five different programs. We're coming off a year where UCLA (which has the most national championships with 12) went 0-2 in the regionals, Arizona and Arizona State didn't make the NCAA tournament, and Utah, Washington and Stanford were the ones left. at the Women's College. World Series. I'm interested to see how this last year as a conference develops. To make things even more intriguing to start the season, Stanford was voted in the preseason coaches' poll as the Pac-12 favorite for the first time.
Can Oklahoma Really Have Four Peats?
Dalton-Hill: Oklahoma has the talent to win it all again, but it will all depend on the Sooners staying unified. A bad attitude, a selfish mentality that can recruit others for a pity party for playing time can hurt a team and prevent a four-year sweep. Everyone brings their best game to No. 1 and it can be difficult to stay focused all season long. However, a talented team playing for each other can drown out the noise and be nearly impossible to beat. The Sooners just need to stay hungry.
Blacksmith: Absolutely, Oklahoma has a chance. Coach Patty Gasso has her team trained in what they call a “championship mentality,” and from day one when that team gets together, they don't think about anything but a national championship. The key this year will be whether they can handle the pressure; I think they will be able to do it as they have done in the past.
Sailor: I think it's a possibility for this team. The offensive lineup is loaded with talent like Jayda Coleman, Kinzie Hansen, Alyssa Brito and Tiara Jennings. They have pitchers who complement each other in the circle, both right-handed and left-handed. This is a team full of players who know how to win important games. That experience helps a lot in the postseason.
Scarborough: If you can. Their senior class knows how to win, how to lead, what it takes and knows nothing more than winning a national championship. There are unknowns in the circle with the departures of Jordy Bahl (Nebraska transfer) and Alex Storako (graduate), who pitched 65% of their innings last year, and the addition of three new, impactful transfer pitchers to their roster. But her pitching coach, Jennifer Rocha, always seems to find a way to get the best out of her pitchers both mentally and physically. I think we'll see this staff grow as the season progresses.
Which newcomer will have the biggest impact?
Dalton-Hill: Bella Faw, Tennessee freshman shortstop. She is a player I will keep an eye on. Faw was named Extra Inning Softball's No. 5 prospect in the class of 2023 and she is already making her coaches predict that she will turn heads and impress with her defensive skills. She could be compared to one of our big ESPN stars, Madison Shipman! There are high expectations for her.
Blacksmith: Kaitlyn Terry, UCLA freshman left-handed pitcher. She can hit the ball with power from the left side, as well as throw with good speed and movement. UCLA will have a young pitching staff, so the Bruins will most likely need to use Terry heavily in the circle.
Sailor: Texas freshman pitcher Teagan Kavan. Coach Mike White seems to have a good eye for young talent, and Kavan was a strikeout machine in the fall games. He struck out 15 of the 29 batters he faced. I'm looking forward to seeing him release this season.
Scarborough: FSU freshman pitcher Ashtyn Danley. She is another incredibly talented dual threat and has a chance to impact FSU on both sides of the ball. Since FSU has graduated three pitchers from her staff, including Kathryn Sandercock, Danley has the opportunity to be at the top of the pitching rotation and throw a lot of innings at a young age. When she's not pitching, she'll probably get plenty of starts in the outfield as well.
Who is your first choice for player of the year?
Dalton-Hill: Clemson pitcher Valerie Cagle. She has something to prove because of the super regional matchup she put the Tigers against the No. 1 seed. Cagle has set goals for herself every season and the WCWS has eluded her. This is her year to make it to Oklahoma City and also win the POY for the second year in a row.
Blacksmith: Since JDH chose Cagle, I'll go with Oklahoma outfielder Jayda Coleman. Three rings in three years with the Sooners. She is a staple in the lineup and in the outfield. She is an incredible player and her energy and experience could give her the opportunity to do something no other college softball player has done: win four consecutive national championships.
Sailor: Cagle. She continues to improve each year and I am looking forward to seeing her perform in the field, in the circle and at the plate again this season.
Scarborough: Nebraska pitcher Jordy Bahl. We saw Bahl pitch and be named 2023 WCWS Most Outstanding Player and win Big 12 Pitcher of the Year twice, but we haven't really had a chance to see her hit. Now that she's in Nebraska, she'll probably have a great chance to make it. Cagle has proven to be softball's top two-way star, and now we might get a chance to see another side of Bahl's game that we've never seen before. She's already one of the best pitchers in the game; What offense will she bring to the table now?
Which team that is not in the preseason top 10 do you think has the best chance of making it to the WCWS?
Dalton-Hill: No. 17 Nebraska. We've all seen how an impact pitcher can propel a team to achieve great things. But can the Cornhuskers' bats score? Can his defense stay alert? Can Jordy Bahl continue to be Jordy Bahl? If they click, it could be a fun year for them.
Blacksmith: No. 15 LSU. With Taylor Pleasants anchoring the infield and an experienced pitching staff, the Tigers are a good option to make the WCWS. If they play on the field the same way they talk to you on paper and run their offense with fire and vengeance, this is a legit team!
Sailor: No. 13 Oregon. The Ducks have a lot of talent in their lineup. Pitchers Stevie Hansen, Raegan Breedlove and Morgan Scott are back, and LSU has added transfers like Emma Kauf and Kaila Pollard to boost its offense.
Scarborough: Unranked UCF. The Knights have been building and this year they return a lot of experience and add some impactful transfers. After making it to super regionals in 2022, losing at regionals last year was a bit disappointing. The good news for them is that they will return almost everyone who can remember those highs from 2022 and learn from 2023. They will be hungry to make the most of this talented roster.
What is your prediction for the WCWS?
Dalton-Hill: Clemson makes its first appearance.
Blacksmith: The SEC finally gets a team into the championship series for the first time since 2017.
Sailor: Georgia returns to the WCWS (last appearance was in 2021).
Scarborough: Two ACC teams make it to the WCWS.
Which Clearwater Invitational game are you most looking forward to seeing?
Dalton-Hill: Tennessee vs. Stanford (February 16, 3pm ET) is marked on my calendar to watch. Can Tennessee's hitters figure out how to attack Stanford pitcher NiJaree Canady? This is a matchup between the number 2 and 3 teams in the preseason rankings. What game!
Blacksmith: Tennessee vs. Texas (February 16, 6 pm ET) is a rematch of last year's super regionals (Tennessee won the series 2-0), and I think this game will be fantastic! However, I am excited for every match – this tournament is awesome!
Sailor: Hands down, Tennessee vs. Stanford (Feb. 16, 3 p.m. ET). They have a ton of returners and throwers who can throw absolute gas in the circle! I look forward to seeing the matchup between Canady in the circle and Tennessee's Kiki Milloy at the plate!
Scarborough: FSU vs. UCLA (February 16, 1 p.m. ET). When these two teams meet, it's always epic! Both programs graduated aces in the circle, so I'm interested to see how their new pitchers can handle both dominant offenses.
