The 2018 NCAA Division I softball tournament was held from May 18 through June 6, 2018 as the final part of the 2018 NCAA Division I softball season. Thirty-two teams were awarded automatic bids as champions of their conferences, and the remaining 32 were selected at-large by the NCAA Division I softball selection committee. The tournament culminated with eight teams playing in the 2018 Women's College World Series at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. This was the first year since the 2010 Women's College World Series that neither the Florida Gators nor the Oklahoma Sooners made the Championship Series. The Florida State Seminoles played in their first Women's College World Series Championship Series and became the first ACC team to make the Championship Series. The Washington Huskies made their fourth appearance in the Championship Series.
Automatic bids
The Big West, Mountain West, Pac-12, and West Coast Conference bids were awarded to the regular-season champion. All other conferences have the automatic bid go to the conference tournament winner.
National seeds
16 National Seeds were announced on the Selection Show Sunday, May 13 at 10 p.m. EDT on ESPN2. The 16 national seeds host the Regionals. Teams in italics advanced to Super Regionals. Teams in bold advance to Women's College World Series.
1. (47–7)
2. (50–8)
3. (50–4)
4. (50–3)
5. (44–8)
6. Florida State (47–10)
7. (43–11)
8. (43–11)
9. (45–14)
10. (45–12)
11. (41–14)
12. Alabama (33–18)
13. (39–15)
14. (40–14)
15. (40–16)
16. (31–19)
Regionals and Super Regionals
The Regionals took place May 17–20, 2018. One regional- Eugene, Oregon, took place May 17–19, 2018, because of BYU's no-Sunday-play policy; all other regionals occurred May 18–20, 2018. The Super Regionals took place from May 24–27, 2018.
Eugene Super Regional
Tempe Super Regional
Seattle Super Regional
Norman Super Regional
Los Angeles Super Regional
Tallahassee Super Regional
Athens Super Regional
Gainesville Super Regional
Women's College World Series
The Women's College World Series was held May 31 through June 6, 2018, in Oklahoma City.
Participants
† = From NCAA Division I Softball Championship Results
Bracket
All-tournament Team
The following players were members of the Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team.
Championship Game
Schedule
Record by conference
The columns RF, SR, WS, NS, F, and NC respectively stand for the Regional Finals, Super Regionals, College World Series Teams, National Semi-Finals, Finals, and National Champion.
Media coverage
Radio
Westwood One provided nationwide radio coverage of the championship series. It was streamed online at westwoodsports.com, through TuneIn, and on SiriusXM. John Sadak made his softball radio debut and joined returning analyst Leah Amico for Westwood One.
Television
ESPN holds exclusive rights to the tournament. They aired games across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, and ESPN3. For the second time in the history of the women's softball tournament ESPN covered every regional.
Broadcast assignments
Regionals
Eugene: Ted Enberg & Kenzie Fowler
Lexington: Courtney Lyle & Jenny Dalton-Hill
Columbia: Brad Muller & Dr. Megan Buning
Tempe: Tiffany Greene & Amanda Scarborough
Seattle: Eric Collins & Michele Smith
Tuscaloosa: Melissa Lee & Leigh Dakich
Fayetteville: Eric Frede & Jennie Ritter
Norman: Pam Ward & Carol Bruggeman
Super Regionals
Eugene: Mark Neely & Danielle Lawrie
Tempe: Courtney Lyle & Jenny Dalton-Hill
Seattle: Eric Frede & Jennie Ritter
Norman: Pam Ward & Carol Bruggeman
Women's College World Series
Adam Amin, Amanda Scarborough, & Laura Rutledge (afternoons, early Fri) Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza (minus Sunday), Michele Smith, & Holly Rowe (evenings minus early Fri)