I have so much to say about the bracket this year. The committee doesn’t seem to have been watching the same season as the rest of us. There has been so much outcry from the softball world on Instagram and Twitter; I can only hope they will take the criticism and do better. Washington as a 16 seed? Oregon not seeded? Only UCLA in the top 10 for the Pac-12? Georgia hosting? So many questions.

Getting off my soapbox, here are the regionals and my opinions on who I believe are going to get out of the regionals, and some players to watch in each regional. Play starts on Thursday in Tempe, get ready!

Norman Regional

Oklahoma’s offense is very very hard to beat, and I do not see any pitcher in there potential opponents that could defeat them. There is going to be a lot of offense in this regional, and if Wichita or A&M can come up with a great pitching performance from one of their aces we could see an upset. At the end of the day Oklahoma is just too good.

Players to watch: Jocelyn Alo (Oklahoma), Haley Lee (Texas A&M), Addison Barnard (Wichita State), Tiare Jennings (Oklahoma)

Upset City: Texas A&M & Wichita State

Winner Winner: Oklahoma

Seattle Regional

Washington is going to play with a huge chip on their shoulder after getting the #16 seed; Michigan is also going to be playing with a huge chip with not getting a seed at all after winning the Big Ten regular season championship. I have Washington getting through, purely based on the fact they have Gabbie Plain in the circle, and I don’t think any team can compete against that in this regional.

Players to watch: Gabbie Plain (Washington), Alex Storako (Michigan), Sis Bates (Washington), Lexie Blair (Michigan)

Upset City: Michigan

Winner Winner: Washington

Knoxville Regional

This regional is stacked, just like so many regionals. Each game in this regional no matter which match up is a toss-up. At the end of the day I think the bats and pitching of James Madison will be able to get through Ashley Rogers phenomenal pitching.

Players to watch: Kate Gordon (James Madison); Ashley Rogers (Tennessee); Odicci Alexander (James Madison), Amber Bishop (Liberty)

Upset City: James Madison

Winner Winner: James Madison

Columbia Regional

The Columbia regional has a lot of big big bats, but I also think Missouri lucked out and has one of the easier of the 16 regionals. Iowa State, and Northern Iowa just do not have the pitching to challenge the bats of Missouri but if Missouri’s pitching sinks they may have some trouble.

Players to watch: Sammi Williams (Iowa State); Jenna Laird (Missouri); Sammey Bunch (Iowa State); Kim Wert (Missouri)

Upset City: Iowa State

Winner Winner: Missouri

Stillwater Regional

Mississippi State has the bats to challenge the OSU Cowgirls, but the Cowgirls have the pitching to silence their big bats. The Terriers of BU definitely have a chance of an upset of Mississippi State with Ali DuBois in the circle but the Bulldogs are battle tested. Oklahoma State will prevail, they have one of the best pitchers in the country with Carri Eberle.

Players to watch: Carri Eberle (Oklahoma State), Fa Leilua (Mississippi State); Hayley Busby (Oklahoma State); Alysen Febrey (Oklahoma State)

Upset City: Mississippi State

Winner Winner: Oklahoma State

Austin Regional

This regional has the best storyline in all of softball. Mike White left Oregon before the 2019 season and left for the 40 acres of UT; 3 years later they will meet for the first time in the Austin Regional. It will come down to how the two offenses deal with the aces of each other's staff. I have Oregon moving forward because I don’t think there is anything Shealyn O’Leary (Texas’ ace) can show them that the Ducks have not already seen.

Players to watch: Brooke Yanez (Oregon), Shannon Rhodes (Texas), Mary Iakopo (Texas), Allee Bunker (Oregon)

Upset City: Oregon

Winner Winner: Oregon

Athens Regional

Don’t get me started on a team that is 8 games over .500 hosting a regional in Georgia. Georgia has played a really tough schedule and are one of only two teams to beat the number one Oklahoma Sooners. I just don’t believe they are going to be able to get through the one-two punch of St. George and Walters of the Duke Blue Devils.

Players to watch: Peyton St. George (Duke), Mary Wilson Avant (Georgia), Shelby Walters (Duke), Kennedy Sullivan (Western Kentucky)

Upset City: Georgia

Winner Winner: Duke

Gainesville Regional

Florida got an easy draw this year for their regional, which is not always the case for them. There is no offense in this regional that can even come close to the Gators, and no pitching staff can either. South Florida has Georgina Corrick; who the Gators have already beaten twice this year. Florida will get through this one, and easy.

Players to watch: Charla Echols (Florida), Kendyl Lindaman (Florida), Georgina Corrick (South Florida), Elizabeth Hightower (Florida)

Upset City: South Florida/South Alabama

Winner Winner: Florida

Tuscaloosa Regional

This regional is absolutely insane to me. Sending Clemson to the Rhoads House is just ridiculous, very similar to back in 2017 when Minnesota was sent to Tuscaloosa. At the end of the day, I think this will be one of the closest regionals and will go to a Game 7. Alabama will get through it though, Montana Fouts is almost unhittable at this point in the season.

Players to watch: Bailey Hemphill (Alabama), Valerie Cagle (Clemson), Montana Fouts (Alabama), McKenzie Clark (Clemson)

Upset City: Clemson, Clemson, Clemson

Winner Winner: Alabama (close)

Lexington Regional

The Lexington regional has some awesome offensive teams, and a Northwestern team that just squeaked into the postseason. Like most of the SEC seeds in this tournament; Kentucky has a pretty favorable draw and I don’t think they will have any trouble getting through the regional.

Players to watch: Kayla Kowalik (Kentucky), Rachel Lewis (Northwestern), Abby Sweet (Notre Dame), Erin Coffel (Kentucky)

Upset City: Notre Dame

Winner Winner: Kentucky

Tucson Regional

This regional has some great storylines, we have Arizona who has been in every single postseason tournament; and Villanova who is making their debut in the tournament. Arizona will have no trouble getting through this regional, Villanova has a baller with Paige Rough but she pales in comparison to the Wildcat team.

Players to watch: Paige Rouch (Villanova), Dejah Mulipola (Arizona), Jessie Harper, (Arizona), Sharlize Palacios (Arizona)

Upset City: Villanova

Winner Winner: Arizona

Fayetteville Regional

I said it above about the Lexington regional, but this regional was handed to Arkansas. Stanford has an ace with Alana Vawter but Arkansas is 2nd home run hitting team in the nation; Good luck. Arkansas will get through this cake walk of a regional.

Players to watch: Mary Haff (Arkansas), Braxton Burnside (Arkansas), Alana Vawter (Stanford), Jocelyn Carrillo (South Dakota State)

Upset City: Stanford

Winner Winner: Arkansas

Baton Rouge Regional

The battle for Louisiana part 1,000? Three of the four teams in this regional are from Louisiana. I think much of what happened in the regular season will continue in the regional. LSU was 3-0 against their regional opponents including two wins against Louisiana. Louisiana has some great talent, but LSU has proven they can get through the challenge the Ragin’ Cajuns present.

Players to watch: Summer Ellyson (Louisiana), Taylor Pleasants (LSU), Ali Kilponen, (LSU), Ciara Bryan (Louisiana)

Upset City: Louisiana

Winner Winner: LSU

Tallahassee Regional

This regional is very interesting. I can see it going so many different ways, which can be great but also very boring. Auburn and UCF pose a big threat to Florida State; Auburn has the pitching and UCF has the offense. It will be interesting to see how the Florida State team reacts to any punches they may face, but I believe they will.

Players to watch: Kathryn Sandercock (Florida State) Calyn Arnold (Florida State), Shelby Lowe (Auburn), Jazmine Esparza (UCF)

Upset City: UCF

Winner Winner: Florida State

Tempe Regional

I am so excited for this regional. It will all come down to Arizona State’s offense versus Virginia Tech and the fighting Kelly Rochard’s. Arizona State have had to face some of the best pitching in the country in the PAC-12 and I believe they will be able to get through the challenge. I can also see Kelly Rochard completely take over and get VA Tech to the supers.

Players to watch: Maddie Hackbarth (Arizona State), Keely Rochard (Virginia Tech), Kindra Hackbarth (Arizona State), Rylee Jensen (BYU)

Upset City: Virginia Tech (Keely Rochard)

Winner Winner: Arizona State

Los Angeles Regional

Poor Minnesota having to travel all the way to UCLA just to get destroyed by the defending national champions. That may have been a bit harsh but UCLA is just too good, there has been one pitcher to shut down the Bruins this year and that would be Brooke Yanez of Oregon. I do not see Amber Fiser of Minnesota or Hailey Dolcini of Fresno State shutting down the bats of the Bruins.

Players to watch: Amber Fiser (Minnesota), Rachel Garcia (UCLA), Hailey Dolcini (Fresno State), Megan Faraimo (UCLA)

Upset City: Minnesota

Winner Winner: UCLA

Regionals begin on Thursday at 4:30pm at the Tempe Regional, and the remaining regionals beginning on Friday with coverage all day on the ESPN networks. Check out this tournament over the next 3 weekends. It will not disappoint.