The road to Oklahoma City begins at Love’s Field for the No. 2 overall seed Oklahoma Sooners, who earned hosting duties for the Norman Regional of the 2025 NCAA Softball Tournament. Fresh off winning both the SEC Regular Season and sharing the SEC Tournament title, the Sooners (45-7) welcome California, Omaha, and Boston University to Norman from May 16–18 for a double-elimination showdown with a Super Regional berth on the line.
This marks the 14th straight year OU has hosted a regional and the 31st consecutive NCAA appearance under legendary head coach Patty Gasso. The Sooners are chasing a fifth straight Women’s College World Series crown and will begin play Friday at 5 p.m. CT on ESPNU against Patriot League champion Boston University (39-17). BU returns to Norman for the second straight year and seventh NCAA appearance under head coach Ashley Waters after winning its seventh league title in the past decade.
Before OU takes the field, the regional gets underway at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+ as ACC at-large selection California (35-19) faces Summit League champion Omaha (39-11). The Golden Bears are making their third straight NCAA appearance and 36th overall, while the Mavericks return to the field for a third consecutive season after reaching the Columbia Regional final in 2024.
Cal is powered by a trio of All-ACC performers: Lagi Quiroga (First Team), Tianna Bell (Second Team), and standout freshman Mia Phillips. The Golden Bears are seeking their first trip to the Super Regionals since 2012—the same season as their last Women’s College World Series berth. Omaha, meanwhile, has built a mid-major powerhouse under head coach Mike Heard, winning both the Summit regular season and tournament titles for a third straight year.
Boston University will look to break through in Norman after facing Oregon twice in last year’s regional. The Terriers are 0-3 all-time against Cal, 1-0 against Omaha, and 2-4 versus Oklahoma, including a 9-0 loss in their 2018 NCAA meeting. Their last win over the Sooners came in the same season during a neutral-site contest.
Norman Regional Schedule (CT)
- Game 1 (Friday, 2:30 p.m.): (2) California vs. (3) Omaha — ESPN+
- Game 2 (Friday, 5:00 p.m.): (1) Oklahoma vs. (4) Boston University — ESPNU
- Game 3 (Saturday, 2:00 p.m.): Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
- Game 4 (Saturday, ~4:30 p.m.): Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
- Game 5 (Saturday, ~7:00 p.m.): Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3
- Game 6 (Sunday, TBD): Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5
- Game 7 (if necessary): Rematch of Game 6
The Norman Regional champion will advance to face the winner of the Tuscaloosa Regional, hosted by 15-seed Alabama, in the Super Regionals (May 22–25). With a field stacked with tradition and momentum, Norman is set for another thrilling weekend of postseason softball.
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