Sooners Await Regional Bid

May 7, 2003

NORMAN, Okla. - The No. 4 Oklahoma softball team returned to Norman following the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City for final exams. The Sooners now wait for word of their destination in the NCAA Regional bracket which will be announced live on Sunday, May 11, at 9 p.m. on ESPNEWS.

The bracket, which will not be reseeded prior to the Women's College World Series, will be the first to include 64 teams, since the championship began in 1982. Last year's field included 48 teams.

Eight teams will play at each of the eight host sites with the Regional winners advancing to the the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. The eight regional sites, with host institutions are: Tuscaloosa, Alabama (University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa); Tucson, Arizona (University of Arizona); Fullerton, California (California State University, Fullerton); Gainesville, Florida (University of Florida); Fresno, California (California State University, Fresno); Ann Arbor, Michigan (University of Michigan); Lincoln, Nebraska (University of Nebraska, Lincoln); Austin, Texas (University of Texas at Austin).

Each regional field will feature eight teams, playing a double-elimination format. All regional games are scheduled to be conducted Thursday, May 15, through Sunday, May 18. This is the first time regional sites have been named in advance of the team selections in softball. Site selections were based on geographic location, quality of facilities and quality of the experience for the student-athletes, including attendance history. Host institutions are not guaranteed a bid to the tournament.

Twenty-six Division I conferences receive an automatic berth in the field of 64, along with 38 at-large selections.

The 22nd Women's College World Series begins play Thursday, May 22, at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. All of the games will be broadcast live on ESPN or ESPN2, and the television schedule, as well as more information on the championship, is available at http://www.SoonerSports.com .

This will mark the tenth consecutive year Oklahoma will participate in the NCAA Regionals. The Sooners have advanced to the Women's College World Series in each of the past three seasons with OU winning the national championship in 2000.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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