The 1976 Women's College World Series (WCWS) was held in Omaha, Nebraska on May 13–16, with nineteen college softball teams meeting in the 1976 ASA/AIAW fastpitch softball tournament. Most of the teams had won state championships. This was the last WCWS before the adoption of regional qualifying tournaments. Because college softball had not yet been separated into competitive divisions, large and small colleges competed together in one overall national championship.
The Michigan State Spartans went undefeated through all five of their games to win the 1976 national championship, beating Northern Colorado, 3–0, in the final game. Carol Hutchins played shortstop for that 1976 team and would coach the rival Michigan Wolverines to the WCWS title 29 years later in 2005.
Teams The double-elimination tournament included the following teams: TeamAppearanceArizona State4thCal State–Sacramento1stEast Stroudsburg State (PA)2ndIllinois State6thIndiana State2ndKansas4thMayville State (ND)1stMichigan State4thMinnesota1stNebraska–Omaha7thNorthern Colorado8thNorthern Iowa3rdNorthern State (SD)2ndNorthwestern Oklahoma State1stOregon1stSouth Carolina4thTarkio College (MO)1stTexas–Arlington1stUtah1st Bracket The bracket included 19 teams with results as shown.
Ranking Place School WCWS Record 1st Michigan State5-0 2nd Northern Colorado5-2 3rd Nebraska–Omaha3-2 4th Arizona State3-25th Tarkio College3-2 Northern Iowa3-27th Illinois State2-2 Texas–Arlington2-29th East Stroudsburg State College2-2 Cal State–Sacramento2-2 Kansas1-2 Indiana State1-213th Utah1-2 Oregon1-2 South Carolina1-2 Minnesota1-217th Northwestern Oklahoma State0-2 Northern State College0-2 Mayville State College0-2
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