The 2021 NCAA Division I Softball season, play of college softball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level, began in February 2021. The season progressed through the regular season, many conference tournaments and championship series, and concluded with the 2021 NCAA Division I softball tournament and 2021 Women's College World Series. The Women's College World Series, consisted of the eight remaining teams in the NCAA Tournament was held in Oklahoma City at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, and ended on June 10, 2021.
Realignment
For 2021 season Four schools began transitions from NCAA Division II to Division I on July 1, 2020. Bellarmine joined D-I for softball and all other sports as a new member of the ASUN Conference. Dixie State and Tarleton State joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). UC San Diego, already a de facto D-I member in women's water polo and men's volleyball (which do not have D-II championship events) as an associate member of the Big West Conference, moved the rest of its athletic program to the Big West. La Salle dropped softball after this season. Cal State Bakersfield moved from the WAC to the Big West.
Future moves The following conference moves for the 2022 season were announced: Five schools left the Southland Conference. Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin moved to the WAC, and Central Arkansas left for the ASUN. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference lost three members. Bethune–Cookman and Florida A&M joined the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and North Carolina A&T went to the Big South Conference. The Ohio Valley Conference saw Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State also join the ASUN. The Summit League gained St. Thomas from NCAA Division III's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference after the reception of a waiver for a direct transition to D-I.
Season outlook
USA Today / NFCA DI Coaches PollRankingTeam1UCLA234Oklahoma56Texas78Alabama9Louisiana101112Florida State1314151617Michigan18Arkansas19202122232425 ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate PollRankingTeam1UCLA234Oklahoma567Texas8Alabama9Louisiana101112Florida State1314151617Michigan18192021Arkansas22232425 D1SoftballRankingTeam1UCLA2Oklahoma34567Louisiana8Alabama9Texas1011Florida State1213141516Arkansas1718Michigan19202122232425 Softball AmericaRankingTeam1UCLA2345Oklahoma67Texas8Louisiana9Alabama101112Florida State13141516Arkansas17181920Michigan2122232425
Conference standings
Conference winners and tournaments Of the 31 Division I athletic conferences that participated in the 2021 season, all of which sponsor softball, 27 normally end their regular seasons with a single-elimination tournament or a double-elimination tournament. The teams in each conference that win their regular-season title are given the number one seed in each tournament. The Ivy League canceled its softball season due to COVID-19 concerns. Four conferences do not normally hold a postseason tournament: the Big West, Mountain West, Pac-12, and West Coast Conference. Two conferences that normally hold tournaments, the Big Ten and Mid-American Conference, did not do so in 2021. The winners of these tournaments, plus the Big Ten, Big West, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12, and WCC regular-season champions, received automatic invitations to the 2021 NCAA Division I softball tournament. ConferenceRegular Season WinnerConference Player of the YearConference Pitcher of the YearConference Coach of the YearConference TournamentTournament Venue • CityTournament Winner America East Conference Courtney Cashman, Courtney Coppersmith, UMBC Chris Kuhlmeyer, UMBC 2021 America East Conference softball tournament The Diamond at UMBC • Arbutus, MD UMBC American Athletic Conference Sydney McKinney, Wichita State Georgina Corrick, Wichita State 2021 American Athletic Conference softball tournament Collins Family Softball Complex • Tulsa, OK Wichita State ASUN Conference North & overall: South: Amber Bishop-Riley, Liberty Emily Kirby, Liberty Dot Richardson, Liberty 2021 ASUN softball tournament Quarterfinals: Campus sitesRemainder: Bailey Park • Kennesaw, GA Liberty Atlantic 10 Conference Central & overall: North: Jenna Cone, George Washington Sierra Lange, George Washington Shane Winkler, George Washington 2021 Atlantic 10 Conference softball tournament SJU Softball Field • Merion Station, PA George Washington Atlantic Coast Conference Clemson Valerie Cagle, Clemson Keely Rochard, John Rittman, Clemson 2021 Atlantic Coast Conference softball tournament Ulmer Stadium • Louisville, KY Big 12 Conference Oklahoma Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma Carrie Eberle, Patty Gasso, Oklahoma 2021 Big 12 Conference softball tournament USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium • Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma Big East Conference 2021 Big East Conference softball tournament Burrill Family Field • Storrs, CT Big Sky Conference Lauren Hoe, Weber State Mariah Ramirez, Weber State Mary Kay Amicone, Weber State 2021 Big Sky Conference softball tournament Wildcat Softball Field • Ogden, UT Big South Conference 2021 Big South Conference softball tournament Brinkley Stadium • Boiling Springs, NC Campbell Big Ten Conference Michigan Lexie Blair, Michigan Alex Storako, Michigan Carol Hutchins, Michigan No tournament, regular season champion earns auto bid Big West Conference No tournament, regular season champion earns auto bid Colonial Athletic Association North: South & overall: Linda Rush, Drexel Odicci Alexander, James Madison Loren LaPorte, James Madison 2021 Colonial Athletic Association softball tournament Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park • Harrisonburg, VA James Madison Conference USA 2021 Conference USA softball tournament WKU Softball Complex • Bowling Green, KY Horizon League 2021 Horizon League softball tournament YSU Softball Field • Youngstown, OH Ivy League Did not play in 2021 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference 2021 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference softball tournament Quarterfinals: Campus sitesRemainder: Demske Sports Complex • Buffalo, NY Mid-American Conference No tournament, regular season champion earns auto bid Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Northern & overall: Southern: 2021 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference softball tournament NSU Softball Field • Norfolk, VA Morgan State Missouri Valley Conference 2021 Missouri Valley Conference softball tournament Cooper Stadium • Evansville, IN Mountain West Conference No tournament, regular season champion earns auto bid Northeast Conference 2021 Northeast Conference softball tournament SFU Softball Field • Loretto, PA Saint Francis (PA) Ohio Valley Conference 2021 Ohio Valley Conference softball tournament Choccolocco Park • Oxford, AL Pac–12 Conference UCLA No tournament, regular season champion earns auto bid Patriot League 2021 Patriot League softball tournament BU Softball Field • Boston, MA Boston University Southeastern Conference Arkansas & Bailey Hemphill, Alabama Montana Fouts, Alabama &Mary Haff, Arkansas Courtney Deifel, Arkansas 2021 Southeastern Conference softball tournament Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL Alabama Southern Conference 2021 Southern Conference softball tournament UNCG Softball Stadium • Greensboro, NC UNC Greensboro Southland Conference Stephen F. Austin 2021 Southland Conference softball tournament North Oak Park • Hammond, LA McNeese State Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern: Western & overall: 2021 Southwestern Athletic Conference softball tournament Gulfport Sportsplex • Gulfport, MS Summit League 2021 Summit League softball tournament Tharaldson Park at the Ellig Sports Complex • Fargo, ND South Dakota State Sun Belt Conference Louisiana 2021 Sun Belt Conference softball tournament Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL Louisiana West Coast Conference BYU No tournament, regular season champion earns auto bid Western Athletic Conference 2021 Western Athletic Conference softball tournament Francis F. Logan Field at SU Park • Seattle, WA
Women's College World Series
Season leaders Batting: Batting average: .495 – Kayla Kowalik, Kentucky Wildcats RBIs: 92 – Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma Sooners Home runs: 34 – Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma
Pitching: Wins: 32-5 – Gabbie Plain, Washington Huskies ERA: 0.92 (20 ER/151.0 IP) – Courtney Coppersmith, UMBC Retrievers Strikeouts: 349 – Montana Fouts, Alabama Crimson Tide
Records Freshman class RBIs: 92 – Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma Sooners
Freshman class slugging percentage: 1.000% – Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma Sooners
Team home runs: 161 – Oklahoma Sooners
Team slugging percentage: .777% – Oklahoma Sooners
Team runs scored: 638 – Oklahoma Sooners
Team total bases: 1,279 – Oklahoma Sooners
Awards USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year: Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma Sooners Softball America Player of the Year: Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma Sooners YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB SBA 2021 60 183 71 87 .475 89 34 1 12 203 1.109% 38 16 3 3
Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year Honda Sports Award Softball: Rachel Garcia, UCLA Bruins Honda Sports Award Softball: Rachel Garcia, UCLA Bruins NFCA National Player of the Year: Rachel Garcia, UCLA Bruins YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB SBA 2021 45 120 23 41 .341 35 13 0 5 85 .708% 30 20 0 0
YEAR W L GP GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER BB SO ERA WHIP 2021 18 3 29 18 12 7 2 136.1 91 35 27 29 183 1.39 0.88
NFCA National Pitcher of the Year: Montana Fouts, Alabama Crimson Tide YEAR W L GP GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER BB SO ERA WHIP 2021 27 4 36 32 24 10 3 213.1 143 59 49 49 349 1.61 0.90
Softball America Pitcher of the Year: Odicci Alexander, James Madion Dukes YEAR W L GP GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER BB SO ERA WHIP 2021 18 3 23 22 16 6 1 143.2 80 46 35 45 204 1.71 0.87
YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB SBA 2021 29 82 13 26 .317 12 2 0 4 36 .439% 17 11 0 0
NFCA National Freshman of the Year: Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma Sooners Softball America Freshman of the Year: Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma Sooners
YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB SBA 2021 60 197 81 91 .462 92 27 0 25 197 1.000% 26 17 2 2
Softball America Defensive Player of the Year: Sis Bates, Washington NFCA Catcher of the Year: Dejah Mulipola, Arizona NFCA Golden Shoe Award: Jenna Wildeman, Central Arkansas
All America Teams The following players were members of the All-American Teams.
First Team Position Player Class School P Megan Faraimo SO. UCLA Bruins Montana Fouts JR. Alabama Crimson Tide Keely Rochard JR. Virginia Tech Hokies C Dejah Mulipola SR. Arizona Wildcats 1B Alysen Febrey SR. Oklahoma State Cowgirls 2B Tiare Jennings FR. Oklahoma Sooners 3B Charla Echols JR. Florida Gators SS Sami Williams SR. Iowa State Cyclones OF Jocelyn Alo SR. Oklahoma Sooners Jayda Coleman FR. Oklahoma Sooners Maya Brady FR. UCLA Bruins UT Rachel Garcia SR. UCLA Bruins Aaliyah Jordan SR. UCLA BruinsAT-L Bailey Hemphill SR. Alabama Crimson Tide Mary Haff JR. Arkansas Razorbacks Braxton Burnside SR. Arkansas Razorbacks Gabbie Plain SR. Washington Huskies Kayla Kowalik JR. Kentucky Wildcats
Second Team Position Player Class School P Ashley Rogers JR. Tennessee Lady Vols Carrie Eberle SR. Oklahoma State Cowgirls Kathryn Sandercock FR. FSU Seminoles C Kinzie Hansen SO. Oklahoma Sooners 1B Danielle Gibson JR. Arkansas Razorbacks 2B Baylee Klingler JR. Washington Huskies 3B Jenna Cone SR. George Washington Colonials SS Grace Lyons JR. Oklahoma Sooners OF Aliyah Andrews SR. LSU Tigers Kiki Milloy SO. Tennessee Lady Vols Abby Sweet SR. Notre Dame Fighting Irish UT Valerie Cagle FR. Clemson Tigers Deja Davis JR. Duke Blue DevilsAT-L Odicci Alexander SR. James Madison Dukes Sis Bates SR. Washington Huskies Alex Storako SO. Michigan Wolverines Taylor Pleasants FR. LSU Tigers Maddi Hackbarth SR. Arizona State Sun Devils
Third Team