The 2023 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 2023. The season progressed through the regular season, many conference tournaments and championship series, and concluded with the 2023 NCAA Division I softball tournament and 2023 Women's College World Series. The Women's College World Series, consisting of the eight remaining teams in the NCAA tournament and held annually in Oklahoma City at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, ended in June 2023.
Realignment
Five schools began transitions from NCAA Division II to Division I on July 1, 2022.
A total of 17 softball-sponsoring schools changed conferences after the 2022 season.
- Austin Peay, Belmont, and Murray State left the Ohio Valley Conference. Peay joined the ASUN, and Belmont and Murray State joined the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).
- Bryant and Mount St. Mary's left the NEC, respectively for the America East Conference and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
- Hampton, Monmouth, North Carolina A&T, and Stony Brook joined the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA; since renamed the Coastal Athletic Association). Hampton and A&T left the Big South Conference (the latter after only one season), Monmouth the MAAC, and Stony Brook the America East.
- Hartford, which began a transition to NCAA Division III in the 2021âÂÂ22 school year, left the America East to become an independent for 2022âÂÂ23 before joining the D-III Commonwealth Coast Conference in 2023.
- James Madison, Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss joined the Sun Belt Conference (SBC). James Madison left the CAA, while the others left Conference USA (CUSA).
- Lamar, which had announced it would leave the WAC to return to its former home of the SLC in 2023âÂÂ24, expedited this move to 2022âÂÂ23.
- UIC left the Horizon League for the MVC.
- UT Arlington left the SBC for the WAC.
Incarnate Word had announced plans to leave the SLC for the WAC after the 2022 season, but days before that move was to take effect, the school announced it was staying in the SLC.
The 2023 season was the last for 14 softball schools in their current conferences, as well as the aforementioned Hartford's only season as a D-I independent.
- BYU, Houston, and UCF moved to the Big 12 Conference. BYU left the West Coast Conference, while the others left the American Athletic Conference (The American).
- Campbell left the Big South for the CAA.
- Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, UAB, and UTSA left CUSA for The American.
- Jacksonville State, Liberty, New Mexico State, and Sam Houston joined CUSA. Jacksonville State and Liberty left the ASUN, and New Mexico State and Sam Houston the WAC.
- Western Illinois left the Summit League for the Ohio Valley Conference.
Other changes from 2022
Two Division I members, both sponsoring softball, adopted new names after the 2022 season. Neither school's nickname was affected.
Other headlines
- On December 29, 2022, the Big West Conference announced it would add a softball tournament effective as early as the 2025 season. The 2025 start date was later confirmed by a vote of the conference chancellors and presidents, with an official announcement in October 2023.
Season outlook
Conference standings
Awards
- USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year: Valerie Cagle, Clemson
- NFCA National Player of the Year: Skylar Wallace, Florida
- Softball America Player of the Year: Valerie Cagle, Clemson
- NFCA National Pitcher of the Year: Ashley Rogers, Tennessee
- Softball America Pitcher of the Year: Montana Fouts, Alabama
- NFCA National Freshman of the Year: NiJaree Canady, Stanford
- Softball America Freshman of the Year: NiJaree Canady, Stanford
- Softball America Defensive Player of the Year: Grace Lyons, Oklahoma
- NFCA Catcher of the Year: Terra McGowan, Oregon
- NFCA Golden Shoe Award: Mihyia Davis, Louisiana
All-America Teams
The following players were members of the All-American Teams.
First Team
Second Team
Third Team
See also
References