The dynasty is out. Oklahoma, which won six national championships in the past decade, will not be in Oklahoma City for the first time in over a decade, while defending champion Texas and runner-up Texas Tech both barely survived their super regionals. Alabama enters the Women's College World Series as the clear favorite after outscoring its first five NCAA tournament opponents 31-1 and posting a remarkable 0.21 ERA in postseason play.

The Crimson Tide's pitching duo of Jocelyn Briski (23-3, 1.03 ERA) and freshman Vic Moten (21-4, 1.66) has been dominant, combining for 17 scoreless innings with 23 strikeouts. However, Alabama's bats present concerns — the Tide rank 195th out of 308 Division I teams with a 14.1% strikeout rate, which could prove costly against elite WCWS pitching.

Nebraska has emerged as a dangerous dark horse behind transfer star Jordy Frahm, who went 44-2 with a 0.99 ERA in two national title-winning seasons at Oklahoma before transferring home. The Cornhuskers haven't lost in two months. Meanwhile, Arkansas makes its first WCWS appearance after run-ruling five straight NCAA tournament opponents by a combined 51-10 score.