NCAA Unveils Proposed Assignments for Women’s Regional Competitions: A Closer Look at the Changes and Implications

Although it’s not official, the NCAA released its recommended regional assignments for the 2025-26 women’s wrestling season. There are six regions, and three wrestlers from each region qualify for the 2026 NCAA Championships in Coralville, Iowa, on March 5-7.

This is the inaugural NCAA Championships for women’s wrestling.

There are 10 weights with 18 national qualifiers per weight. Divisions I, II, and III compete at the same tournament.

Click here for full listings with a map on ncaa.orgor view the charts below. Jamestown is transitioning from NAIA to Division II and is not listed, but based on geography, Region Six seems likely if it competes this season.

Region 1

School	Division
Alfred State, NY	3
A State Buffalo, NY	3
Centenary University, NJ	3
D`youville, NY	2
Elmira College, NY	3
Emmanuel College, but	3
Felician, nj	2
Ithaaca College, NY	3
Kean University, NJ	3
Maine Maritime, ME	3
Misericordia, PA	3
New England College, NH	3
New Jersey City University, NJ	3
Norwich University, VT	3
Sacred Heart, CT	1
University of Bridgeport, CT	2
Utica, NY	3
Western New England, MA	3
Wilkes University, PA	3

Region 2

School	Division
Alvernia, PA	3
Arcadia University, PA	3
Bethany, WV	3
Cedar Crest, PA	3
Delaware Valley, PA	3
East Stroudsburg University, PA	2
Eastern University, PA	3
Edinboro, PA	2
Gannon University, PA	2
Lehigh University	1
Lock Haven University, PA	2
Muhlenberg, PA	3
Penn State Altoona, PA	3
Point Park University, PA	2
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, PA	2
Ursinus, PA	3
Washington & Jefferson College, PA	3
West Liberty, WV	2
York College, College, PA	3

Region 3

School	Division
Allen, SC	2
Bluefield State, WV	2
Delaware State University	1
Emmanuel University, GA	2
Emory & Henry, VA	2
Frostburg State, MD	2
Greensboro College, NC	3
Huntingdon, AL	3
King University, TN	2
Lincoln Memorial University, TN	2
Marymount, VA	3
McDaniel, MD	3
Mount Olive, NC	2
Newberry College	2
Presbyterian, SC	1
Randolph, va	3
Southern Virginia, VA	3
Waynesburg University, PA	3

Region 4

School	Division
Adrian College, MI	3
Albion, Mi	3
Alma, my	3
Aurora, the	3
Baldwin Wallace, OH	3
Davenport University, MI	2
Elmhurst University, IL	3
Eureka, the	3
Grand Valley State, MI	2
Heidelberg University, OH	3
Hiram, OH	3
Illinois Wesleyan University, IL	3
John Carroll, OH	3
Manchester, IN	3
Mount Union, OH	3
North Central College, IL	3
Northern Michigan University, MI	2
Otterbein, oh	3
Tiffin University, OH	2
Trine, IN	3

Region 5

School	Division
Augsburg University, MN	3
Augustana, the	3
Blackburn College, IL	3
Buena Vista, ia	3
Carthage College, WI	3
Central College, IA	3
Concordia University, WI	3
Cornell College, IA	3
Dubuque, Ia	3
Iowa, IA	1
Lakeland University, WI	3
Loras College, he	3
Luther College, IA	3
Quincy, IL	2
Simpson, Ia	3
Upper Iowa University, IA	2
Wartburg, IA	3
Wisconsin – Oshkosh, WI	3
Wisconsin – Stevens Point, WI	3

Region 6

School	Division
Adams State, CO	2
Chadron State, Node	2
Colorado Mesa University, CO	2
Fort Hays State, KS	2
Lindenwood University, MO	1
Linfield University, OR	3
Lyon College, AR	3
McKendree University, the	2
McMurry University, TX	3
Minot State, ND	2
Pacific University, OR	3
Schreiner University, TX	3
Simon Fraser University, BC	2
Sioux Falls, SD	2
Texas Woman`s University, TX	2
Vanguard, CA	2
Westminster College, MO	3
William Jewell College, MO	2

how might the regional assignments impact a team’s RPI (Rating Percentage Index)?

Regional Host Sites and Key Shifts

the NCAA recently announced its proposed host sites for the 2025 Women’s Regional competitions,sparking discussion amongst coaches,athletes,and fans. These regional sites serve as crucial stepping stones towards the NCAA Women’s College World Series, and the assignments carry meaningful weight. This year’s selections represent a blend of familiar venues and some notable changes, impacting travel logistics, potential fan attendance, and competitive landscapes.

Here’s a breakdown of the proposed regional host sites:

Regional 1: [insert Host Site 1 – e.g., University of Florida, Gainesville, FL]

Regional 2: [Insert Host Site 2 – e.g., University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK]

regional 3: [Insert Host Site 3 – e.g., University of Washington, Seattle, WA]

Regional 4: [Insert Host Site 4 – e.g., University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL]

Regional 5: [Insert Host Site 5 – e.g., Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA]

Regional 6: [insert Host Site 6 – e.g., University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ]

Regional 7: [Insert Host Site 7 – e.g., University of Texas, Austin, TX]

Regional 8: [Insert Host Site 8 – e.g., Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA]

The shift in assignments, particularly the movement of Regionals to [mention a specific shift, e.g., the Pacific Northwest], is largely attributed to the NCAA’s ongoing efforts to increase accessibility and broaden the geographic depiction of the championship events. This also aims to reduce the travel burden on participating teams, especially those from geographically isolated conferences.

Impact on Team Selection and Bracketing

The regional assignments directly influence the selection process for the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Softball Committee uses a complex set of criteria, including win-loss record, strength of schedule, and RPI (Rating Percentage Index), to determine the 64 teams that qualify.

Here’s how the regional hosts and assignments play a role:

1. Automatic bids: Each conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and is typically placed in a regional hosted by a team from that conference (when feasible).
2. At-Large Bids: The remaining teams are selected as at-large bids based on their overall performance and committee evaluation.
3. Regional Seeding: The committee seeds the teams within each regional, aiming for competitive balance and minimizing travel conflicts.
4. Bracketing Implications: The regional brackets are designed to create a pathway to the Super Regionals and ultimately, the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.

Changes in regional locations can alter the perceived strength of a regional,possibly impacting a team’s chances of securing a favorable seed or advancing to the next round. Teams vying for at-large bids will be closely monitoring these assignments to assess their potential paths to Oklahoma City.

Travel Considerations and Fan Experience

One of the most significant implications of the new regional assignments is the impact on travel for both teams and fans.The NCAA has stated a commitment to minimizing travel costs and logistical challenges for student-athletes.

Reduced Travel Distance: Placing regionals in more geographically diverse locations can reduce the overall travel distance for teams, particularly those from smaller conferences or those located far from traditional softball hubs.

Increased Fan Access: Strategically located regionals can also make it easier for fans to attend and support their teams, boosting attendance and creating a more vibrant atmosphere.

Economic Impact: Hosting a regional tournament can provide a significant economic boost to the host city, generating revenue for local businesses and tourism industries.

However, challenges remain. Coordinating travel arrangements, securing accommodations, and managing logistics for a large number of teams and fans can be complex, especially in areas with limited infrastructure.

Conference Implications and Competitive Advantages

The regional assignments also have implications for specific conferences. Conferences with multiple strong teams may benefit from having more regional sites within their geographic footprint, increasing their chances of securing hosting bids and sending more teams to the tournament.

SEC Dominance: The Southeastern conference (SEC) consistently ranks among the top softball conferences in the nation.The assignment of regionals to [mention SEC schools hosting] reinforces the SEC’s position as a powerhouse in the sport.

Pac-12 Adjustments: With the recent conference realignment, the Pac-12’s landscape has changed. The regional assignments will be crucial in determining how the conference’s remaining teams fare in the NCAA Tournament.

Emerging Conferences: Conferences like the Big 12 and ACC are striving to increase their representation in the NCAA Tournament. Strategic regional assignments can provide these conferences with opportunities to showcase their talent and compete for national championships.

Utilizing Data Analytics for Tournament Success

Modern softball programs are increasingly relying on data analytics to gain a competitive edge.