The NCAA Division III softball tournament is the annual tournament hosted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to determine the champion of women's college softball among its Division III programs in the United States. The final portion of the tournament is also called the Division III Women's College World Series. It has been held every year since 1982, except 2020.
The most successful team to date has been TCNJ, with six national titles.
Redlands are the reigning national champions, winning their first title in 2026.
History Softball was one of twelve women's sports that got added to the NCAA championship program for the 1981–82 school year, as the NCAA engaged in battle with the AIAW for sole governance of women's collegiate sports. The AIAW continued to conduct their own established championship program in the same twelve (and other) sports; however, after a year of dual women's championships, the NCAA overtook the AIAW and usurped its authority and membership.
Results NCAA Division III Softball ChampionshipYear SiteChampionship resultsWinner ScoreRunner-up1982DetailsEwing, NJ Eastern Connecticut State 2–0 Trenton State1983DetailsWillimantic, CT Trenton State 7–0 Buena Vista1984DetailsDe Pere, WI Buena Vista 3–1 Trenton State1985DetailsWillimantic, CT Eastern Connecticut State (2) 1–0 Trenton State1986DetailsStorm Lake, IA Eastern Connecticut State (3) 1–0 Central (IA)1987DetailsWillimantic, CT Trenton State (2) 3–0 Wisconsin–Whitewater1988DetailsElmhurst, IL Central (IA) 3–2 Allegheny1989DetailsEwing, NJ Trenton State (3) 8–7(9 inn.) Eastern Connecticut State1990DetailsStorm Lake, IA Eastern Connecticut State (4) 1–0 Trenton State1991DetailsWillimantic, CT Central (IA) (2) 4–0 Eastern Connecticut State1992DetailsPella, IA Trenton State (4) 4–0 Buena Vista1993DetailsDecatur, IL Central (IA) (3) 7–3 Trenton State1994DetailsSalem, VA Trenton State (5) 6–5 Bridgewater State1995DetailsStorm Lake, IA Chapman 4–2 Trenton State1996DetailsSalem, VA Trenton State (6) 7–2 Chapman1997DetailsEau Claire, WI Simpson 2–1(9 inn.) Montclair State1998DetailsSalem, VA Wisconsin–Stevens Point 3–1 Chapman1999DetailsEau Claire, WI Simpson (2) 6–0 Chapman2000DetailsSalem, VA Saint Mary's (MN) 5–0 Chapman2001DetailsEau Claire, WI Muskingum 5–1 Central (IA)2002Details Ithaca 1–0 Lake Forest2003DetailsSalem, VA Central (IA) (4) 5–3 Salisbury2004Details St. Thomas (MN) 2–0 Moravian2005Details Raleigh, NC St. Thomas (MN) (2) 9–3 Salisbury2006Details Rutgers–Camden 3–2 St. Thomas (MN)2007DetailsSalem, VA Linfield 10–2(6 inn.) Washington–St. Louis2008Details Wisconsin–Eau Claire 4–3(9 inn.) Wisconsin–Whitewater2009DetailsMontclair, NJ Messiah 2–0 Coe2010DetailsEau Claire, WI East Texas Baptist 5–4 Linfield2011DetailsSalem, VA Linfield (2) 6–2 Christopher Newport2012Details Pacific Lutheran 3–0 Linfield2013DetailsEau Claire, WI Tufts 6–5 SUNY Cortland2014DetailsTyler, TX Tufts (2) 6–0 Salisbury2015DetailsSalem, VA Tufts (3) 7–4 Texas–Tyler2016DetailsTexas–Tyler7–0Messiah2017DetailsOklahoma City, OKVirginia Wesleyan1–0St. John Fisher2018DetailsVirginia Wesleyan (2)3–1Illinois Wesleyan2019DetailsTyler, TXTexas Lutheran6–1Emory2020DetailsCancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic 2021DetailsSalem, VAVirginia Wesleyan (3)9–1(5 inn.)Texas Lutheran2022DetailsChristopher Newport3–0Trine2023DetailsMarshall, TXTrine2–1Salisbury2024DetailsEast Texas Baptist (2)9–5Belhaven2025DetailsBloomington, ILTrine (2)2–0Virginia Wesleyan2026DetailsSalem, VARedlands2–0Trine2027Decatur, IL2028Marshall, TX
Champions Active programs Team Titles Years 6 1983, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996 4 1982, 1985, 1986, 1990 4 1988, 1991, 1993, 2003 3 2013, 2014, 2015 3 2017, 2018, 2021 2 2023, 2025 2 2010, 2024 2 2007, 2011 2 1997, 1999 1 2026 1 2022 1 2019 1 2012 1 2009 1 2008 1 2006 1 2002 1 2001 1 2000 1 1998 1 1995 1 1984
Former programs Team Titles Years 2 2004, 2005 1 2016
See also College softball NCAA Division I softball tournament NCAA Division II softball tournament AIAW Intercollegiate Women's Softball Champions NAIA Softball Championship
References
External links NCAA Division III softball webpage