Photo by: Bob Nguyen/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Earns NCAA Tournament Bid, Heading to Clemson Regional
5/11/2025 6:42:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern earned a berth in the 2025 NCAA Softball Tournament, securing one of 33 at-large bids on Sunday night, and will head to the Clemson Regional hosted by the No. 11 overall seed Clemson.
Northwestern will open on Friday, May 16 against the Kentucky Wildcats at 1 pm CT. The host Clemson will play USC Upstate in the other first-round contest of the region.
This marks the 23rd overall tournament appearance in program history, as well as the 18th appearance in the 24-year Drohan era. Northwestern has now made seven-consecutive NCAA Tournaments, and 10 over the last 11 tournaments. The Wildcats have advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals seven times under the Drohans and made three trips to the Women's College World Series, most recently in 2022.
Northwestern closed the regular season with a 29-17-1 record and a 16-6 mark in the Big Ten, tied for fourth place in the conference standings in what marks the Wildcats' seventh-consecutive Top-4 finish in the Big Ten. The Wildcats earned four wins over opponents ranked in the latest RPI Top 25 this season, defeating Duke on February 8, Mississippi State on March 22, and winning two of three games at UCLA in the final series of the regular season.
Northwestern has advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals in three of the last five NCAA Tournaments, most recently in 2023. This marks the Wildcats' second-ever trip to Clemson, and first in postseason play.
The winner of the Clemson Regional will advance to face the winner of the Austin Regional, hosted by No. 6 overall seed Texas. The 64-team NCAA Tournament field is divided into 16, four-team double-elimination regionals which will take place this weekend. The 16 regional winners advance to best-of-three super regionals (to be played May 23-25 on the campus of the higher-seeded school), with the eight remaining schools competing May 29-June 6 in the NCAA Women's College World Series at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.
Full Schedule (all times listed in central):
Friday, May 16
Game 1 - Northwestern vs. Kentucky - 1 pm CT (ESPN+)
Game 2 - USC Upstate vs. Clemson - 3:30 pm CT
Saturday, May 17
Game 3 - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 - 12:30 pm CT
Game 4 - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 - 3 pm CT
Game 5 - Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 - 5:30 pm CT
Sunday, May 18
Game 6 - Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 - 12 pm CT
Game 7 (if necessary) - 2:30 pm CT
Northwestern will open on Friday, May 16 against the Kentucky Wildcats at 1 pm CT. The host Clemson will play USC Upstate in the other first-round contest of the region.
WE'RE IN ?????
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) May 11, 2025
Next Stop: Clemson#RoadToWCWS | #BeRemarkable pic.twitter.com/PCrxYOU14N
This marks the 23rd overall tournament appearance in program history, as well as the 18th appearance in the 24-year Drohan era. Northwestern has now made seven-consecutive NCAA Tournaments, and 10 over the last 11 tournaments. The Wildcats have advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals seven times under the Drohans and made three trips to the Women's College World Series, most recently in 2022.
Northwestern closed the regular season with a 29-17-1 record and a 16-6 mark in the Big Ten, tied for fourth place in the conference standings in what marks the Wildcats' seventh-consecutive Top-4 finish in the Big Ten. The Wildcats earned four wins over opponents ranked in the latest RPI Top 25 this season, defeating Duke on February 8, Mississippi State on March 22, and winning two of three games at UCLA in the final series of the regular season.
Northwestern has advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals in three of the last five NCAA Tournaments, most recently in 2023. This marks the Wildcats' second-ever trip to Clemson, and first in postseason play.
The winner of the Clemson Regional will advance to face the winner of the Austin Regional, hosted by No. 6 overall seed Texas. The 64-team NCAA Tournament field is divided into 16, four-team double-elimination regionals which will take place this weekend. The 16 regional winners advance to best-of-three super regionals (to be played May 23-25 on the campus of the higher-seeded school), with the eight remaining schools competing May 29-June 6 in the NCAA Women's College World Series at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.
The Moment ?? pic.twitter.com/uOzUGNwJOS
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) May 12, 2025
Full Schedule (all times listed in central):
Friday, May 16
Game 1 - Northwestern vs. Kentucky - 1 pm CT (ESPN+)
Game 2 - USC Upstate vs. Clemson - 3:30 pm CT
Saturday, May 17
Game 3 - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 - 12:30 pm CT
Game 4 - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 - 3 pm CT
Game 5 - Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 - 5:30 pm CT
Sunday, May 18
Game 6 - Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 - 12 pm CT
Game 7 (if necessary) - 2:30 pm CT
Softball - Lauren Boyd Tosses Complete Game Shutout, 'Cats Blank Kentucky in NCAA Regional (5/16/25)
Friday, May 16
Softball - 'Cats Storm Back, Secure Series Victory at No. 8 UCLA (5/4/25)
Sunday, May 04
Softball - 'Cats Earn 8-0 Run-Rule Win at No. 8 UCLA (5/2/25)
Saturday, May 03
Softball - Kaylie Avvisato Hits Walk-Off Home Run, 'Cats Take Series vs. Wisconsin (4/27/25)
Sunday, April 27
