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Will a mid-major pull an upset in Knoxville, Louisville or Tuscaloosa? Can Florida finally master an in-state foe? Graham Hays answers those questions and more in his regional capsules.

Graham Hays breaks down the opening round of the NCAA tournament, where the host teams are favored to win.

With the NCAA softball tournament set to start, Graham Hays breaks down the seeds, sleepers and players to watch in Norman, College Station, Ann Arbor and Baton Rouge.

With 90-plus games on tap and double-elimination at stake, Graham Hays highlights the teams to beat and the players to watch in the opening round of the NCAA softball tournament.

Teammates and friends since the age of 7, Cal seniors Lindsey Ziegenhirt and Jolene Henderson have had different experiences with the Bears but have one unified goal for their team.

Oklahoma enters the NCAA tournament with a chance to win a national championship with four or fewer losses. And the Sooners have the reigning national player of the year in Keilani Ricketts, who's a good bet to win it again.

Their mom Susan's no-nonsense fight with breast cancer has made Virginia Tech softball stars Courtney and Bailey Liddle appreciate her strength even more.

With her father and beloved mentor, Ralph, suffering from terminal cancer, LSU star pitcher Rachele Fico is grateful for every day they have together.

Holy Cross freshman Gennifer Durham baffles hitters with the rarest of softball pitches, the knuckleball, including a perfect game against Colgate.

Oklahoma continues to top the power rankings after winning four games by a combined score of 56-2 last week and running its total of run-rule victories on the season to 19.

Mary Massei was looking forward to her freshman season at Wisconsin when she got a life-changing diagnosis: cancer. Now a junior, she's thriving playing the game that motivated her through treatment.

Familiar names are still holding strong atop our softball power rankings, while a surprising Sun Belt team steps into the top 10.

Tuscaloosa will never forget the devastating tornado of two years ago, which had Alabama softball players and fans scrambling for their lives.

Cat Osterman has decided to retire after years of college, Olympic and professional softball dominance.

Oregon has been on the upswing and last week's sweep of perennial power Arizona is proof the Ducks are a force to be reckoned with in the Pac-12 and beyond.

Jordan Patterson isn't among the stat leaders for the defending champion Alabama softball team, but her presence doesn't go unnoticed -- by her teammates or her family, whose name is synonymous with Crimson Tide success.