Espnu scoreboard. The Greatest WCWS Teams: Analyzing Legendary Softball Dynasties

Which Women’s College World Series team stands out as the most dominant in history. How do experts and fans differ in their assessments of the greatest softball powerhouses. What factors contribute to a team’s legacy in college softball.

Table of Contents

The Fan Favorite: 2001 Arizona Wildcats

In a recent ESPN poll, fans crowned the 2001 Arizona Wildcats as the greatest Women’s College World Series (WCWS) team of all time. This powerhouse squad, led by legendary coach Mike Candrea, secured 72.65% of the final vote. Let’s examine what made this team so special:

Record-breaking 126 home runs (Division I record at the time)
Outscored opponents by an astonishing 412 runs
Impressive 65-4 record, including a 26-game winning streak to end the season
Three first-team All-American hitters: Toni Mascarenas, Lauren Bauer, and Leneah Manuma
Dominant pitcher Jennie Finch (32-0, 0.54 ERA, 279 strikeouts)

The 2001 Wildcats’ championship marked Arizona’s sixth WCWS title, solidifying their dynasty status. However, while fans may have chosen this team, experts have different opinions on the greatest WCWS team of all time.

Expert Pick: 1994 Arizona Wildcats

Both Michele Smith and Jessica Mendoza, former college softball stars turned analysts, argue that the 1994 Arizona Wildcats deserve the title of best WCWS team ever. Here’s why they believe this team set the standard:

Michele Smith’s Perspective

Smith, who played for Oklahoma State from 1986 to 1989, highlights the following strengths of the 1994 Wildcats:

Prototypical Mike Candrea team with great speed, defense, and pitching
Ace pitcher Susie Parra’s versatility and ability to induce weak contact
Dominant 64-3 record with a 427-run differential
Intimidating lineup featuring power hitters who protected each other
Standout performances from Laura Espinoza, Leah Braatz, and Leah O’Brien-Amico

Jessica Mendoza’s Analysis

Mendoza, who played for Stanford from 1999 to 2002, offers additional insights on the 1994 Arizona team:

Unparalleled power hitting, especially considering the limitations of equipment at the time
Laura Espinoza’s exceptional power (30 home runs in 1994)
Multiple players with 30+ home run potential in a single season
Long-lasting impact and legacy of individual players

Mendoza argues that the 1994 team’s dominance would be even more pronounced with modern technology and equipment.

The Dark Horse: 2008 Arizona State Sun Devils

Amanda Scarborough, a former Texas A&M player, presents a case for the 2008 Arizona State Sun Devils as the greatest WCWS team. Her perspective is unique, as she faced this team in the championship series. Scarborough’s reasons for choosing the 2008 Sun Devils include:

Dominant performance against a strong Texas A&M team in the championship series
First-hand experience of their overwhelming talent and execution
The impact of witnessing their excellence up close

Comparing Eras: The Challenge of Evaluating Greatness

When discussing the greatest WCWS teams of all time, it’s crucial to consider the context of different eras. How can we fairly compare teams across decades? Several factors come into play:

Equipment and Technology

As Jessica Mendoza pointed out, the bats and equipment used in earlier eras were significantly different from those used today. How much of an impact does this have on offensive statistics? Is it possible to accurately adjust for these differences when comparing teams?

Rule Changes and Evolution of the Game

Softball has evolved over the years, with rule changes and strategic innovations affecting how the game is played. How do these changes influence our perception of greatness across different eras?

Level of Competition

Has the overall level of competition in college softball increased over time? If so, how does this affect our evaluation of dominant teams from earlier eras compared to more recent powerhouses?

The Impact of Legendary Coaches

One common thread among many of the greatest WCWS teams is the presence of exceptional coaches. Mike Candrea’s influence on the Arizona program is undeniable, having led the team to eight national championships over his 36-year career. How much credit should be given to coaches when evaluating the greatness of a team?

Candrea’s Legacy

Mike Candrea’s retirement in 2021 marked the end of an era in college softball. His impact on the sport extends far beyond his championship teams. How has Candrea’s coaching philosophy and approach to player development contributed to the long-term success of Arizona’s program?

Other Coaching Legends

While Candrea’s teams dominate the conversation about the greatest WCWS squads, other coaches have also built remarkable programs. How do their achievements compare, and what unique qualities did they bring to their respective teams?

Measuring Dominance: Beyond Win-Loss Records

When evaluating the greatest WCWS teams, win-loss records are just one piece of the puzzle. What other metrics should we consider to truly gauge a team’s dominance?

Run differential
Strength of schedule
Individual player accolades (All-Americans, Player of the Year awards)
Postseason performance and margin of victory
Long-term impact on the program and sport as a whole

By examining these factors, we can develop a more comprehensive understanding of what makes a WCWS team truly great.

The Role of Iconic Players in Team Greatness

Many of the teams in contention for the title of greatest WCWS squad featured players who went on to become legends of the sport. How much does the presence of these standout athletes contribute to a team’s overall greatness?

Jennie Finch’s Impact

Jennie Finch’s dominant performance for the 2001 Arizona Wildcats is often cited as a key factor in their greatness. How does her individual brilliance compare to other legendary pitchers in WCWS history?

Balanced Lineups vs. Superstar-Driven Teams

Is a team with multiple All-Americans and a deep, balanced lineup inherently greater than a team carried by one or two transcendent talents? How do we weigh these different team compositions when evaluating overall greatness?

The Legacy of WCWS Champions

What happens after a team wins the WCWS can also influence our perception of their greatness. How do factors like the continued success of individual players, the program’s sustained excellence, and the team’s lasting impact on the sport affect our evaluation of their place in history?

Olympic Success

Many players from these legendary WCWS teams went on to represent their countries in the Olympics. How does international success factor into the legacy of these college teams?

Influence on Future Generations

Great teams often inspire young players and shape the future of the sport. How have the playing styles, strategies, and approaches of these legendary WCWS teams influenced the evolution of college softball?

As we continue to debate the greatest WCWS team of all time, it’s clear that there are many factors to consider. Whether you side with the fan-favorite 2001 Arizona Wildcats, the expert-backed 1994 Arizona squad, or have a different team in mind, the conversation highlights the rich history and incredible talent that has graced the Women’s College World Series over the years.

Ultimately, the debate over the greatest WCWS team serves as a celebration of the sport’s history and the remarkable athletes who have left their mark on college softball. As the game continues to evolve and new powerhouses emerge, we can look forward to even more incredible performances and potentially new contenders for the title of greatest WCWS team of all time.

College softball – Who our experts think is the best WCWS team of all time

The fans voted, and our experts disagree.

We at ESPN narrowed it to eight Women’s College World Series championship teams to have fans decide. Eight turned to four, and four to two. The one remaining after the fan vote: the 2001 Arizona Wildcats, which received 72.65% of the final vote.

What turned out to be the sixth WCWS title of eight for legendary coach Mike Candrea, who announced his retirement on Monday after 36 years leading the University of Arizona, was certainly a memorable one.

The Wildcats slugged a then-Division I record 126 home runs and outscored their opponents by 412 runs while going 65-4, winning their last 26 games of the season. They boasted three first-team All-American hitters in Toni Mascarenas (.405 AVG, 25 HRs, 84 RBIs), Lauren Bauer (.426 AVG, 104 H, 38 SBs) and Leneah Manuma (.349 AVG, 19 HRs, 61 RBIs).

Oh, and Arizona also had ace Jennie Finch, who went 32-0 with a 0. 54 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 279 strikeouts. She was named national player of the year and WCWS Most Outstanding Player after a four-hit shutout over UCLA ended a four-year drought for the Wildcats.

But our analysts disagree. Here is who some of them think is the greatest team of all time.

Michele Smith: 1994 Arizona Wildcats

This was the prototypical Mike Candrea team: great speed on offense, the defense defended the ball well and a great arm in the circle. Susie Parra had the ability to move the ball through the entire zone. She could strike you out but she also pitched for contact. Arizona was an excellent fielding team, which played into her ability to induce grounders and popups with a good drop ball.

The University of Arizona won five WCWS titles between 1991 and 1997, but the 1994 team, one that went 64-3 and outscored its opponents by 427 runs over the course of the year, may have been the most dominant. University of Arizona

Arizona’s lineup was intimidating top to bottom. Their power hitters all protected each other. Laura Espinoza hit 30 home runs but also hit for average; she was just a great all-around athlete. Leah Braatz hit .397 with 18 home runs. Leah O’Brien-Amico hit .416, slugged .542 and could run down anything in the outfield. You knew if the ball hit the ground twice, Amy Chellevold was going to be safe.

Second basemen are generally quick and agile because they have to cover second, get to first base on bunts and show off their mobility to make plays in the field. In turn, they don’t always have large power numbers; they typically hit for average. But Jenny Dalton-Hill had a lot of power — 16 homers, 91 RBIs — that you don’t normally see from middle infielders. She was an anomaly from that position at the time. (Smith played for Oklahoma State from 1986 to 1989).

Jessica Mendoza: 1994 Arizona Wildcats

The ’94 Arizona team set the standard. I remember watching Laura Espinoza on TV and the unbelievable power she had. Keep in mind, they were playing with sticks. I was playing softball in 1994 when I was 13 years old. I remember the bats they made us use. They made a loud “ting” noise and the balls didn’t go anywhere off of them. Composite bats weren’t around. I’m not trying to take away from the players now, but this went to show the purity of Espinoza’s power.

Oklahoma right now wouldn’t even hold a candle. If you look at Espinoza (30 HRs in 1994), Leah Braatz (18 HRs), Jenny Dalton-Hill (16 HRs). If you look at ’94 and the home runs that just those four players hit, those are all 30-home-run hitters then. (Editor’s note: Espinoza hit 37 in 1995; Dalton hit 28 in 1996; Braatz hit 25 in 1998.) Here at the World Series, there’s one player who has 30 home runs. Imagine giving the ’94 players this kind of technology? They would break the home run record, just those three players. (Mendoza was an outfielder for Stanford from 1999 to 2002).

I don’t know if it’s because we tend to glorify the past and be like, “it’s better than what it could be now,” but I definitely believe that ’94 team was the standard that you had never seen before. Now, everyone’s so freaking good, but they really stood out. I think that’s what makes you the best. Look how those players stood the test of time. I still look back on Amy Chellevold as the queen of slapping. Nancy Evans goes on to win more national championships. Leah O’Brien-Amico was a three-time Olympian. Espinoza, you watched the way she did it and she was the best hitter of her time.

Amanda Scarborough: 2008 Arizona State Sun Devils

You’re more connected to a team when you’ve been connected yourself and when you’ve laid your own eyes on them. You’re even more connected to them when they beat the team you played for (Texas A&M). When they were playing us in the championship series, we got to see them firsthand. We were having a great year, but pretty candidly, they dominated us. They run-ruled us in Game 2.

It’s partially an admiration thing, but Katie Burkhart that year (41 wins, 0.75 ERA, 513 strikeouts) was on another level. It felt like an accomplishment to get a foul ball off of her. She’s a lefty with a ton of movement and was just unhittable. They had Kaitlyn Cochran, one of the best left-handed hitters to ever play. Teams would pitch around her, but they had someone who would make you pay. And the few times that people would pitch to her, she would hit a monstrous home run.

It stinks that we only got to see some of these teams for four years. A team that sticks together for multiple years — like “The Last Dance” — that would be fun to think about. Sure, people have to graduate, but I wish we could have seen this team for multiple years in a row.

Jenny Dalton-Hill: 1994 Arizona Wildcats
Note: Dalton-Hill was an Arizona second baseman from 1993 to 1996.

The moment that I knew we were different: Coach Candrea was all business all the time. It was always about the grind — getting better, hitters getting the next hit, pitchers getting the next strikeout. When you’re on the road, we would go to eat, go to practice, go back to the hotel. In 1994, we got to Oklahoma City and after practice, Coach told us to clean up because we were going to dinner. But we didn’t just go to dinner. We went to bumper boats and miniature golf. He knew that team didn’t need to worry about X’s and O’s. That team just needed to be relaxed. That is how I knew we were different. I was like, “What’s Coach doing?” and all of us were like, “Don’t say anything, just enjoy it!”

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Former Arizona softball player Jenny Dalton-Hill becomes emotional telling a story about coach Mike Candrea from her freshman season.

We never thought about how good we were through the Women’s College World Series. We just came away with it like, “OK, that was cool. We’ll see you next year.” Being an ESPN analyst has opened my eyes to how good we really were. When I first started calling games — I know this comes across as being really uneducated — but I was unimpressed with the numbers I was seeing when I was first doing my analysis. My husband had to point out, “Jenny, your team put up numbers that teams have never put up since. You need to be realistic about what you’re seeing. These players are really, really good. You guys were just a step ahead.”

Over time, the talent in our game has become more decentralized. The SEC emerged in the late ’90s, so players were leaving the Pac-10 and venturing out into other places. Talent wasn’t just funneling into one or two programs. There has been incredible growth of the game over time because so many more opportunities have become available.

When I’m seeing players set school records of 40 and 45 home runs, I thought, “Is something off?” And I realized, “Yeah, it’s my perspective that was off. I played with the best in the game.” I didn’t see myself as this amazing home run hitter because I played with Laura Espinoza, who hit 85. I had 76. I figured that her numbers were where the home run powers needed to reside.

The bats are probably the biggest piece of equipment that’s changed. Our slapper, Amy Chellevold, and I used the same bat — it was a 33-inch, 27-ounce — and you had to swing it with everything you had to get it to leave the ballpark. It wasn’t like it is now.

You also have so much more information in this era. We’re talking 1994, when there were still VHS tapes. We didn’t do video with our coaches, we didn’t have video of our own swings, let alone video of other teams, because it wasn’t on TV, so we didn’t have access to any of our opponents. We just walked in blind and had to rely on our athleticism and our competitiveness to go right at people. Today’s players, their softball IQ is so much higher than ours was at the time, but we felt the heartbeat of the game better. I think our team would’ve been really scary in today’s age of technology.

MLB Scores: Real-time baseball scores and highlights

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Arrowheadlines: ESPN ranks QBs in certain abilities – Mahomes scores well in almost all areas

The latest

NFL Quarterback Council 2021: Ranking the top 10 QBs in arm strength, accuracy, decision-making, rushing ability, more | ESPN

Second-reaction ability
To close, we looked at a trait that leads to so many highlights throughout an NFL season. Quarterbacks won’t always be able to sit in the pocket and throw darts. With pressure coming off the edge or up the middle, getting outside the pocket and making off-schedule throws on the run is important in today’s game. Those are the off-platform passes from different arm angles and body positions, often on the move.
Best of the best: Mahomes has made off-platform throws look routine since the very first practice he had as a Chiefs rookie, and he is only going to get better there as his confidence continues to grow. Right below Mahomes, it sometimes appears at though every throw from Rodgers is off-platform, as he rarely has his feet set and can deliver the ball however and wherever he needs with a flick of the wrist. But the guy who is going to get his overdue credit in this category in 2021 is Stafford. Wait and see. — Riddick

NFL Preseason Week 2 winners and losers: Whose stock is rising? On the decline? | NFL.com

MOVING UP
Chiefs’ running game: This sounds strange to list on the same weekend that Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered an ankle injury, but the stranger part is that I don’t think Kansas City would miss the second year-pro much if the ailment were to linger.
The Chiefs use the preseason to refine their starting offense and they often have explosive games in September to prove it works. It’s not hard to spot how much more dynamic and diverse the running game looks this year. The young offensive line — with three rookie starters — is full of road graders. Andy Reid wanted to get them quality time to jell in the preseason. Veteran runner Jerick McKinnon looks way more dynamic than he did at any point in San Francisco, and I suspect he’ll have a much bigger role behind CEH than many have anticipated. Kansas City’s 15-play opening drive against Arizona reportedly mirrored much of camp, with Patrick Mahomes staying in structure and the Chiefs taking what the defense gives them. That could lead to a lot more rushing attempts by a Reid-coached team than we are used to.

Patrick Mahomes headlines the top 10 players in the NFL, according to Nick Wright | Fox Sports

1. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
2020 stats: 14-1 record, 66. 3% completion percentage, 4,740 passing yards, 38 passing TDs, six INTs, 108.2 passer rating
Wright’s distinction: Best player
Wright’s thoughts: ”He’s the best player in the league. Everybody knows he’s the best player in the league. You wouldn’t trade him for Donald, Henry and Ramsey. He’s the most valuable guy in football.”

1 Trade Each NFL Team Should Propose Before the 2021 Season | Bleacher Report

Kansas City Chiefs
A Day 2 pick to the New Orleans Saints for edge Marcus Davenport
Or to the Green Bay Packers for Preston Smith. Or to the Arizona Cardinals for Chandler Jones. Or to the Houston Texans for Whitney Mercilus. The point is, the Kansas City Chiefs could use another edge defender to work with Frank Clark, Chris Jones and Alex Okafor.
Clark and Okafor had just nine sacks combined last year, Jones doesn’t spend every down on the edge, and they lost the underrated Tanoh Kpassagnon in free agency.
With that in mind, a win-now team should make some offers for expendable pass-rushers. Davenport isn’t as established as the rest of those aforementioned players, but he’s a 24-year-old first-round pick with lots of room to grow in a new setting, and he’ll cost just $4.4 million in 2021.
If the Saints aren’t convinced of his trajectory and feel Kpassagnon (who they signed away from K.C.) and first-round rookie Payton Turner can do the job, they might be willing to take a third-rounder from the Chiefs.

One fantasy sleeper from every NFL team | YardBarker

Kansas City Chiefs: Mecole Hardman, WR
With the loss of Sammy Watkins, the Chiefs expect another wide receiver to step up. The speedy Hardman looks like the most likely candidate in his third season. He’s been more comfortable in training camp and could be a great offense even better.

Around the NFL

2021 NFL preseason, Week 2: What we learned from Saints’ win over Jaguars on Monday night | NFL. com

Hang onto Minshew. Speculation that the Jaguars might be willing to trade quarterback Gardner Minshew if he, as expected, loses the starting QB job to Trevor Lawrence, should stop. Not because Minshew should win the job — he shouldn’t — but because the Jaguars offense needs as much mobility in the QB room as it can get. Jacksonville’s pass protection left a lot to be desired Monday, and although the Jags played with less than a full deck up front, the regular season might not signal much improvement. Extending plays and operating around traffic in the pocket is what Minshew does best. Urban Meyer’s offense puts the QB on the move by design at times, too, so a stationary QB behind leaky pass protection is the last thing he needs. That logic doesn’t just extend to Lawrence, who is plenty mobile himself. It only makes sense for QB2 to have wheels of his own.

Cam Newton prohibited from Patriots’ facility until Thursday after COVID test ‘misunderstanding’ | NFL. com

“On Saturday, Cam Newton traveled to a club-approved medical appointment that required him to leave the New England area,” the statement read. “He received daily COVID tests, which were all negative. Due to a misunderstanding about tests conducted away from NFL facilities, and as required by the NFL-NFLPA protocols, Cam will be subject to the five-day entry cadence process before returning to the facility. Cam will continue participating virtually in team activities and return to the club facility on Thursday, August 26.”

New York Jets LB Jarrad Davis expected to miss about 2 months with ankle injury | ESPN

Coach Robert Saleh, speaking to reporters Monday, wouldn’t specify the nature of Davis’ injury, except to say it’s not a high ankle sprain. Saleh said they hope to have him back “around the bye week,” which is Week 6 for the Jets.
A trip to injured reserve seems inevitable. As long as Davis is on the initial 53-man roster after the final cutdown on Aug. 31, he will be eligible to return after three weeks on IR.
Davis was carted to the locker room in Saturday’s 23-14 win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Two days earlier, in a joint practice with the Packers, defensive end Carl Lawson suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.

Five NFL teams that could surprise this season | Washington Post

Los Angeles Chargers: Of the seven teams with new head coaches, the Chargers are the one with the best chance to win because they have the most talent. The defense has a chance to be very good, aided by new coach Brandon Staley, who helped make the Rams one of the NFL’s best defenses as their coordinator last year. Edge rusher Joey Bosa and safety Derwin James could have big seasons.
On offense, reigning offensive rookie of the year Justin Herbert will be playing behind a much improved offensive line. General Manager Tom Telesco attacked his team’s biggest roster weakness in the offseason, signing all-pro center Corey Linsley and guards Matt Feiler and Oday Aboushi and drafting left tackle Rashawn Slater in the first round. That’s four new starters to pair with right tackle Bryan Bulaga, who was signed last year.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Two more Chiefs named to Top 100 NFL players for 2021

Jones moved up a whopping 18 spots from his 2020 ranking, which sort of makes up for how poorly he was ranked a year ago — but not quite. What should be more interesting to see is how he is ranked a year from now. If defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s idea to move Jones from the inside to the outside based on opponent and game situation works as planned, Jones could become uber-disruptive in the coming season.
Meanwhile, Hill continues to shed his “gadget player” reputation among his peers. Reading NFL.com’s summary of his abilities, it’s hard to understand how he isn’t ranked among the league’s top 10 players. There’s a legitimate argument that he is the league’s top wideout — and yet, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs is ranked ahead of him at 11th — and there will likely be another wideout in the top 10.
But speaking of that top 10… two Chiefs have not yet been named to 2021’s Top 100. We don’t want to spoil the surprise, but their names are spelled T-r-a-v-i-s-K-e-l-c-e and P-a-t-r-i-c-k-M-a-h-o-m-e-s.

Chiefs release five players to meet 80-man roster deadline

Three veteran players have been released: defensive end Taco Charlton, defensive back Will Parks and offensive guard Bryan Witzmann. The team also waived two young players: linebacker Riley Cole and quarterback Anthony Gordon.
Among these moves, the release of Charlton — a former first-round pick — is likely the most surprising. He finishes his single Kansas City season after appearing in just seven games, collecting seven tackles (four solo, one for loss), two sacks, four quarterback hits and a forced fumble.
While it didn’t show up in his basic stat line, there were moments last season where he was consistently getting quarterback pressure. But he was also inactive for two games during the first nine weeks of the season — and ended up on injured reserve after having surgery to repair a fractured ankle suffered in Week 9.
It had been hoped that in 2021, a healthy Charlton could have been a more consistent player in the team’s rotation, but after missing a number of training camp practices and the first preseason game — and playing just eight snaps against the Arizona Cardinals on Friday night — the Chiefs apparently believe they have better, healthier options available.

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