2012 NCAA Division I softball tournament

The 2012 NCAA Division I softball tournament was held from May 18 through June 6, 2012 as the final part of the 2012 NCAA Division I softball season. The 64 NCAA Division I college softball teams were selected out of an eligible 284 teams on May 13, 2012. 30 teams were awarded an automatic bid as champions of their conference, and 34 teams were selected at-large by the NCAA Division I Softball Selection Committee. The tournament culminated with eight teams playing in the 2012 Women's College World Series at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

Alabama won the national title, defeating 2–1 in the best-of-three final to win the program's first national championship, and also the first softball title for any Southeastern Conference school.

National seeds
Teams in "italics" advanced to super regionals. Teams in "bold" advanced to Women's College World Series.


 * 1) California
 * 2) Alabama
 * 3) Florida
 * 4) Louisiana–Lafayette
 * 1) Florida
 * 2) Louisiana–Lafayette
 * 1) Louisiana–Lafayette
 * 1) Louisiana–Lafayette
 * 1) Louisiana–Lafayette
 * 1) Louisiana–Lafayette
 * 1) Louisiana–Lafayette
 * 1) Louisiana–Lafayette
 * 1) Louisiana–Lafayette
 * 1) Louisiana–Lafayette

Participants
† Excludes results of the pre-NCAA Women's College World Series of 1969 through 1981.

Bracket
All times are Central Time Zone

All-Tournament Team

 * Amber Freeman, Arizona State
 * Samantha Pappas, Oregon
 * Alexa Peterson, Oregon
 * Lauren Chamberlain, Oklahoma
 * Destinee Martinez, Oklahoma
 * Keilani Ricketts, Oklahoma
 * Jessica Shults, Oklahoma
 * Brianna Turang, Oklahoma
 * Kayla Braud, Alabama
 * Jennifer Fenton, Alabama
 * Amanda Locke, Alabama
 * Jackie Traina, Alabama (Most Valuable Player)

Post-series notes
Jackie Traina was named the Women's College World Series MVP. Traina pitched 42 innings, surrendering 18 earned runs on 35 hits and 24 walks while striking out 45 to lead Alabama to its first national softball title. It was also the first national softball title for the SEC.