Women’s College World Series Best of Three Championship Series Live on ESPN; For the First Time, Second-Screen Viewing Option Added on ESPN3

• Veterans Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Michele Smith and Holly Rowe on the Call
• Streaming: Adam Amin, Amanda Scarborough, Laura Rutledge and Kayla Braud Live From the Stands with Reactions, Analysis and Guests
• Washington Huskies in First Final since Winning Title in 2009; Florida State Seminoles Making First Appearance in Program History

Concluding its comprehensive coverage of the 2018 NCAA Division I Softball Championship, ESPN will air the entire Women’s College World Series best-of-three championship live on the flagship network while also providing fans with a second screen viewing option for the first time, available to stream via ESPN3. The Washington Huskies will take on the Florida State Seminoles when the finals begin tonight at 7 p.m. ET. Game two follows on Tuesday, June 5 (8 p.m.) with the “if necessary” game three on Wednesday, June 6 (8:30 p.m.).

The primary telecast on ESPN will be led by Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Michele Smith and Holly Rowe. This will mark Mowins’ 25th WCWS, Smith’s 15th, Mendoza’s 12th and Rowe’s 15th.

Second Screen Viewing Option
An extension of the 7Innings softball podcast, 7Innings Live will feature WCWS commentator crew Adam Amin, Amanda Scarborough and Laura Rutledge, joined by studio analyst Kayla Braud. Available on ESPN3, fans will be able to join the crew on the studio set in the right field corner during each game of the series for analysis, reactions to big moments, special guests and plenty of ballpark snacks.

7Innings Podcast
7Innings was launched at the beginning of the 2018 NCAA Division I Softball season to chronicle the road to the WCWS. The idea for the podcast was born from the love that the WCWS commentating crew has for the game of softball. Each week, from across the country, Mowins, Smith, Mendoza, Scarborough, Rowe, Rutledge and Amin came together to break down the teams and players to watch as they made their way through the regular and post season.

The Crowning of New Champion
The last five NCAA Division I Softball Championship titles have gone to one of two schools—the Oklahoma Sooners or the Florida Gators. Not this year. The Washington Huskies are looking to finish on top once again in their first appearance in the WCWS Championship Series since they took home the title in 2009. Florida State currently holds the record for most WCWS appearances without a title but hope to change that after making it to the finals for the first time in program history.

More on ESPN’s All-Star Softball Analysts:

• Kayla Braud
  • College: Alabama
  • Honors: Three-time All American (2011, 2012, 2013); NCAA WCWS Champion (2012) 

• Jessica Mendoza
  • College: Stanford
  • Honors: Four-time All-American (1999, 2000, ’01, ’02), member of gold medal-winning team at the 2004 Athens Olympics and silver medal winning team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• Michele Smith
  • College: Oklahoma State
  • Honors: Two time All-American, two time Olympic Gold Medalist (1996, 2000) and eight time Japan Pro League MVP.
• Amanda Scarborough
  • College: Texas A&M
  • Honors: Two-time All-American (2005, ’07), only player in Big 12 history to receive Freshman of the Year and Player of Year in same season (2005), played in two WCWS (2007, ’08).

2018 Women’s College World Series Championship Series Schedule

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ESPN media contact:
Kimberly Elchlepp at [email protected] or 860-424-2923; @kimelchlepp