# 1977 Women's College World Series

The 1977 Women's College World Series (WCWS) was held in Omaha, Nebraska on May 25–29. Sixteen college softball teams met in the AIAW fastpitch softball tournament. This was the first WCWS in which regional tournaments were conducted for teams to qualify for the final tournament.
After appearing in three previous WCWS in 1973, 1975, and 1976, Northern Iowa won its first national championship by defeating Arizona, 7-0, in the "if necessary" game behind pitcher Pat Stockman.

## Teams

The double-elimination tournament included these teams:
| Team | Appearance |
| Arizona | 3rd |
| Arizona State | 5th |
| Cal State–Sacramento | 2nd |
| Kansas | 5th |
| Michigan State | 5th |
| Nebraska–Omaha | 8th |
| Northern Colorado | 9th |
| Northern Iowa | 4th |
| Oklahoma State | 1st |
| Oregon State | 1st |
| Southern Illinois | 3rd |
| Southwest Missouri State | 7th |
| Springfield College (MA) | 1st |
| Texas–Arlington | 2nd |
| West Chester State (PA) | 1st |
| Western Illinois | 5th |

## Bracket

| Upper round 1 | Upper round 1 | Upper round 2 | Upper round 2 | Upper round 3 | Upper round 3 | Upper final | Upper final | | | | | Final | Final | Final |
| Nebraska–Omaha | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Western Illinois | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Western Illinois | 0 | Nebraska–Omaha | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Arizona | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| Arizona | 4 | Arizona | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| Texas–Arlington | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Texas–Arlington | 3 | | | Arizona | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Arizona State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Southwest Missouri State | 5 | | | Arizona State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Springfield College | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Springfield College | 2 | Southwest Missouri State | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Arizona State | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Arizona State | 2$^{(9)}$ | Arizona State | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| CSU–Sacramento | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| CSU–Sacramento | 1 | | | | | Arizona | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Northern Iowa | 1$^{(8)}$ | | | | | |
| Northern Iowa | 3 | | | | | Northern Iowa | 1$^{(8)}$ | | | | | |
| Southern Illinois | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Southern Illinois | 0 | Northern Iowa | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Kansas | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| Kansas | 1 | Kansas | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| Oklahoma State | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Oklahoma State | 0 | | | Northern Iowa | 7 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Michigan State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| Michigan State | 6 | | | Michigan State | 3 | | | | | | | |
| West Chester State | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| West Chester State | 2 | Michigan State | 5$^{(8)}$ | | | | | | | | | Northern Iowa | 0 | 7 |
| | | Northern Colorado | 4 | | | | | | | | | Arizona | 1$^{(9)}$ | 0 |
| Northern Colorado | 6 | Northern Colorado | 4 | | | | | | | | | Arizona | 1$^{(9)}$ | 0 |
| Oregon State | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 2 | Lower round 2 | Lower round 3 | Lower round 3 | Lower round 4 | Lower round 4 | Lower round 5 | Lower round 5 | Lower final | Lower final | | | |
| | | Northern Colorado | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Northern Colorado | 6 | | Arizona State | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Western Illinois | 1 | Texas–Arlington | 0 | | Arizona State | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Western Illinois | 1 | Texas–Arlington | 0 | Northern Colorado | 2 | Northern Colorado | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Texas–Arlington | 4 | | | Northern Colorado | 2 | Northern Colorado | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Texas–Arlington | 4 | | | Kansas | 1 | | | | | Arizona | 2 | | | |
| | | Kansas | 5 | Kansas | 1 | | | | | Arizona | 2 | | | |
| | | Kansas | 5 | | | | | Arizona State | 2 | Michigan State | 1 | | | |
| Springfield College | 0 | CSU–Sacramento | 1 | | | | | Arizona State | 2 | Michigan State | 1 | | | |
| Springfield College | 0 | CSU–Sacramento | 1 | | | | | Michigan State | 3 | | | | | |
| CSU–Sacramento | 6 | | | | | | | Michigan State | 3 | | | | | |
| | | Southwest Missouri State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Southwest Missouri State | 3 | | Michigan State | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Southern Illinois | 2 | Oklahoma State | 1 | | Michigan State | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Southern Illinois | 2 | Oklahoma State | 1 | Southwest Missouri State | 1 | Nebraska–Omaha | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Oklahoma State | 3 | | | Southwest Missouri State | 1 | Nebraska–Omaha | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Oklahoma State | 3 | | | Nebraska–Omaha | 2$^{(10)}$ | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Nebraska–Omaha | 6 | Nebraska–Omaha | 2$^{(10)}$ | | | | | | | | | |
| West Chester State | 6 | Oregon State | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Oregon State | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Source:
* 1 2 Northern Colorado defeated Nebraska–Omaha in a 5th-place game, 3-0.

## Ranking

| Place | School | WCWS Record |
| 1st | Northern Iowa | 5-1 |
| 2nd | Arizona | 5-2 |
| 3rd | Michigan State | 4-2 |
| 4th | Arizona State | 3-2 |
| 5th | Northern Colorado | 4-2 |
| 6th | Nebraska–Omaha | 3-3 |
| 7th | Kansas | 2-2 |
| 7th | Southwest Missouri State | 2-2 |
| 9th | Texas–Arlington | 1-2 |
| 9th | CSU–Sacramento | 1-2 |
| 9th | Oklahoma State | 1-2 |
| 9th | Oregon State | 1-2 |
| 13th | Southern Illinois | 0-2 |
| 13th | West Chester State | 0-2 |
| 13th | Springfield College | 0-2 |
| 13th | Western Illinois | 0-2 |