The Arizona Wildcats are back on the road to the Women's College World Series, and this year's journey starts in the Durham Regional. After 38 NCAA postseason appearances in the last 39 tournaments, the Wildcats know the drill—but there's a twist. Unlike last season, when they hosted, Arizona will have to earn its way through a field featuring Duke, Howard, and Marshall. The action kicks off on Friday, May 15, at 11:30 a.m. MST against Marshall, streaming live on ESPN+.

This season marks a first for the NCAA, which is now seeding the top 32 teams. While only the top 16 get to host regionals, the rest are strategically placed to keep the playing field balanced. Arizona landed a seed between 21 and 24, a solid spot but a step below what they had hoped for. The Sun Devils edged them out for the third-best seed in the Big 12 after their conference tournament win.

For much of the season, Arizona looked like a strong candidate to host regionals. But the past five weeks have been a rollercoaster. Series losses at LSU and Oklahoma State were tough but understandable—those are powerhouse programs. A home win over last-place Houston felt good but didn't move the needle much. Then came the real gut punch: a disappointing series loss at Utah that knocked the Wildcats down to third in the Big 12. That set up a do-or-die matchup against Arizona State in the conference tournament, where Arizona couldn't capitalize on opportunities despite a standout pitching performance from Jalen Adams. They were sent home in the opening round.

If recent history is any guide, the Wildcats might actually prefer the road life. In 2024, they stormed through Arkansas's home regional to advance to super regionals. In 2022, they made an unforgettable run all the way to the Women's College World Series, starting with the Columbia Regional and then taking down Mississippi State in the Starkville Super Regional. Last year, hosting didn't work out so well—they fell to Ole Miss, which went on to make its first WCWS appearance in program history. The last time Arizona won a home regional was 2021, when they also went through Arkansas in supers. The Razorbacks are still chasing that first WCWS berth.

For Arizona, the road to Oklahoma City is wide open. It's just a matter of playing their game, one pitch at a time, starting in Durham.