The road to the Women's College World Series begins in Los Angeles for South Carolina softball, as the Gamecocks head west for the NCAA Tournament.

South Carolina (30-26) has been selected as a No. 2 seed in the Los Angeles Regional, where they'll face Cal State Fullerton on May 15. The region is headlined by UCLA, the No. 8 overall seed and host team—a familiar foe for the Gamecocks.

Under second-year head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard, South Carolina is building on a historic 2024 campaign. Last season, the Gamecocks hosted a super regional for the first time in program history as the No. 8 overall seed and came within one out of reaching the Women's College World Series. Their run ended in heartbreaking fashion, falling to UCLA in Game 3 of the Columbia Super Regional to finish 44-17.

This year's team enters the tournament on a four-game skid, including a 2-0 loss to Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament. But with a talented roster and a coach who knows how to navigate postseason pressure, the Gamecocks are ready to make some noise.

For fans looking to gear up for the tournament, now is the time to stock up on South Carolina softball apparel—because you never know how far this team can go.