IWU hosts NCAA Div. III Softball Championship games this week
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — The NCAA is in central Illinois and it's a good thing.
Illinois Wesleyan is hosting the NCAA Division III Softball Championship this week. Eight teams, from coast to coast, are in Bloomington to compete for the national title at Inspiration Field.
The double-elimination tournament runs from May 29-June 4.
'It's an opportunity to host teams from all over the country and to showcase Bloomington-Normal and see what we are all about. And, of course, Illinois Wesleyan,' said IWU athletics director Mike Wagner.
The eight teams playing in the 2025 Div. III Softball World Series are Virginia Wesleyan from Virginia Beach, Randolph-Macon College of Ashland, Virginia, Linfield University of Oregon, Saint Mary's in Minnesota, Rowan University of Glassboro, NJ, Texas Lutheran, Trine from Angola, Indiana and Redlands College of California.
IWU made the NCAA field and won two games in the regional but fell short of getting home to play for the national title. Nonetheless, the Titans hope to provide a championship experience for everyone as the tournament host.
'We'll try to make this experience the best we possibly can for the student-athletes and the teams that are in town here for this week,' Wagner said.
IWU will host the NCAA Div. III volleyball national tournament in November.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Texas A&M Softball adds depth, eyes return to host Regionals in 2026
Texas A&M's softball season came to an abrupt end in the Bryan-College Station Regional, despite being picked as one of the favorites to reach the NCAA Women's College World Series. To add insult to injury, SEC newcomer Texas won its first World Series in program history while A&M watched from home. After some time for reflection, which Coach Ford admitted was difficult, she knew she needed to hit the portal to replace lost production and solidify the infield. In a surprise to fans, Texas A&M star utility player Amari Harper entered the portal for her final season. Harper, one of the last recruits from Jo Evans who remained after Ford took over, understandably wanted to test the waters. Outside of Harper, the Aggies had a relatively quiet portal season with only a few departures. Coach Ford, however, is focused on improvement, bringing in a handful of talented players that include an NCAA career leader in saves and a Golden Glove winner. Below are the current transfers Aggie fans can expect to see at Davis Diamond for the 2026 season. Taylor Pannell - LHP - Missouri Micaela Wark - DP/IF - Oklahoma State Tallen Edwards - UTL - Oklahoma State Maya Bland - OF - Oklahoma Paislie Allen - IF - Georgia This is an absolute haul by Coach Ford, addressing several key needs. If she can add one more pitcher, this group could be viewed as the perfect core to help the Aggies return to regional host status and potentially fuel another run at a Women's College World Series appearance. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Female College Athletes File Title IX Appeal Over NCAA $2.8B Settlement
Female College Athletes File Title IX Appeal Over NCAA $2.8B Settlement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. A group of female college athletes has filed a Title IX-based appeal against the recently approved House v. NCAA settlement, which officially ends the NCAA's amateurism model and allows revenue-sharing for Division I athletes. Advertisement The appeal claims the $2.8 billion settlement, allocating $2.4 billion to male athletes and only $102 million to female athletes, violates gender equity laws under Title IX. 'The House Settlement allocates $2.4 billion to men and only $102 million to women,' objecting attorney Leigh Ernst Friestedt told CBS Sports. 'This significant dispartity constitutes a violation of Title IX.' Filed in the Ninth Circuit, the appeal was led by athletes from Vanderbilt, College of Charleston, and Virginia. While the appeal won't stop future revenue-sharing, which is set to begin July 1, 2025. The appeal could delay the back payments to athletes covering the years 2016–2024. These payments, totaling nearly $2.8 billion, were agreed upon to avoid $20 billion in damages. The NCAA is responsible for $277 million annually over 10 years, funded partly by reduced distributions to schools. The settlement introduces stricter regulation of NIL deals through Deloitte's 'NIL Go' clearinghouse. Any unapproved deals over $600 may lead to athlete ineligibility or school penalties. Advertisement Deloitte claims it would have rejected 70% of past NIL collective deals. Additionally, revenue-sharing will favor football (75%) and men's basketball (15%), with only 5% each for women's basketball and all other sports. Related: Ohio State QB Commit Uses NIL to Give Back to Kids Related: The 5 Best Ways Student-Athletes Can Navigate the New College Landscape This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
The 5 Best Ways Student-Athletes Can Navigate the New College Landscape
The 5 Best Ways Student-Athletes Can Navigate the New College Landscape originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The pivotal decision has been finalized. Effective July 1st, the era of purported clandestine and informal transactions will conclude, paving the way for a more enriching and prosperous period for all stakeholders within the realm of collegiate athletics. This means student-athletes now have a seat at the table. Advertisement While the decisions made during the historic weekend of the House v. NCAA settlement being finalized may not directly impact the fans, both coaches and athletes are now subject to entirely revised regulations. Notably, players will be compelled to navigate this intricate business environment with limited expertise in the field. Fortunately, I'm here to provide assistance. We have compiled several recommendations for thriving student-athletes, designed to not only facilitate their success during their collegiate tenure but also equip them for future triumph. Here's five home run hitters to get any college athlete started in the near future. Having played for Deion Sanders, some of these are ingrained in his keys to success. 1. Treat Yourself as a Business Embrace the role of a business and conduct a self-assessment to enhance your brand's image. Analyze your current social media presence and determine how you project yourself to potential clients or decision makers. Identify areas for improvement and ensure that your brand aligns with the values and aspirations of other businesses. There are businesses looking to invest in your name, image and likeness; make sure you are someone who they would be proud to have represent them. Advertisement 2. Not All Deals are Beneficial As a business, not every opportunity presented to you will necessarily be a favorable investment. Simply because a potential partner reaches out to establish a business relationship does not imply that you are obligated to accept it. Prior to entering into any business deal, conduct a comprehensive background check on the involved businesses, assess their offerings, their expectations, and evaluate the potential long-term impact of the agreement. These are essential factors to consider when determining whether a business opportunity is a sound investment. If the terms of the agreement do not align with your business objectives, exercise good judgment and decline the opportunity. 3. Be Financially Responsible Save and invest. Create a plan in which you have the money you are making in college makes you even more money. Using different apps and websites ( is a good example) will allow you to create an investment portfolio and teaches the basic ins-and-outs of investing. They also have courses and presentations for more intricate teachings about investing, as well as live updates on how well your portfolio is doing. Begin building your future success, and let your money work for you. Even if you choose not to invest, have a plan in which you are saving more money than you are spending, and over time you will realize just how well off you will be. Advertisement 4. Understand Your Value As an athlete, you possess a unique value to your organization, encompassing your coaches, teammates, staff, and even yourself. It is crucial to comprehend your worth within the organization and actively seek opportunities to enhance your contributions. Simple acts of kindness and courtesy can significantly impact your value to others. By becoming an integral part of the organization, ensuring your vital role, and demonstrating your irreplaceability, you can enhance your value both within and outside the organization. Remember that your actions and presence may be observed by others, and it is essential to maintain a professional and respectful demeanor. 5. Your Craft is Your Selling Point Ultimately, the most effective strategy for elevating one's value, brand reputation, and influence lies in excelling during sporting events. Sports serve as a means of enhancing one's image and often serve as the initial introduction to businesses when interacting with athletes. As a student-athlete, academic and athletic pursuits should be prioritized, and this mindset should be applied to business endeavors. By diligently pursuing team goals, opportunities for success will naturally arise. Advertisement As a former student-athlete myself, I wish to see everyone learn to not only create success on the field/court, but outside of their respective sports as well. The new NIL era will allow student-athletes the best chance to thrive both now and in the future, and I hope these useful tips aid them on their journey as they learn to navigate this new and intriguing world of college athletics. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
