The 1971 ASA/DGWS Women's College World Series (WCWS), the third in its history, was held in Omaha, Nebraska. On May 14–16, softball teams from 28 colleges met in that year's national fastpitch softball tournament, still the largest number of teams to play in a single-site WCWS.[1] The tournament consisted of 55 games.
The John F. Kennedy College Patriettes won their third consecutive national championship, this time from the loser's bracket, by shutting out the Iowa State Cyclonettes twice in the final, 6–0 and 4–0. Paula Miller of Arizona State was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, pitching all of ASU's seven games. Iowa State's result occurred despite having zero funding from the university.
The double-elimination tournament included these teams:
| Team | Appearance | |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona State | 1st | |
| Buena Vista College (IA) | 1st | |
| Central Missouri State | 1st | |
| Concordia (NE) | 2nd | |
| Eastern Illinois | 1st | |
| Illinois State | 3rd | |
| Iowa State | 1st | |
| John F. Kennedy | 3rd | |
| Kansas State Teachers College(now Emporia State) | 1st | |
| Kearney State | 3rd | |
| Luther College (IA) | 2nd | |
| Midland Lutheran (NE) | 2nd | |
| Minnesota–Duluth | 2nd | |
| Minot State | 2nd | |
| Nebraska | 2nd | |
| Nebraska–Omaha | 3rd | |
| Northern Colorado | 3rd | |
| Parsons College (IA) | 1st | |
| Simpson College (IA) | 1st | |
| South Dakota | 1st | |
| South Dakota State | 1st | |
| Southern Illinois | 2nd | |
| Southwest Baptist (MO) | 1st | |
| Southwest Missouri State | 3rd | |
| Upper Iowa | 2nd | |
| Wartburg College (IA) | 1st | |
| Wayne State (NE) | 2nd | |
| Wisconsin State–Eau Claire | 1st |
The individual game results are shown in the tournament bracket below.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
| Place | School | WCWS Record |
|---|---|---|
| By finish: | ||
| 1st | John F. Kennedy College | 7-1 |
| 2nd | Iowa State | 5-2 |
| 3rd | Southwest Missouri State College | 3-2 |
| 4th | Arizona State | 5-2 |
| Nebraska | 5-2 | |
| 6th | Kansas State Teachers College | 2-2 |
| By record: | ||
| Southern Illinois | 3-2 | |
| Illinois State | 3-2 | |
| Eastern Illinois | 3-2 | |
| Northern Colorado | 3-2 | |
| Luther College | 3-2 | |
| Parsons College | 2-2 | |
| Wartburg College | 2-2 | |
| Central Missouri State College | 1-2 | |
| Minot State College | 1-2 | |
| Concordia Teachers College | 1-2 | |
| Wisconsin State–Eau Claire | 1-2 | |
| Kearney State College | 1-2 | |
| Upper Iowa | 1-2 | |
| Nebraska–Omaha | 1-2 | |
| South Dakota State | 1-2 | |
| Wayne State College | 1-2 | |
| Minnesota–Duluth | 0-2 | |
| South Dakota | 0-2 | |
| Midland Lutheran College | 0-2 | |
| Southwest Baptist College | 0-2 | |
| Buena Vista College | 0-2 | |
| Simpson College | 0-2 | |