The 2002 NCAA Division I softball tournament was the twenty-first annual tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA women's collegiate softball. Held during May 2002, forty-eight Division I college softball teams contested the championship. The tournament featured eight regionals of six teams, each in a double elimination format. The 2002 Women's College World Series was held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from May 23 through May 27 and marked the conclusion of the 2002 NCAA Division I softball season. California won their first NCAA championship by defeating Arizona 6–0 in the final game. California pitcher Jocelyn Forest was named Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player. Qualifying Regionals Regional No. 1 Opening Round defeated , 3–0. defeated , 2–1. defeated , 2–1 (8 innings). Loser's Bracket UMBC defeated Liberty, 7–1. Liberty eliminated. Eastern Kentucky defeated UMBC, 6–1, UMBC eliminated. Semifinals and Finals Georgia defeated South Carolina, 1–0. UCLA defeated Eastern Kentucky, 10–0 (5 innings). Eastern Kentucky eliminated. UCLA defeated Georgia, 2–1 (8 innings). South Carolina defeated Georgia, 9–3. Georgia eliminated. South Carolina defeated UCLA, 2–1. UCLA defeated South Carolina, 1–0. UCLA advances to WCWS. Regional No. 2 Opening Round Arizona defeated , 4–1. defeated , 3–1. defeated , 2–1. Loser's Bracket Penn State defeated Boston University, 5–1. Boston University eliminated. Penn State defeated Princeton, 3–0. Princeton eliminated. Semifinals and Finals DePaul defeated Minnesota, 2–0 (12 innings). Arizona defeated Penn State, 4–3. Penn State eliminated. Arizona defeated DePaul, 2–0. DePaul defeated Minnesota, 5–3. Minnesota eliminated. DePaul defeated Arizona, 6–0. Arizona defeated DePaul, 8–0. Arizona advances to WCWS. Regional No. 3 Opening Round defeated , 3–2 (10 innings). defeated , 4–1. defeated , 5–3 (13 innings). Loser's Bracket Mississippi State defeated Northwestern State, 9–6. Northwestern State eliminated. Louisiana–Lafayette defeated Mississippi State, 10–3. Mississippi State eliminated. Semifinals and Finals Arizona State defeated UMass, 1–0. LSU defeated Louisiana–Lafayette, 5–2. Louisiana–Lafayette eliminated. Arizona State defeated LSU, 3–2 (8 innings). LSU defeated UMass, 1–0. UMass eliminated. Arizona State defeated LSU, 4–1. Arizona State advances to WCWS. Regional No. 4 Opening Round defeated , 3–0. defeated , 7–0. California defeated , 2–1 (10 innings). Loser's Bracket Pacific defeated Evansville, 6–0. Evansville eliminated. Fresno State defeated Pacific, 1–0. Pacific eliminated. Semifinals and Finals California defeated Stanford, 1–0. Cal State Fullerton defeated Fresno State, 1–0. Fresno State eliminated. California defeated Cal State Fullerton, 4–2. Cal State Fullerton defeated Stanford, 4–1. Stanford eliminated. California defeated Cal State Fullerton, 1–0. California