NCAA softball 2024: Clearwater Invitational schedule, preview - ESPN

The 2024 college softball season is off to an exciting start. Opening weekend brought upsets to several top teams and impressive play from many newcomers.

You can expect even more action this weekend, as the 2024 Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational Presented by EvoShield returns for the fifth year. This weekend's slate will feature 16 teams — including 10 ranked in the preseason top 25 — in 40 games.

The invitational kicks off Thursday at 10 a.m. ET with Stanford taking on Georgia Tech (ESPNU) and concludes Sunday at 8 p.m. ET with a huge matchup between Florida State and Tennessee (ESPN).

We picked out an X factor for each competing team and included schedules. Here's your guide to the Clearwater Invitational.

Jump to:
Florida State | Georgia | Georgia Tech | Kentucky
LSU | Minnesota | North Carolina | Northwestern
Oklahoma State | Stanford | Tennessee | Texas
UCF | UCLA | Washington | Wisconsin

2024 record: 4-1

Tournament schedule (all times ET):

vs. Stanford (Thursday, 4 p.m., ESPNU)
vs. UCLA (Friday, 1 p.m., ESPNU)
vs. Georgia (Saturday, 10 a.m. ESPN2)
vs. Tennessee (Sunday, 8 p.m., ESPN)

X factor: C Michaela Edenfield, aka «Area 51.» The 2023 WCWS All-Tournament Team selection is a viral sensation not just for her impressive makeup looks but also for her incredible power from the right side of the box. Edenfield's nickname was inspired by her jersey number and how many moonshots she hits. She led the Seminoles with 16 home runs as a freshman and subsequently did the same with 13 last season.

2024 record: 5-0

Tournament schedule (all times ET):

vs. Wisconsin (Thursday, 1 p.m., SEC Network)
vs. Oklahoma State (Friday, 10 a.m., ESPNU)
vs. UCLA (Friday, 4 p.m., ESPN+)
vs. Florida State (Saturday, 10 a.m., ESPN2)