Ashley Chastain Woodard: ‘I’m just really happy to bring the tournament to Columbia’.
Ashley Chastain Woodard never experienced anything like this when she was a player. But here she was, now as a coach, with her team at Carolina Ale House Sunday night, waiting to learn their NCAA Tournament fate.
The moment of truth approached. One by one, the top seven seeds were revealed. Chastain Woodard watched intently, hoping South Carolina softball would be the final team to earn a top-eight seed. If selected, it would mean not only hosting a regional but a super regional as well, right in their backyard in Columbia.
As the No. 8 seed flashed on the TV screen, so did the Gamecock logo. All who gathered at the restaurant to watch — players, coaches, families, fans — erupted into pandemonium.
It was an exciting day,” the first-year coach said at the Welcome Home Tour in Rock Hill on Monday. “I know the team is really excited still, but we’re looking forward to it.”
South Carolina will host a regional at Beckham Field for the first time since 2018, starting on Friday. The Gamecocks will face Elon (5:30, ESPN Plus) in their opening game, with two-seed Virginia and three-seed North Florida also squaring off (3 p.m., ESPN Plus).
This will be the third straight season in which Chastain has led a team to the postseason. She took Charlotte to its only-ever trips to the tournament in 2023 and 2024. She’ll be doing it again, this time with her alma mater
