OKLAHOMA CITY — It used to be that the road to the Women's College World Series title involved beating a team from California — and usually UCLA.

Not anymore. There's a new home state for softball's champions.

Arizona State's Sun Devils followed back-to-back titles by rival Arizona with one of their own in last year's NCAA softball championships, continuing a trend away from the Golden State. And now, for the second time in three years, California will be without a representative when the eight-team Women's College World Series begins today.

From 1982 through 2005, California had at least one team playing in the championship game every year but one. UCLA won 11 titles and played for the championship seven other times. California, Cal State-Fullerton and Fresno State also won titles.

"You can't play the name game because I think everyone here is deserving to be here and worked hard to get here," said Wildcats coach Mike Candrea, who led the U.S. team in the last two Olympics.

Even Arizona will start out as an underdog, though, in its opener against top-seeded Florida. Alabama and first-timer Georgia joined the Gators to give the Southeastern Conference three teams at the World Series for the first time.

Arizona State, Michigan, Missouri and Washington round out the field.