The 1973 Women's College World Series was contested among 16 teams on May 17-20 in Omaha, Nebraska.
It was the first series held under the auspices of the AIAW, which had recently been established by the Division of Girls' and Women's Sports (DGWS) for the purpose of conducting national championships.
Arizona State won its second consecutive WCWS championship, splitting the final two games with Illinois State, including the marathon final game that went 16 innings.
Margie Wright pitched all 16 innings in that game for the Redbirds as they narrowly fell to Arizona State, 4-3.
Ironically, for pitching too many innings in one day, a three-woman Illinois sports commission suspended her from pitching in any game in her upcoming senior season and also banned the softball team from post-season play in 1974.