Held during May 2004, sixty-four Division I college softball teams contested the championship.
The tournament featured eight regionals of eight teams, each in a double elimination format.
UCLA won their eleventh[a] NCAA championship and twelfth overall by defeating California 3–1 in the final game.
LSU pitcher Kristin Schmidt was named Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player.
†: Excludes results of the pre-NCAA Women's College World Series of 1969 through 1981.