The winner receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I softball tournament.
In its initial format in 1983, the six team tournament included a single bye for the top two seeds.
For the second year and lasting through 2006, only four teams qualified, and they played a true double-elimination tournament.
With the addition of a tenth team to the league in 2007, the field was expanded again to six, and the original format reinstated.
After the 2020 season was canceled, the 2021 Tournament used a four-team field and bracket and the six team format returned in 2022.