Little League Softball World Series teams, ages, rules & more to know for 2023 tournament

The Little League Softball World Series will again feature eight states and four countries in its 2023 edition of the tournament.

Earlier this year, we watched the love of softball blossom — the NCAA Women's College World Series captured attention far and wide as Oklahoma made history with its three-peat. Now, it's time for those a decade younger to rise to the occasion, capture the hearts of viewers and build on the sport's success.

Last year, Midway Little League of Hewitt, Texas, won the trophy, claiming the Lone Star State a 14th title. They are in the competition again this year, hoping for a repeat.

MORE: Little League Softball World series schedule, TV info

The Sporting News has everything you need to know about this year's tournament: 

Little League Softball World Series teams 2023

Once again, 12 teams will embark on the journey to win the Little League Softball World Series. Out of those 12, eight teams are from the United States; only four international sides will participate.

Here's a look at all the teams in the 2023 tournament:

Purple Bracket

Orange Bracket

2023 Little League Softball World Series bracket

The full bracket is broken down into two sides — purple and orange. Whoever emerges from each of those two smaller brackets will end up playing for the chance to become champions. Since the tournament is double elimination, a loss is not the end of the road as the team will be given another chance to keep their championship dreams alive.

You can download a PDF version of the bracket on the LLSWS official website.

Little League Softball World Series location

The Little League Softball World Series will be held in Greenville, North Carolina, for the third consecutive year from Aug. 6-13.

How old are Little League Softball World Series players?

This year, the eligible age range for participants is 10 to 12.

Players ages 12 to 14 will be eligible for the Junior League in Kirkland, Washington, while 13- to 16-year-olds will be eligible for the Senior League World Series in Sussex County, Delaware.

What is the LLSWS pitch count limit?

A pitcher may pitch no more than 12 innings in a single day. If a player pitches in seven or more innings in a day, one calendar day of rest is mandatory, per Little League rules. Delivering a single pitch constitutes pitching an inning.

No more than five pitchers per team can be used in a game.

Little League Softball World Series field size

• 60 feet: Diamond
• 40 feet: Pitching distance

Little League, also referred to as the Major Division, uses a 60-foot diamond. There is a 40-foot distance between the pitcher and batter. It will, again, be played at Stallings Stadium in Greenville, N.C.

Who won the LLSWS in 2022?

Midway Little League of Hewitt, Texas won the 2022 Little League Softball World Series.

The Mid-Atlantic Region (Delmar, Md.) team had gotten an early 3-0 lead, feeling comfortable out of the gate.

But the Southwest Region team was on the hunt for victory, bringing home four batters in the fourth inning to claim the lead.

Maryland didn't let that stay for long, tying it in the fifth with a singular run and making it anyone's game. In the end, it was Texas that managed to squeeze one more out in the seventh for a final score of 5-4. 

List of past Little League Softball World Series champions

In the nearly 50 years of the Little League Softball World Series, Texas leads with 14 titles, including a run of 11 tiles in 13 years by Waco between 1992 and 2004. Florida has the next-most, with eight titles, including the inaugural (1974) title, followed by California with five.

There are still 33 states that have not won a title and only one U.S. territory, Puerto Rico, has managed to squeak out with the trophy (2001).