It's not quite time to start counting ball, strikes, hits, runs and errors at the Women's College World Series. But we've got plenty of numbers to tide you over until the action gets underway in Oklahoma City on Thursday.

Here's a look at some of the key stats and trends featuring the final eight NCAA softball teams in contention for a national title.

Been there, done that

Despite losing back-to-back national champion Florida in the super regionals, the 2016 field for the Women's College World Series remains one of the most loaded ever. All eight teams -- Michigan, Oklahoma, Auburn, Alabama, Florida State, LSU, UCLA and Georgia -- have been to the WCWS since 2010, and five of the eight teams are returning to Oklahoma City after making it in 2015. This is the second straight year and only the fourth time ever that four different WCWS schools already have a WCWS title.

An SEC flavor and a Pac-12 tradition

Half of the remaining eight teams are from the SEC. The SEC has sent as many teams to the WCWS in the last two seasons (nine) as it did in its first decade of sponsoring softball (nine). Winning a potential fourth title - Florida won in 2014 and 2015 and Alabama won in 2012 -- would mean the SEC only needs 19 more to catch the Pac-12.

SEC teams in the postseason

NCAA tournament appearances between 1997-2006: 50

NCAA tournament appearances between 2007-2016: 141

WCWS appearances between 1997-2006: 9

NCAA tournament appearances between 2007-2016: 28

WCWS titles between 1997-2006: 0

WCWSS appearances between 2007-2016: 3

Great players

Michigan senior Sierra Romero was named the USA Softball national collegiate player of the year on Tuesday night. Auburn junior Kasey Cooper, one of three finalists for the USA Softball award, was named the espnW player of the year last month. Romero will try to become just the fourth player to bring home national player of the year honors and the WCWS trophy from Oklahoma City in the same season.

Players who have won WCWS and national POY in the same year

Lauren Haeger, 2015, Florida

Keilani Ricketts, 2013, Oklahoma

Danielle Lawrie, 2009, Washington

There's more reason to watch.

Alabama's Haylie McCleney and Romero are both making their final WCWS appearance in their storied careers. McCleney owns the Alabama career records in batting average, walks and on-base percentage and ranks in the top 10 in slugging percentage, hits, runs and stolen bases. Romero owns the NCAA career records in runs (300) and grand slams (11) and has 301 career hits and 304 career RBI, becoming the first member of the 300-300-300 club. They have had very similar postseason careers.

Sierra Romero Mike Janes/Four Seam Images/AP Photos

McCleney vs. Romero

Games in NCAA tournament:

McCleney: 29

Romero: 33

WCWS appearancs:

McCleney: 3

Romero: 3

Batting average:

McCleney: .372

Romero: .372

Home runs:

McCleney: 7

Romero: 7

Runs:

McCleney:29

Romero 30

Not so fast, Sierra Romero. We're not done with you yet.

Sierra could face sister Sydney Romero, who's a freshman at Oklahoma. Not known for her power, Sydney is doing her best Sierra impression this postseason, matching big sis in runs and home runs.

Romero sisters in NCAA tournament

Batting average:

Sydney: .353

Sierra: .385

Runs:

Sydney: 6

Sierra: 6

Home runs:

Sydney: 2

Sierra: 2

RBIs:

Sydney: 4

Sierra: 5

On-base percentage

Sydney: .389

Sierra: .579

"Whether or not she's related to Sierra, who is one of the best players in the game, Sydney stands on her own merit." Patty Gasso

And great coaches, too

Five of the eight WCWS coaches already have won a national championship as a coach. They've also combined to win seven of the last 15 titles, and advanced to the championship series in seven of the last eight seasons.

There are only 10 active coaches who have won a WCWS title. Five of those 10 are in OKC. Three of those 10 were eliminated in the super regionals. Alabama has already eliminated two coaches with WCWS titles.

Most WCWS Titles Among Active Coaches

Mike Candrea: 8

Clint Myers*: 2

Patty Gasso*: 2

Bob Brock: 2

Tim Walton: 2

Patrick Murphy*: 1

Carol Hutchins*: 1

Kelly Inouye-Perez*: 1

Heather Tarr: 1

Diane Ninemire: 1

*-- In 2016 WCWS

Up for grabs

One of the biggest story lines of this year's WCWS centers around a team that isn't in Oklahoma City: the Florida Gators. The Gators, the No. 1 national seed, were seeking to join UCLA (1988-90) as the only schools to ever win three straight national championships. But the Gators were eliminated by Georgia in the super regionals. Florida joined the 2010 Alabama team as the only No. 1 national seeds who failed to reach the WCWS that year.

Michigan comes to Oklahoma City as the highest-seeded team in the field as the No. 2 national seed. That's the good news for the Wolverines. The bad news is that since seeding began in 2005, the highest-seeded team in OKC failed to win the national championship six of the previous 11 WCWS.

Aces among us

Four teams in the field have been using a single workhorse in the circle for much of the NCAA tournament. The other four teams have used a rotation rather than just one ace.

Both pitching methods have proven to be successful this year. Seven of the eight WCWS teams rank in the Top 25 nationally in ERA. The only exception is UCLA, which ranks 131st.

Pitchers with at least 29 IP this postseason

Paige Parker, Okla.: 33.0 IP, 2.12 ERA

Chelsea Wilkinson, UGA: 31.0 IP, 0.68 ERA

Megan Betsa, Mich.: 30.1 IP, 1.85 ERA

Alexis Osorio, Ala.: 29.1 IP, 0.00

Fielding matters

Oklahoma has committed just 23 errors on the season, four fewer than any other team. The Sooners lead the country with a .985 fielding percentage. Each of the last four WCWS champions had a top 10 fielding percentage nationally. Michigan ranks fourth in the country in fielding percentage and is the only other team in the field that could continue the trend.