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2026 NCAA Division I softball tournament

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2026 NCAA Division I
softball tournament
Teams64
Finals site

The 2026 NCAA Division I softball tournament is being held from May 15 through June 5, 2026, as the final part of the 2026 NCAA Division I softball season. The tournament will end with the 2026 Women's College World Series at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.[1]

Format

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A total of 64 teams will enter the tournament, with 31 of them receiving an automatic bid by either winning their conference's tournament or by finishing in first place in their conference. The remaining 33 bids will be at-large, with selections extended by the NCAA Selection Committee.[2]

For the first time in NCAA tournament history the top 32 teams were seeded nationally in pods of four. Per the established bracketing principles, the top 16 seeds were provided the opportunity to host. Additionally, team pairings are determined within the pods (ones paired with eights, twos paired with sevens, etc.) and assigned geographically within their pods, with the exception that teams from the same conference are not paired at the same regional.[3]

Bids

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The West Coast Conference bid was awarded to the regular-season champion. All other conferences had their automatic bid go to the conference tournament winner.[4]

Automatic

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Conference School Best finish Last appearance
America East Binghamton Regionals
(2015, 2025) 		2025
American South Florida WCWS
(2012) 		2025
ASUN Stetson Regionals
(1986, 1987, 1988, 2007, 2014) 		2014
ACC Florida State National Champion
(2018) 		2025
Atlantic 10 Fordham Regionals
(2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022) 		2022
Big 12 Arizona State National Champion
(2008, 2011) 		2025
Big East UConn WCWS
(1993) 		2025
Big Sky Idaho State First appearance
Big South USC Upstate Regionals
(2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2024, 2025) 		2025
Big Ten Nebraska WCWS Runners-Up
(1985 (vacated)) 		2025
Big West Cal State Fullerton National Champion
(1986) 		2024
CAA Charleston Regionals
(2005) 		2005
Conference USA Jacksonville State Regionals
(1996, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017) 		2017
Horizon Northern Kentucky Regionals
(2023) 		2023
Ivy League Princeton WCWS
(1995, 1996) 		2024
MAAC Marist Regionals
(1996, 2006, 2013, 2016, 2023, 2025) 		2025
MAC Akron First appearance
MEAC Howard Regionals
(2007, 2022, 2025) 		2025
Missouri Valley Belmont Regionals
(2025) 		2025
Mountain West Grand Canyon Regionals
(2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) 		2025
NEC Wagner First appearance
Ohio Valley Eastern Illinois Regionals[a]
(2023, 2025) 		2025
Patriot Boston University Regionals
(1996, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025) 		2025
SEC Texas National Champion
(2025) 		2025
Southern UNC Greensboro Regionals
(1997, 2018, 2021, 2023) 		2023
Southland McNeese Regionals
(1995, 2005, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023) 		2023
SWAC Florida A&M Regionals
(1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) 		2017
Summit South Dakota First appearance[b]
Sun Belt South Alabama Regionals
(2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2024) 		2024
WAC California Baptist First appearance
West Coast Saint Mary's Regionals
(2010, 2024) 		2024
  1. ^ Eastern Illinois appeared in the 1971 and 1974 Women's College World Series while the tournament was governed by the AIAW, before the NCAA started sponsoring women's athletics in 1982. EIU's best pre-NCAA finish was 5th place in 1974.
  2. ^ South Dakota appeared in the 1971 Women's College World Series while the tournament was governed by the AIAW, before the NCAA started sponsoring women's athletics in 1982.

At-large

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Team Conference Best Finish Last Appearance
Alabama SEC National Champion
(2012)		 2025
Arizona Big 12 National Champion
(1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2007)		 2025
Arkansas SEC Super Regionals
(2018, 2021, 2022, 2025)		 2025
Baylor Big 12 WCWS
(2007, 2011, 2014, 2017)		 2024
Clemson ACC Super Regionals
(2022, 2023, 2025)		 2025
Duke ACC WCWS
(2024)		 2025
Florida SEC National Champion
(2014, 2015)		 2025
Georgia SEC WCWS
(2009, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2021)		 2025
Georgia Tech ACC Super Regionals
(2009)		 2025
Indiana Big Ten WCWS
(1983, 1986)		 2025
Kansas Big 12 WCWS
(1992)		 2015
Louisville ACC Regionals
(2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2023)		 2023
LSU SEC WCWS
(2001, 2004, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017)		 2025
Marshall Sun Belt Regionals
(2013, 2017)		 2017
Michigan Big Ten National Champion
(2005)		 2025
Mississippi State SEC Super Regional
(2022)		 2025
Oklahoma SEC National Champion
(2000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)		 2025
Oklahoma State Big 12 WCWS
(1982, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2011, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)		 2025
Ole Miss SEC WCWS
(2025)		 2025
Oregon Big Ten WCWS
(1989, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2025)		 2025
South Carolina SEC WCWS
(1983, 1989, 1997)		 2025
Southeastern Louisiana Southland Regionals
(2024, 2025)		 2025
Stanford ACC WCWS
(2001, 2004, 2023, 2024)		 2025
Tennessee SEC WCWS Runner-Up
(2007, 2013)		 2025
Texas A&M SEC National Champion
(1983, 1987)		 2025
Texas State Sun Belt Regionals
(1999, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024)		 2024
Texas Tech Big 12 WCWS Runner-Up
(2025)		 2025
UCF Big 12 Super Regionals
(2022)		 2025
UCLA Big Ten National Champion
(1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995 (vacated), 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2019)		 2025
Virginia ACC Regionals
(2010, 2024, 2025)		 2025
Virginia Tech ACC WCWS
(2008)		 2025
Washington Big Ten National Champion
(2009)		 2025
Wisconsin Big Ten Regionals
(2001, 2002, 2005, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022)		 2022

By conference

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Conference Total Schools
SEC 12 Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M
ACC 8 Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Stanford, Virginia, Virginia Tech
Big 12 7 Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, UCF
Big Ten 7 Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, UCLA, Washington, Wisconsin
Sun Belt 3 Marshall, South Alabama, Texas State
Southland 2 McNeese, Southeastern Louisiana
American 1 South Florida
ASUN 1 Stetson
America East 1 Binghamton
Atlantic 10 1 Fordham
Big East 1 UConn
Big Sky 1 Idaho State
Big South 1 USC Upstate
Big West 1 Cal State Fullerton
CAA 1 Charleston
CUSA 1 Jacksonville State
Horizon 1 Northern Kentucky
Ivy League 1 Princeton
MAAC 1 Marist
MAC 1 Akron
MEAC 1 Howard
Missouri Valley 1 Belmont
Mountain West 1 Grand Canyon
Northeast 1 Wagner
Ohio Valley 1 Eastern Illinois
Patriot 1 Boston University
SoCon 1 UNC Greensboro
SWAC 1 Florida A&M
Summit 1 South Dakota
WAC 1 California Baptist
West Coast 1 Saint Mary's

National seeds

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Sixteen national seeds were announced on the Selection Show, on Sunday, May 10 at 7 p.m. EDT on ESPN. Teams in italics advanced to Super Regionals. Teams in bold advanced to the Women's College World Series.[5]

Regionals and Super Regionals

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The Regionals took place May 15–17. The Super Regionals took place May 21–24.

Tuscaloosa Super Regional

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Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
1 Alabama 8(5)
USC Upstate 0
1 Alabama 3
Belmont 0
Southeastern Louisiana 0
Belmont 2
1 Alabama 9 —
Tuscaloosa Regional – Rhoads Stadium
USC Upstate 0 —
USC Upstate 5
Southeastern Louisiana 4
Belmont 1
USC Upstate 10
1 Alabama 7 4 —
16 LSU 0 1 —
16 LSU 8(6)
Akron 0
16 LSU 8(6)
Virginia Tech 0
Virginia Tech 6
South Alabama 0
16 LSU 7 —
Baton Rouge Regional – Tiger Park
Virginia Tech 2 —
Akron 1
South Alabama 0
Virginia Tech 7
Akron 6

Los Angeles Super Regional

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Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
8 UCLA 12
California Baptist 11
8 UCLA 7
South Carolina 2
South Carolina 7
Cal State Fullerton 4
8 UCLA 15(6) —
Los Angeles Regional – Easton Stadium
South Carolina 1 —
California Baptist 2
Cal State Fullerton 3
South Carolina 4
Cal State Fullerton 2
8 UCLA 9(5) 14 —
UCF 1 4 —
9 Florida State 3
Stetson 8
Stetson 1
UCF 10(5)
UCF 2(8)
Jacksonville State 1
UCF 1 4
Tallahassee Regional – JoAnne Graf Field
9 Florida State 2 2
9 Florida State 11(5)
Jacksonville State 0
Stetson 3
9 Florida State 11

Fayetteville Super Regional

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Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
5 Arkansas 8(6)
Fordham 0
5 Arkansas 9(6)
South Florida 1
Washington 1
South Florida 3
5 Arkansas 10(6) —
Fayetteville Regional – Bogle Park
South Florida 2 —
Fordham 2
Washington 5
South Florida 6
Washington 4
5 Arkansas 14(5) 10(5) —
12 Duke 5 2 —
12 Duke 10(5)
Howard 1
12 Duke 1
Arizona 10(5)
Arizona 7
Marshall 5
Arizona 6 4
Durham Regional – Smith Family Stadium
12 Duke 8 9
Howard 2
Marshall 4
12 Duke 11(5)
Marshall 1

Lincoln Super Regional

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Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
4 Nebraska 4
South Dakota 1
4 Nebraska 2
Grand Canyon 0
Louisville 1
Grand Canyon 5
4 Nebraska 1 —
Lincoln Regional – Bowlin Stadium
Grand Canyon 0 —
South Dakota 4
Louisville 2
Grand Canyon 5(8)
South Dakota 4
4 Nebraska 8 9(5) —
13 Oklahoma State 1 1 —
13 Oklahoma State 16(5)
Eastern Illinois 0
13 Oklahoma State 7
Stanford 2
Stanford 8
Princeton 2
13 Oklahoma State 11 —
Stillwater Regional – Cowgirl Stadium
Stanford 5 —
Eastern Illinois 1
Princeton 2
Stanford 13
Princeton 5

Norman Super Regional

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Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
3 Oklahoma 11(5)
Binghamton 0
3 Oklahoma 9(5)
Kansas 0
Kansas 1(8)
Michigan 0
3 Oklahoma 8 —
Norman Regional – Love's Field
Michigan 1 —
Binghamton 0
Michigan 6
Kansas 10
Michigan 12
3 Oklahoma 9 7 0
Mississippi State 11 1 6
14 Oregon 5
Idaho State 1
14 Oregon 0
Mississippi State 4
Mississippi State 3(8)
Saint Mary's 2
Mississippi State 5 —
Eugene Regional – Jane Sanders Stadium
Saint Mary's 0 —
Idaho State 1
Saint Mary’s 3
14 Oregon 4
Saint Mary's 5

Gainesville Super Regional

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Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
6 Florida 12(5)
Florida A&M 0
6 Florida 8(5)
Georgia Tech 0
Texas State 1
Georgia Tech 2
6 Florida 5 —
Gainesville Regional – Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium
Georgia Tech 2 —
Florida A&M 0
Texas State 6
Georgia Tech 4
Texas State 1
6 Florida 8 10 7
11 Texas Tech 10 2 16(5)
11 Texas Tech 10
Marist 3
11 Texas Tech 10(8)
Ole Miss 9
Ole Miss 8
Boston University 6
11 Texas Tech 14(5) —
Lubbock Regional – Tracy Sellers Field
Ole Miss 2 —
Marist 2
Boston University 10(5)
Ole Miss 9
Boston University 4

Austin Super Regional

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Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
2 Texas 9(5)
Wagner 1
2 Texas 9(6)
Wisconsin 0
Wisconsin 2(9)
Baylor 1
2 Texas 7 —
Austin Regional – Red and Charline McCombs Field
Baylor 0 —
Wagner 0
Baylor 9(5)
Wisconsin 2
Baylor 5
2 Texas 1 4 5
Arizona State 4 3 0
15 Texas A&M 17(5)
UConn 3
15 Texas A&M 3
Arizona State 4
Arizona State 8(5)
McNeese 0
Arizona State 9(5) —
College Station Regional – Davis Diamond
15 Texas A&M 1 —
UConn 5
McNeese 1
15 Texas A&M 10
UConn 3

Knoxville Super Regional

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Round 1 Round 2 Regional Finals Super Regionals
               
7 Tennessee 3
Northern Kentucky 1
7 Tennessee 7
Virginia 5
Virginia 8(8)
Indiana 7
7 Tennessee 5 —
Knoxville Regional – Sherri Parker Lee Stadium
Virginia 1 —
Northern Kentucky 0
Indiana 8(5)
Virginia 9
Indiana 7
7 Tennessee 3 2 —
10 Georgia 1 1 —
10 Georgia 5
Charleston 2
10 Georgia 8(5)
UNC Greensboro 0
Clemson 0
UNC Greensboro 1
10 Georgia 5 —
Athens Regional – Jack Turner Stadium
Clemson 0 —
Charleston 1
Clemson 3
UNC Greensboro 1
Clemson 4

Women's College World Series

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The Women's College World Series will be held May 28 through June 5 in Oklahoma City.

Participants

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School Conference Record (conference) Head coach WCWS appearances†
(including 2026 WCWS) 		WCWS best finish†* WCWS W–L record†
(excluding 2026 WCWS)
Alabama SEC 54–7 (19–5) Patrick Murphy 16
(last: 2024)		 1st
(2012)		 23–29
Arkansas SEC 47–11 (15–9) Courtney Deifel 1
(last: First appearance)		 First appearance 0–0
Mississippi State SEC 43–19 (9–15) Samantha Ricketts 1
(last: First appearance)		 First appearance 0–0
Nebraska Big Ten 51–6 (23–1) Rhonda Revelle 8
(last: 2013)		 2nd
(1985)		 11–15
Tennessee SEC 47–10 (16–8) Karen Weekly 10
(last: 2025)		 2nd
(2007, 2013)		 19–18
Texas SEC 47–11 (16–8) Mike White 9
(last: 2025)		 1st
(2025)		 19–16
Texas Tech Big 12 56–7 (21–3) Gerry Glasco 2
(last: 2025)		 2nd
(2025)		 4–2
UCLA Big Ten 52–8 (20–4) Kelly Inouye-Perez 34
(last: 2025)		 1st
(1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990,
1992, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2019)		 109–44

Bracket

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First round Second round Semifinals Finals
               
11 Texas Tech 8(5)
Mississippi State 0
11 Texas Tech 1
7 Tennessee 2(9)
2 Texas 3
7 Tennessee 6
7 Tennessee 2 0
2 Texas 5 4
Mississippi State 0
2 Texas 4
4 Nebraska 1
2 Texas 3
2 Texas 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
11 Texas Tech ESPN ESPN ESPN
1 Alabama 6
8 UCLA 3
1 Alabama 5
4 Nebraska 1
4 Nebraska 5(10)
5 Arkansas 3
1 Alabama 4 0
11 Texas Tech 5 2
8 UCLA 11(5)
5 Arkansas 0
11 Texas Tech 8(9)
8 UCLA 7

Game times are based on the local time (CDT) in Oklahoma City

Game results

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Date Game Winning team Score Losing team Winning pitcher Losing pitcher Save Notes
May 28 Game 1 Texas Tech 8–0 (5) Mississippi State NiJaree Canady (26–6) Alyssa Faircloth (16–8) – Box score
Game 2 Tennessee 6–3 Texas Sage Mardjetko (15–2) Teagan Kavan (25–6) Karlyn Pickens (7) Box score
Game 3 Alabama 6–3 UCLA Jocelyn Briski (24–3) Taylor Tinsley (32–7) – Box score
Game 4 Nebraska 5–3 (10) Arkansas Jordy Frahm (21–4) Robyn Herron (16–7) – Box score
May 29 Game 5 Texas 4–0 Mississippi State Teagan Kavan (26–6) Delainey Everett (3–2) – Mississippi State eliminated
Box score
Game 6 UCLA 11–0 (5) Arkansas Taylor Tinsley (33–7) Payton Burnham (14–4) – Arkansas eliminated
Box score
May 30 Game 7 Tennessee 2–1 (9) Texas Tech Sage Mardjetko (16–2) Kaitlyn Terry (24–2) – Box score
Game 8 Alabama 5–1 Nebraska Jocelyn Briski (25–3) Jordy Frahm (21–5) – Box score
May 31 Game 9 Texas 3–1 Nebraska Teagan Kavan (27–6) Jordy Frahm (21–6) – Nebraska eliminated
Box score
Game 10 Texas Tech 8–7 (9) UCLA NiJaree Canady (27–6) Taylor Tinsley (33–8) – UCLA eliminated
Box score
June 1 Game 11 Texas 5–2 Tennessee Citlaly Gutierrez (10–3) Sage Mardjetko (16–3) – Box score
Game 12 Texas 4–0 Tennessee Teagan Kavan (28–6) Karlyn Pickens (15–8) – Tennessee eliminated
Box score
Game 13 Texas Tech 5–4 Alabama NiJaree Canady (28–6) Vic Moten (21–5) – Box score
Game 14 Texas Tech 2–0 Alabama NiJaree Canady (29–6) Jocelyn Briski (25–4) – Alabama eliminated
Box score
Finals
June 3 Game 1 – (–) (–) – Texas vs. Texas Tech
June 4 Game 2 – (–) (–) – Texas vs. Texas Tech
June 5 Game 3 (If necessary) – (–) (–) – Texas vs. Texas Tech

Finals

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Game 1

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June 3, 2026 – 7:00 p.m. (CDT) at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Texas Tech 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Texas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
WP: (–)   LP: (–)

Game 2

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June 4, 2026 – 7:00 p.m. (CDT) at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Texas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Texas Tech 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
WP: (–)   LP: (–)

Game 3 (If necessary)

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June 5, 2026 – 7:00 p.m. (CDT) at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Texas Tech 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Texas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
WP: (–)   LP: (–)

Record by conference

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Conference # of Bids Record Win % RF SR WS NS F NC
SEC 12 52–25 .675 12 9 5 3 1 –
Big 12 7 23–16 .590 6 4 1 1 1 –
Big Ten 7 17–14 .548 3 2 2 – – –
ACC 8 16–18 .471 7 1 – – – –
American 1 2–2 .500 1 – – – – –
Big South 1 2–2 .500 1 – – – – –
Mountain West 1 2–2 .500 1 – – – – –
West Coast 1 2–2 .500 1 – – – – –
ASUN 1 1–2 .333 – – – – – –
Big East 1 1–2 .333 – – – – – –
Big West 1 1–2 .333 – – – – – –
Ivy League 1 1–2 .333 – – – – – –
Missouri Valley 1 1–2 .333 – – – – – –
Patriot 1 1–2 .333 – – – – – –
SoCon 1 1–2 .333 – – – – – –
Summit 1 1–2 .333 – – – – – –
Sun Belt 3 2–6 .250 – – – – – –
Southland 2 0–4 .000 – – – – – –
America East 1 0–2 .000 – – – – – –
Atlantic 10 1 0–2 .000 – – – – – –
Big Sky 1 0–2 .000 – – – – – –
CAA 1 0–2 .000 – – – – – –
Conference USA 1 0–2 .000 – – – – – –
Horizon 1 0–2 .000 – – – – – –
MAAC 1 0–2 .000 – – – – – –
MAC 1 0–2 .000 – – – – – –
MEAC 1 0–2 .000 – – – – – –
NEC 1 0–2 .000 – – – – – –
Ohio Valley 1 0–2 .000 – – – – – –
SWAC 1 0–2 .000 – – – – – –
WAC 1 0–2 .000 – – – – – –

Media coverage

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Radio

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For the sixth consecutive year Westwood One will provide nationwide radio coverage of every game in the Women's College World Series.[6]

Television

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ESPN holds exclusive rights to the tournament. The network will air games across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network and ACC Network. For just the ninth time in the history of the women's softball tournament, ESPN will cover every regional.[7]

Broadcast assignments

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References

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  1. ^ "Softball Division I Championship". NCAA.com. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  2. ^ "2026 NCAA Softball Tournament Schedule Revealed". SI.com. April 22, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  3. ^ "NCAA Division I softball committee announces 2026 championship field". NCAA.com. May 10, 2026. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  4. ^ "Tracking the 31 automatic qualifiers for the 2026 NCAA softball tournament". NCAA.com. May 4, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  5. ^ "2026 NCAA softball tournament: Bracket, schedule for the Women's College World Series". NCAA.com. April 20, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  6. ^ "Westwood One & NCAA Extends Basketball, Baseball & Softball Tournament Deals". radioinsight.com. March 18, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  7. ^ a b c Callahan, Katie (May 11, 2026). "Batter up: ESPN exclusively presents every pitch of the NCAA Softball Regionals on the #RoadToWCWS". espnpressroom.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  8. ^ a b Callahan, Katie (May 18, 2026). "#RoadtoWCWS continues as ESPN carries every pitch from NCAA Softball Super Regionals/". espnpressroom.com. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  9. ^ a b Callahan, Katie (May 25, 2026). "Heading to OKC! ESPN presents exclusive coverage of the NCAA Women's College World Series". espnpressroom.com. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
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