The 2026 NCAA Division I softball tournament was held from May 15 through June 4, 2026, as the final part of the 2026 NCAA Division I softball season. The tournament ended with the 2026 Women's College World Series at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
Format A total of 64 teams entered 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.
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.
Bids 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.
Automatic Conference School Best finish Last appearance America EastRegionals(2015, 2025)2025 American South FloridaWCWS(2012)2025 ASUN Regionals(1986, 1987, 1988, 2007, 2014)2014 ACC Florida StateNational Champion(2018)2025 Atlantic 10 FordhamRegionals(2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022)2022 Big 12 Arizona StateNational Champion(2008, 2011)2025 Big East UConnWCWS(1993)2025 Big Sky First appearance Big South Regionals(2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2024, 2025)2025 Big Ten NebraskaWCWS Runners-Up(1985 (vacated))2025 Big WestCal State FullertonNational Champion(1986)2024 CAA Regionals(2005)2005 Conference USAJacksonville StateRegionals(1996, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017)2017 Horizon Regionals(2023)2023 Ivy League WCWS(1995, 1996)2024 MAACMaristRegionals(1996, 2006, 2013, 2016, 2023, 2025)2025 MAC First appearance MEAC Regionals(2007, 2022, 2025)2025 Missouri Valley Regionals(2025)2025 Mountain WestGrand CanyonRegionals(2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)2025 NEC First appearance Ohio Valley Regionals(2023, 2025)2025 Patriot Boston UniversityRegionals(1996, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025)2025 SEC TexasNational Champion(2025)2025 SouthernUNC GreensboroRegionals(1997, 2018, 2021, 2023)2023 SouthlandMcNeeseRegionals(1995, 2005, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023)2023 SWACRegionals(1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)2017 Summit First appearance Sun Belt South AlabamaRegionals(2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2024)2024 WAC First appearance West Coast Saint Mary's Regionals(2010, 2024) 2024
At-large 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 Conference Total Schools SEC12 Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M ACC8 Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Stanford, Virginia, Virginia Tech Big 127 Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, UCF Big Ten7 Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, UCLA, Washington, Wisconsin Sun Belt3 Marshall, South Alabama, Texas State Southland2 McNeese, Southeastern Louisiana American1 South Florida ASUN1 Stetson America East1 Binghamton Atlantic 101 Fordham Big East1 UConn Big Sky1 Idaho State Big South1 USC Upstate Big West1 Cal State Fullerton CAA1 Charleston CUSA1 Jacksonville State Horizon1 Northern Kentucky Ivy League1 Princeton MAAC1 Marist MAC1 Akron MEAC1 Howard Missouri Valley1 Belmont Mountain West1 Grand Canyon Northeast1 Wagner Ohio Valley1 Eastern Illinois Patriot1 Boston University SoCon1 UNC Greensboro SWAC1 Florida A&M Summit1 South Dakota WAC1 California Baptist West Coast1 Saint Mary's
National seeds 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.
1. Alabama
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. Nebraska
5. Arkansas
6. Florida
7. Tennessee
8. UCLA
9. Florida State
10. Georgia
11. Texas Tech
12. Duke
13. Oklahoma State
14. Oregon
15. Texas A&M
16. LSU
Regionals and Super Regionals The Regionals took place May 15–17. The Super Regionals took place May 21–24.
Tuscaloosa Super Regional
Los Angeles Super Regional
Fayetteville Super Regional
Lincoln Super Regional
Norman Super Regional
Gainesville Super Regional
Austin Super Regional
Knoxville Super Regional
Women's College World Series The Women's College World Series was held May 28 through June 4 in Oklahoma City.
Participants 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
Game results Date Game Winning team Score Losing team Winning pitcher Losing pitcher Save Notes May 28 Game 1 Texas Tech 8–0 (5) – Box score Game 2 Tennessee 6–3 Texas Sage Mardjetko (15–2) Teagan Kavan (25–6) Box score Game 3 Alabama 6–3 UCLA Jocelyn Briski (24–3) Taylor Tinsley (32–7) – Box score Game 4 Nebraska 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 eliminatedBox score Game 6 UCLA Arkansas Taylor Tinsley (33–7) – Arkansas eliminatedBox 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 eliminatedBox score Texas Tech 8–7 (9) UCLA NiJaree Canady (27–6) Taylor Tinsley (33–8) – UCLA eliminatedBox 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 eliminatedBox 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 eliminatedBox scoreFinalsJune 3 Game 1 Texas 7–3 Texas Tech Teagan Kavan (29–6) Kaitlyn Terry (24–3) – Texas 1–0 June 4 Game 2 Texas 4–1 Texas Tech Citlaly Gutierrez (11–3) NiJaree Canady (29–7) Teagan Kavan (5) Texas wins WCWS
Finals Game 1
Game 2
All-tournament Team The following players were members of the Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team. Position Player School P Jocelyn Briski Alabama NiJaree Canady Texas Tech Jordy Frahm Nebraska Teagan Kavan (MOP) Texas Taylor Tinsley UCLA INF Marlie Giles Alabama Katie Stewart Texas Mia Williams Texas Tech Jordan Woolery UCLA Jena Young Alabama OF Mihyia Davis Texas Tech UTL Kaitlyn Terry Texas Tech
Record by conference Conference# of BidsRecordWin % SEC 12 54–25 12 9 5 3 1 1 Big 12 7 23–18 6 4 1 1 1 – Big Ten 7 17–14 3 2 2 – – – ACC 8 16–18 7 1 – – – – American 1 2–2 1 – – – – – Big South 1 2–2 1 – – – – – Mountain West 1 2–2 1 – – – – – West Coast 1 2–2 1 – – – – – ASUN 1 1–2 – – – – – – Big East 1 1–2 – – – – – – Big West 1 1–2 – – – – – – Ivy League 1 1–2 – – – – – – Missouri Valley 1 1–2 – – – – – – Patriot 1 1–2 – – – – – – SoCon 1 1–2 – – – – – – Summit 1 1–2 – – – – – – Sun Belt 3 2–6 – – – – – – 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 Radio For the sixth consecutive year Westwood One will provide nationwide radio coverage of every game in the Women's College World Series.
Television 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. Broadcast assignments
Regionals Tuscaloosa: Nate Gatter & Monica Abbott Austin: Alex Loeb & Cat Osterman Norman: Lowell Galindo & Jennie Ritter Lincoln: Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, & Jessica Mendoza Fayetteville: Krista Blunk & Aleshia Ocasio Gainesville: Kevin Fitzgerald & Nicole Mendes Knoxville: Matt Schumacker & Amanda Scarborough Los Angeles: Courtney Lyle & Danielle Lawrie
Super Regionals Tuscaloosa: Eric Frede & Madison Shipman Austin: Kevin Brown, Amanda Scarborough, and Alyssa Lang Norman: Tiffany Greene & Erin Miller Thiessen Lincoln: Chuckie Kempf & Jenny Dalton-Hill
Women's College World Series Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Michele Smith & Holly Rowe (day games) Kevin Brown, Amanda Scarborough & Alyssa Lang (afternoons & night games)
Regionals Tallahassee: Clay Matvick & Raine Wilson Athens: Mark Neely & Carol Bruggeman Lubbock: Tiffany Greene & Erin Miller Thiessen Durham: Chuckie Kempf & Jenny Dalton-Hill Stillwater: Trey Bender & Natasha Watley Eugene: Mike Couzens & Kenzie Fowler College Station: Eric Frede & Madison Shipman Baton Rouge: Alex Perlman & Brittany McKinney
Super Regionals Fayetteville: Mark Neely and Carol Bruggeman