The 2026 Big Ten softball tournament bracket is officially here, and the Wisconsin Badgers have earned a solid position. After a standout season that saw them notch 14 conference wins—the third-highest total in program history—the Badgers have secured the No. 7 seed.

Wisconsin kicks off their tournament journey against No. 10 Purdue in the first round. The Badgers have already proven their mettle against the Boilermakers this season, winning two of three games in their regular-season series. One of those victories was particularly memorable: Wisconsin erased a 6-0 deficit in the second game, marking the second-largest comeback in program history. That kind of resilience is exactly what teams need heading into postseason play.

Every game of the Big Ten tournament will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network, so fans won't miss a moment of the action. The tournament opens Wednesday, May 6, with Wisconsin's first-round matchup scheduled as the third of four games at College Park, Maryland, with a start time around 4:30 p.m. ET.

Interestingly, Maryland—the tournament host—failed to qualify despite the home-field advantage. The Terrapins' 5-19 conference record left them outside the top 12, which is required for tournament entry.

If the Badgers can get past Purdue, they'll face a much tougher challenge: No. 2 Oregon, exactly 24 hours later. The top four seeds—No. 1 Nebraska, No. 2 Oregon, No. 3 UCLA, and No. 4 Indiana—all earned first-round byes, meaning they're well-rested and ready for the competition.

Wisconsin's half of the bracket also features No. 6 Northwestern against No. 11 Penn State, with the winner taking on No. 3 UCLA. On the other side, No. 5 Washington faces No. 12 Minnesota (winner plays No. 4 Indiana), and No. 8 Ohio State takes on No. 9 Michigan (winner plays No. 1 Nebraska).

The 2026 Big Ten tournament champion will be crowned on Saturday, May 9, at 4 p.m. ET. With the Badgers riding a wave of historic success and a never-say-die attitude, this promises to be an exciting postseason run.