The NCAA softball tournament bracket is officially set, and the Road to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City is about to heat up. With the 2026 field looking as competitive as ever, we're breaking down which 16 teams will advance out of regionals and keep their championship dreams alive.
Can the defending champion Texas Longhorns repeat their magic? Will Jordy Frahm lead the Nebraska Cornhuskers to glory? Or will the Oklahoma Sooners reclaim their throne with a fifth title in six years? The possibilities are endless, and our experts have weighed in with their predictions for every regional showdown.
Starting with the Tuscaloosa Regional, top-seeded Alabama (49-7) faces a tricky path. They'll take on USC Upstate (36-21) first, but the real threats are Southeast Louisiana (46-14) and Belmont (40-11). The Lions stunned LSU in their own regional last season, while Bruins ace Maya Johnson—drafted No. 3 overall by the Oklahoma City Spark in the AUSL draft—is one of the nation's elite pitchers. Our panel agrees: Alabama should survive, but it won't be a walk in the park. "Keep an eye on Belmont," warns Joe Mussatto. "Johnson can change a game single-handedly."
Over in the Baton Rouge Regional, 16th-seeded LSU (37-17) hosts Akron (34-23) and Virginia Tech (46-10), plus South Alabama (32-25). The Hokies are the dark horse here, boasting a powerful lineup and pitching that can travel. "Virginia Tech has some big boppers, and their arms can win in Baton Rouge," says Jenni Carlson. With a 21-4 record on the road, the Hokies look poised to pull off the upset and punch their ticket to the next round.