NCAA Softball Tournament regional picks: Predicting all 16 winners

May 11, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

The full 64 team bracket for the NCAA Softball Tournament in 2026 has been set, with 16 regionals getting underway on Friday, May 15. Which eight teams will advance and earn Women's College World Series spots in 2026?

Four unseeded teams upset their way to regional wins in 2025, with Mississippi reaching the WCWS. A few teams are top candidates to take down a regional host in 2026.

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The SEC put nine teams in the top 16 seeds, including the top three with Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma, respectively. Regional host snubs Stanford, Virginia Tech and Arizona State could also all be tough outs.

Here are USA TODAY Sports' winner predictions for all sixteen regionals of the 2026 NCAA Softball Tournament:

NCAA Softball Tournament predictions: Regional winner picks

Tuscaloosa Regional

(1) Alabama (49-7) vs. USC Upstate (36-21)
Southeastern Louisiana (46-14) vs. Belmont (40-11)

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY: Alabama. While the Crimson Tide get a decently tough regional with Southeastern Louisiana and Maya Johnson-led Belmont, the Crimson Tide have too much offensive firepower, along with a pitching duo in SEC Pitcher of the Year Jocelyn Briski and Vic Moten that's capable of battling in low-scoring affair.
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY: Alabama. It would be really fun to see Maya Johnson steer her Belmont team into the Super Regionals, but this Crimson Tide team is just too good.

Baton Rouge Regional

(16) LSU (37-17) vs. Akron (34-23)
Virginia Tech (46-10) vs. South Alabama (32-25)

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY: Virginia Tech. I'm taking the Hokies to upset LSU in the Baton Rouge Regional, as Virginia Tech's offense matches up well with the Tigers' pitching staff. Virginia Tech had a real case to host a regional, but ends up against the lowest-ranked host in LSU.
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY: Virginia Tech. The Hokies are 6-0 on the road against teams from the SEC this season, including road sweeps of NCAA Tournament teams in Georgia and South Carolina. After being seeded one spot out of hosting rights, and after losing a one-run game to Florida State for the ACC title, Virginia Tech will likely be playing with a chip on their shoulder.

Austin Regional

(2) Texas (42-10)
Baylor (28-26)
Wisconsin (32-19)
Wagner (22-26)

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY: Texas. The Longhorns are playing some of the best softball in the country, led ace pitcher Teagan Kavan, the reigning Most Outstanding Player at the WCWS. Kavan rises to the occasion, made evident by her 12 strikeouts against Alabama in the SEC championship.
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY: The first stop on the Longhorns’ road back to Oklahoma City seems pretty easy. It’s hard to imagine Baylor, Wisconsin or Wagner seriously threatening Texas.

Bryan-College Station Regional

(15) Texas A&M (36-17)
Arizona State (41-16)
McNeese (40-20)
UConn (31-26)

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY: Arizona State. Kenzie Brown is capable of leading the Sun Devils to the WCWS. The senior pitcher held a 2.29 ERA this season and shut out Texas Tech in the Big 12 Tournament final, tossing a complete game with nine strikeouts. ASU is a team to watch this postseason.
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY: Arizona State. The Sun Devils are one of the hottest teams heading into the NCAA Tournament, having won six in a row and 10 of their last 13 games. The Big 12 champs are playing with nothing to lose, while host Texas A&M might be on edge after being upset last season.

Norman Regional

(3) Oklahoma (48-8)
Michigan (34-20)
Kansas (35-19)
Binghamton (20-25)

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY: Oklahoma. I would not want to face the Sooners off a disappointing loss. Oklahoma was upset by Georgia in the SEC Tournament, despite being the regular season champion in the conference. Coach Patty Gasso will have one of the most-feared lineups in the sport ready to go for the postseason.
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY: Oklahoma. Powered by freshman catcher Kendall Wells’ big bat, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario where one of the sport’s iconic programs doesn’t advance to the supers this year.

Eugene Regional

(14) Oregon (40-12)
Mississippi State (38-18)
Saint Mary's (40-14)
Idaho State (37-18)

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY: Oregon. The Ducks will have a tough test against SEC foe Mississippi State, but ultimately come out on top thanks to Lyndsey Grein's leadership in the circle.
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY: Mississippi State. The SEC sure looks like the best conference in college softball and the Bulldogs — with the eighth-best ERA in the sport at 2.24 — have the potential to upset host Oregon here.

Lincoln Regional

(4) Nebraska (46-6)
Grand Canyon (52-8)
Louisville (44-12)
South Dakota (20-34-1)

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY: Nebraska. The Cornhuskers have Jordy Frahm, and their three opponents in the Lincoln Regional don't. Nebraska advances to the Super Regionals with ease.
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY: Nebraska. One team in this regional has Jordy Frahm and the others do not. It’s that simple.

Stillwater Regional

(13) Oklahoma State (38-15)
Stanford (37-13)
Princeton (33-13)
Eastern Illinois (36-21)

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY: Oklahoma State. Big 12 co-Pitcher of the Year Ruby Meylen is outstanding, and the Cowboys have reached five of the last six Women's College World Series. OSU and coach Kenny Gajewski have enough experience to move on, although Stanford will be a tough test.
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY: Stanford. The Cardinal had won 15 games in a row before running into Florida State’s buzzsaw in the ACC Tournament. Count on Stanford to bounce back after it got shut out for the first time this season.

Fayetteville Regional

(5) Arkansas (42-11)
South Florida (42-15)
Washington (36-18)
Fordham (27-26)

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY: Arkansas. The Razorbacks are No. 1 in RPI for a reason, as they have a slew of big-time wins, including a 2-1 mark against Oklahoma on the road this season. Arkansas takes the Fayetteville Regional, even if Washington is capable of causing some chaos.
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY: Arkansas. The Razorbacks rank in the top 20 nationally in on-base percentage and total runs scored. Count on Arkansas’ offense to shine when the lights are bright this weekend.

Durham Regional

(12) Duke (39-14)
Arizona (35-16)
Marshall (37-17)
Howard (28-17)

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY: Arizona. Duke and Arizona both struggle in the circle, but both teams sure can score. The Blue Devils and Wildcats will boast one of the most electric matchups this postseason, should they face off for a regional, but ultimately I trust Arizona's pitching a bit more than Duke's.
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY: Duke. The Blue Devils were upset at home by Georgia in last season’s regionals and they’ll be aiming to avoid making the same mistakes. Duke this season is eighth nationally in batting average with a .354 mark.

Gainesville Regional

(6) Florida (48-10)
Texas State (38-20)
Georgia Tech (30-27)
Florida A&M (32-20)

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY: Florida. The Gators get an easy draw in the Gainesville Regional, and cruise to the Super Regionals, where they'll likely face No. 11 Texas Tech and feared pitcher NiJaree Canady.
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY: Texas State is a formidable opponent in this regional, but the Gators have one of the best offenses in the country and they should be able to lean on their success at the plate in the Swamp.

Lubbock Regional

(11) Texas Tech (52-6)
Mississippi (34-24)
Boston University (46-13)
Marist (37-19)

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY: Texas Tech. The Red Raiders feels slighted after its No. 11 seed selection and advances to the Super Regional with ease. Kaitlyn Terry and NiJaree Canady in the circle are too much for their opponents.
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY: Texas Tech. Led by NiJaree Canady, this Texas Tech team simply has too much talent to not advance to supers.

Knoxville Regional

(7) Tennessee (42-10)
Viriginia (38-13)
Indiana (42-14)
Northern Kentucky (26-23)

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY: Tennessee. The Vols might just have the best pitching staff in the country, and they'll carry them through at least the Knoxville Regional and likely farther.
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY: Tennessee. Led by No. 1 overall AUSL Draft pick Karlyn Pickens, the Lady Vols have one of the best pitching staffs in the sport, which should power them into the supers.

Athens Regional

(10) Georgia (38-18)
Clemson (32-20)
UNC Greensboro (42-17)
Charleston (30-28)

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY: Georgia. The Bulldogs have some impressive wins this season against regional hosts Oklahoma, Nebraska, Arkansas and Duke. The Bulldogs will get past Clemson, although the Tigers run-ruled Georgia earlier this season.
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY: Georgia. The Bulldogs are batting .355 as a team this season, which is tied for fifth best in the country. Georgia’s bats should carry it into the supers.

Los Angeles Regional

(8) UCLA (47-8)
South Carolina (30-26)
Cal State Fullerton (40-13)
California Baptist (43-17)

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY: UCLA. The Bruins barely escaped South Carolina in the Super Regionals last season, but their offense is way too much for most teams to handle. Megan Grant continues to slug home runs in Los Angeles.
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY: UCLA. As long as Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery stay hot at the plate, the Bruins are going to be difficult to beat.

Tallahassee Regional

(9) Florida State (49-8)
Central Florida (38-16-1)
Jacksonville State (45-14)
Stetson (36-20)

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY: Florida State. While UCF is a sneaky-tough out, FSU and coach Lonni Alameda are too experienced. Give me the Seminoles.
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY: Florida State. The ACC champs have a pretty manageable path to the super regionals. FSU ranks inside the top 20 nationally in both ERA and batting average.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA Softball Tournament regional picks: Predicting all 16 winners

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