We have a packed weekend of college softball ahead of us with as many as 112 games getting played within 72 hours.
Don’t know what to look for and whom to follow? We got you covered.
Before the all action begins Friday at 11 a.m. ET, check out these storylines to follow during the NCAA softball tournament.
1. UCLA’s and Oklahoma’s historic home run battle
Oklahoma and UCLA have turned the season into a home run race for the record books. The Sooners became the fastest DI team ever to reach 100 homers, doing it in just 25 games to break its own NCAA single-season record from 2021 in April.
But UCLA caught fire late, fueled by Megan Grant’s NCAA-record 38 home runs, and surpassed the Sooners during the Big Ten tournament. Entering this weekend, UCLA leads with 182 home runs to Oklahoma’s 174.
2. Mya Perez’s on-base streak
Texas A&M’s Mya Perez stands as the only DI player to reach base safely in every game this season. Through the Aggies’ 53 games, the junior is batting .435 with 57 hits, 52 walks and a .615 OBP.
3. Dark horses to know
Earlier this week, NCAA’s Michella Chester listed her dark horses to watch in the NCAA tournament. From Belmont to Texas State and Grand Canyon, these three teams are set to shake things up in the field of 64.
4. Maya Johnson
Speaking of Belmont, the Nashville school is home to one of the best pitchers in the country. Maya Johnson has recorded over 1,000 career strikeouts and currently leads the NCAA with a 0.66 ERA.
After last season, she entered the transfer portal as one of the biggest names but decided to stay with the school that chose her first. Johnson has cemented her legacy, earning a perfect game against Missouri State to open the season and a win over a then-No. 14 Mississippi State in Starkville.
Johnson will take her team to Tuscaloosa this weekend.
7. Nebraska’s 21-game win streak
Nebraska currently holds the longest win streak in the nation, entering the NCAA tournament with 21 in a row. The Huskers are also coming off a Big Ten tournament title after defeating UCLA 7-2. With momentum on their side, will the streak continue in their matchup against South Dakota at 6:30 p.m. ET?
6. Toughest roads to the WCWS
NCAA’s Michella Chester analyzed the field and announced what she believes is the toughest path to OKC. Though Alabama and UCLA both have a case, Oregon’s regional with South Carolina and potential Super matchup against Oklahoma won out.
5. Texas title defenders
No. 3 Texas has hopped on a heater. The 2025 reigning national champions are coming off an SEC tournament title from a 7-1 win over Alabama — the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Longhorn ace Teagan Kavan has proven dominant in the circle, earning 21 wins on the season heading into the weekend.
Can they make a run and defend their title?
8. Oklahoma in OKC
The Sooners have appeared in the WCWS for nine straight years (excluding 2020), the longest streak in the nation. They have the bats and the power to do it again. OU’s lineup features seven players with double-digit home runs on the year, lead by freshman phenom Kendall Wells’ 36.
Oklahoma will host Kansas, Michigan and Binghamton in their regional with the potential to face Oregon (if top seeds remain) in Supers.
