The 2026 NCAA softball season is one step closer to wrapping up — the D1 tournament selection show takes place Sunday.
The biggest tournament at the collegiate level will soon be underway, with games getting started at 16 regional sites on Friday. Once regional and super regional play concludes, the remaining eight teams with make the trip to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series.
The SEC and Big 12 typically send the most programs to the Women’s College World Series, but the Big Ten is also strong this year. Last year, Texas beat out in-state rivals Texas Tech to claim the program’s first-ever national championship.
Who will go all the way this year?
Here’s everything you need to know about the NCAA softball tournament selection show, including TV channel and streaming options for the 2026 bracket reveal.
When is the NCAA softball selection show in 2026?
- Date: Sunday, May 10
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
The 2026 NCAA Softball selection show will take place on Sunday, May 10, with the bracket scheduled to be unveiled beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
What channel is the NCAA softball selection show on?
This year’s NCAA softball selection show will air on ESPN2. Cord-cutters and those without cable can stream the event on the ESPN app and fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy.
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NCAA softball bracket predictions 2026
While the bracket is still being completed, here are the top 16 teams in the most recent college softball RPI rankings, courtesy of the NCAA:
- No. 1: Arkansas
- No. 2: Alabama
- No. 3: Nebraska
- No. 4: Florida
- No. 5: Texas
- No. 6: Oklahoma
- No. 7: UCLA
- No. 8: Tennessee
- No. 9: Oregon
- No. 10: Duke
- No. 11: Georgia
- No. 12: Florida State
- No. 13: Oklahoma State
- No. 14: Texas Tech
- No. 15: LSU
- No. 16: Stanford
NCAA softball tournament format 2026
The 2026 NCAA Division I softball tournament will consist of 64 teams, which includes 32 automatic bids and 32 at-large. The selection committee will seed the top teams, 1-16, to host regional sites.
Regionals
Each of the 16 regions will include four teams facing off in a double-elimination format. Only one team from each region — 16 in total — will advance to the super regionals.
Super Regionals
The super regionals will feature two teams facing off in a best-of-three series. The winner of the 1-seed region will face off against the winner of the 16-seed region; the 2-seed will face the 15-seed, and so on. The higher-seeded team in the series will host.
In the event that two non-seeded teams face off in the super regionals, the team that won the higher-seeded regional will host.
Women’s College World Series
The final eight after the regional and super regional rounds will play in the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. The tournament will revert back to a double-elimination format, with the final two teams advancing to play a best-of-three series for the national championship.
NCAA softball tournament schedule 2026
The 2026 regional round will begin on the Friday after the softball tournament selection show and end the following Sunday. The super regionals will start Thursday, May 21, and end Sunday, May 24.
The Women’s College World Series will begin on May 28 and end on June 4 or 5, depending on whether a Game 3 is needed among the final two teams.
| Round | Dates |
| Selection show | May 10 |
| Regionals | May 15-17 |
| Super regionals | May 21-24 |
| Women’s World College Series | May 28-June 4/5 |
| WCWS finals (Best of 3) | June 3-4/5 |
Women’s World College Series TV schedule 2026
The double-elimination portion of the Women’s College World Series will take place May 28-June 2.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV |
| Thursday, May 28 | Game 1 | 12 p.m. | ESPN, fubo |
| Game 2 | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN, fubo | |
| Game 3 | 7 p.m. | ESPN2, fubo | |
| Game 4 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2, fubo | |
| Friday, May 29 | Game 5 | 7 p.m. | ESPN2, fubo |
| Game 6 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2, fubo | |
| Saturday, May 30 | Game 7 | 3 p.m. | ABC, fubo |
| Game 8 | 7 p.m. | ESPN, fubo | |
| Sunday, May 31 | Game 9 | 3 p.m. | ABC, fubo |
| Game 10 | 7 p.m. | ESPN2, fubo | |
| Monday, June 2 | Game 11 | 12 p.m. | ESPN, fubo |
| Game 12* | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN, fubo | |
| Game 13 | 7 p.m. | ESPN2, fubo | |
| Game 14* | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2, fubo |
* If necessary
When are the Women’s College World Series finals in 2026?
The last two teams standing at the conclusion of the double-elimination portion of the WCWS will play in a best-of-three series to determine the national champion, starting on Wednesday, June 3. If necessary, Game 3 will take place on Friday, June 5.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV |
| Wednesday, June 3 | Game 1 | 8 p.m. | ESPN, fubo |
| Thursday, June 4 | Game 2 | 8 p.m. | ESPN, fubo |
| Friday, June 5 | Game 3* | 8 p.m. | ESPN, fubo |
* If necessary