NBA
NBPA releases player ratings of officials and no, Scott Foster isn't in the bottom tier
NBPA releases player ratings of NBA referees; Scott Foster avoids bottom tier.
Yahoo Sports1 min read
SportsPreview
NCAA Softball Tournament bracket prediction for Gainesville Regional
TL;DR
The Florida softball team, seeded No. 6, will host the Gainesville Regional with Texas State, Florida A&M, and Georgia Tech. Predictions favor Florida to win and advance to the Women's College World Series.
Key points
- Florida softball team earned a No. 6 seed
- Gators finished regular season with a 48-10 record
- Gainesville Regional features Texas State, Florida A&M, and Georgia Tech
- Texas State is the second seed after beating ranked teams
- Florida A&M is in the tournament for the first time since 2017
Florida GatorsTexas State BobcatsFlorida A&M RattlersGeorgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The Florida softball team earned a No. 6 seed after finishing the regular-season schedule with a tidy 48-10 overall record while finishing third place in the SEC with a 17-7 mark. As a result, the Gators will host the Gainesville Regional this weekend, which also features the Texas State Bobcats, Florida A&M Rattlers and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Texas State earned the second seed in the Gainesville Regional after beating three of the six ranked teams it faced in 2026. Florida A&M was the winner of the SWAC Tournament and is in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017.
Georgia Tech is the returner of this regional, having come back to Gainesville for the third time in five years. The Yellow Jackets have already been to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium this season, losing to the Gators twice in the Florida Classic.
Ahead of clay diamond action, a pair of USA TODAY Sports writers submitted their predictions for the first bracket in the trip to the Women's College World Series. Austin Curtright picked Florida to emerge victorious from its home field.
"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," he offered.
The other projections came from Mitchell Northam, who said, "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."
So it looks like the Orange and Blue are unsurprisingly favored to advance to the Super Regionals, which will take place from May 21-24. But they cannot count their chickens before they hatch — first, Tim Walton's team has to prevail on the clay diamond.
Florida's first game of the regional is set for Friday at 11 a.m. ET against Florida A&M, which can be watched on the SEC Network. If the Gators prevail in Gainesville, they will face the winner of the Lubbock Regional hosted by the 11th-seeded Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Q&A
What teams are competing in the Gainesville Regional of the NCAA Softball Tournament?
The teams competing in the Gainesville Regional are Florida, Texas State, Florida A&M, and Georgia Tech.
What is Florida's seed and record heading into the NCAA Softball Tournament?
Florida is the No. 6 seed with a 48-10 overall record and a 17-7 mark in the SEC.
Who are the predicted favorites to win the Gainesville Regional?
Predictions favor Florida to win the Gainesville Regional and advance to the Women's College World Series.
