The NCAA Softball Tournament may see unseeded teams causing upsets in 2026, following recent trends where non-hosts advanced to the Super Regionals. Mississippi's success last season highlights the potential for surprises in the tournament.
Key points
Unseeded teams advanced to Super Regionals last season
Mississippi upset teams to reach Women's College World Series
No unseeded teams reached WCWS from 2013-2019
Six unseeded teams reached final eight since 2021
Recent conference tournament upsets include Arizona State and Georgia
Four non-regional hosts advanced to the Super Regionals last season at the NCAA Softball Tournament. How many — if any — will upset a host team in 2026?
There were no unseeded teams to reach the Women's College World Series from 2013-19, although there have been six teams to reach the final eight in Oklahoma City since 2021. Mississippi was the latest team to upset its way to the WCWS, taking down No. 13 Arizona and No. 4 Arkansas last season.
There were already some upsets in conference tournaments, too. Arizona State blanked regional host Texas Tech 4-0 in the Big 12 Tournament title game, and then-No. 1 Oklahoma was upset by Georgia in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.
Louisiana-Lafayette and James Madison are the most-recent Cinderella teams to make real runs at the Women's College World Series despite being unseeded. Will there be another in 2026?
Here's a look at our predictions for unseeded teams that can upset a regional this season:
NCAA Softball Tournament predictions: Who can upset a regional?
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech was one of the first teams left out of the top 16 by the NCAA selection committee, and will be looking to prove it wrong after falling to Florida State in ACC Tournament final. It heads to the Baton Rouge Regional, where it's lined up with No. 16-seeded LSU, the final national seed.
The ACC was disrespected by the NCAA, with FSU and Duke being the only national seed picks, neither of which will host Super Regionals as a top-eight seed, should they get there barring upsets in their respective opposing brackets. Virginia Tech went 46-10 on the season and defeated teams like South Carolina, Georgia and Duke along its way.
Q&A
Which unseeded teams are predicted to upset in the 2026 NCAA Softball Tournament?
The article discusses potential unseeded teams that could spring surprises, but specific teams are not named.
What is the history of unseeded teams in the NCAA Softball Tournament?
From 2013-2019, no unseeded teams reached the Women's College World Series, but six have made it to the final eight since 2021.
What recent upsets occurred in NCAA Softball conference tournaments?
Arizona State defeated regional host Texas Tech 4-0, and Georgia upset then-No. 1 Oklahoma in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.
How many unseeded teams reached the Super Regionals last season?
Four unseeded teams advanced to the Super Regionals in the last NCAA Softball Tournament.
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The Strength of Schedule for some ACC teams was weak this season due to conference play, but Virginia Tech has shown it can play with some big dogs this season. With a lineup that ranks fifth nationally in batting average (.355), and a pitching staff that ranks 17th in ERA (2.64), the Hokies will be a tough out.
Next up: vs. Akron (Baton Rouge Regional)
Arizona State
Arizona State proved it can punch up when shutting out Texas Tech 4-0 in the Big 12 championship game on Saturday, May 9.
Ace Kenzie Brown pitched seven shutout innings against the Red Raiders while only allowing two hits. Perhaps even more impressive was the Sun Devils' run to the Big 12 title game in general, as they defeated ranked opponents Arizona and Oklahoma State in their path.
Arizona State is hot entering the NCAA Softball Tournament, and with an elite arm like Brown, it could upset its way to Oklahoma City.
Next up: vs. McNeese (Bryan-College Station Regional)
Mississippi State
Mississippi State has a talented roster, but was the first SEC team off the top-16 rankings after going 9-15 during conference play in the loaded league. The Bulldogs have shown to be capable of taking down some top-tier opponents, though.
MSU has wins over Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas and LSU this season. Its weak nonconference slate brought it down to No. 65 in Strength of Schedule, despite playing in the SEC.
The Bulldogs don't have the most electric offense, but their one-two punch of pitchers Peja Goold (2.12 ERA in 142 innings) and Alyssa Faircloth (2.51 ERA in 153 and 1/3 innings), can carry them through the Eugene Regional hosted by No. 14 Oregon.
Next up: vs. Idaho State (Eugene Regional)
Stanford
Stanford narrowly missed on a regional hosting bid, but the Cardinal are headed to Stillwater, where they'll face No. 13 Oklahoma State.
The two teams have some history this season, too. Stanford defeated Oklahoma State 4-2 in its season opener, before taking down OSU again in a 10-0 5-inning run-rule. The two programs are pretty evenly matched, with Oklahoma State ranked No. 13 in RPI, compared to Stanford's No. 17.
Stanford's Taryn Kern is one of the best hitters in the country, and she'll look to anchor an offense against Big 12 co-Pitcher of the Year Ruby Meylen, an absolute ace in the circle for the Cowgirls.
Next up: vs. Princeton (Stillwater Regional)
Belmont
Here's a bit of a long shot. While the Bruins are the No. 3 team in the Tuscaloosa Regional against top-seeded Alabama, they have something most teams of their capability don't in ace pitcher Maya Johnson.
Johnson, the No. 3 overall pick of the 2026 AUSL Draft, leads the country with a 0.66 ERA this season, along with a nation-leading 381 strikeouts in 201 innings. The senior left-hander struck out 13 or more batters in five consecutive starts to end the season and has three no-hitters on the year, and also struck out double-digit batters in all but four starts this season, two of which only went five innings due to run-rules.
Johnson has dominated SEC teams this season, too. She allowed one run and struck out 12 against Georgia early in the season, and also gave up no earned runs with 11 strikeouts against Tennessee in nonconference play. It won't be easy, as Belmont has to get through Southeastern Louisiana first, but the Bruins will go as far as Johnson takes them.
Next up: vs. Southeastern Louisiana (Tuscaloosa Regional)