When, who Wisconsin softball will play in 2026 NCAA Tournament

TL;DR

Wisconsin Badgers softball team will compete in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, facing Baylor on May 15 in Austin, Texas. They earned an at-large berth and are the No. 8 seed in their quadrant.

Key points

Wisconsin Badgers softball team returns to NCAA tournament after 2022
They will face Baylor in the first round on May 15
Wisconsin is the No. 8 seed in its quadrant of the bracket

Mentioned in this story

Austin, Texas

Wisconsin BadgersBaylorNCAA softball tournament

MADISON – For the first time since 2022, the Wisconsin Badgers will be competing in the NCAA softball tournament.

The Badgers earned an at-large berth and will face Baylor in the first round on May 15 in Austin, Texas, the NCAA revealed on May 10. The first game will be at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN+.

UW is the No. 8 seed in its quadrant of the bracket and has the second-best seed in its regional behind host Texas – the No. 1 seed in its part of the bracket, the No. 2 national overall seed and the reigning national champion.

Wisconsin earned its spot in the tournament after going 32-19 overall and 14-10 in Big Ten play. The Badgers reached the Big Ten semifinals after upsetting Oregon in the quarterfinals. (The Ducks ended up being the No. 14 overall seed.)

Jaclyn Showalter of the Wisconsin softball team drives a ball against Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament on May 6, 2026. Showalter homered against the Boilermakers to tie the game and added another blast in an upset of Oregon one day later.

Q&A

When will Wisconsin softball play Baylor in the 2026 NCAA Tournament?

Wisconsin softball will play Baylor on May 15, 2026, at 12:30 p.m.

What seed is Wisconsin in the 2026 NCAA softball tournament?

Wisconsin is the No. 8 seed in its quadrant of the NCAA softball tournament.

How did Wisconsin softball qualify for the 2026 NCAA Tournament?

Wisconsin earned an at-large berth after finishing the season with a 32-19 overall record and 14-10 in Big Ten play.