History was rewritten on the diamond this weekend, and UCLA senior Megan Grant is the one holding the pen. With one mighty swing, she shattered a 31-year-old NCAA Division I softball home run record that many thought would stand forever.
On Saturday, facing Nebraska in the Big Ten championship game, Grant launched her 38th home run of the 2026 season—a towering blast to deep left-center field that cleared the previous single-season mark of 37, set way back in 1995 by Arizona's Laura Espinoza. What makes the feat even more impressive? Grant did it in just 55 games, a full 17 fewer than Espinoza needed.
The moment was pure magic. As the ball sailed over the fence, the UCLA dugout erupted, and Grant's teammates mobbed her at home plate. It's the kind of highlight that will be replayed for years, and it caps off a remarkable season for a player who also helped the Bruins win the 2026 NCAA basketball championship. Yes, she's that kind of athlete.
Mike Candrea, who coached Espinoza at Arizona, had nothing but respect for the new record holder. "Records are made to be broken," he told The Athletic. "It's a pretty phenomenal record to be able to break, so tip my hat off." High praise from a legendary coach.
Grant's record-breaking homer wasn't just a personal milestone—it also pushed UCLA's team home run total to 182 for the season. Just a day earlier, the Bruins had already made history by surpassing the previous team record of 161 homers, set in 2021, during their Big Ten tournament semifinal win over Wisconsin. This team is swinging for the fences, literally.
For Grant, the journey to the record books has been a steady climb. She tied UCLA's single-season record holder, Stacey Nuveman, with her 31st homer on April 18 against Cal, then surpassed her on April 24 against Washington. Now, she's in a class of her own—at least for this season. Grant and Nuveman remain the only Bruins to hit at least 80 career homers, with Nuveman's program record of 90 still in sight. Grant currently sits at 85, with plenty of time to add to that total.
"When I first came into college, I wanted to put myself in the books as one of the best, and I didn't really know how to at the time," Grant told reporters after the game. "But throughout my career, just more and more has gone on, and to be able to do that, it's just surreal. I am just so grateful for the opportunity I was blessed with, and to follow the people that were before me. It's just an honor."
While Nebraska ultimately took the Big Ten title with a 7-2 win on Saturday, the day belonged to Grant and her historic swing. She joins senior teammate Jordan Wooler as a key pillar of this powerhouse UCLA team, and with the NCAA tournament ahead, the Bruins—and their record-breaking slugger—are far from done.