The Wisconsin Badgers are back on the national stage. For the first time since 2022, the team has earned a spot in the NCAA Softball Tournament, and fans have plenty of reasons to be excited.

After a strong season that saw them go 32-19 overall and 14-10 in Big Ten play, the Badgers secured an at-large berth. They'll face Baylor in the first round on May 15 in Austin, Texas, with the first pitch set for 12:30 p.m. on ESPN+. Wisconsin enters as the No. 8 seed in their quadrant, making them the second-best seed in their regional behind host Texas—the reigning national champion and the No. 2 overall seed in the tournament.

This postseason run is a testament to the team's resilience. The Badgers made a deep push in the Big Ten Tournament, reaching the semifinals after an impressive upset over Oregon in the quarterfinals. (The Ducks, by the way, ended up as the No. 14 overall seed.) Baylor, meanwhile, comes in unseeded with a 28-26 record and a 10-14 mark in Big 12 play. The Bears were shut out in the quarterfinals of their conference tournament, while Texas will face Wagner on the other side of the regional bracket.

This marks Wisconsin's 10th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history and the eighth under head coach Yvette Healy, who has led the Badgers for 16 seasons. The team's last trip to the tournament in 2022 saw them finish as runners-up in the Gainesville (Florida) Regional. Overall, Wisconsin holds a 13-18 all-time record in NCAA Tournament games.

As the Badgers prepare to take the field, the excitement is palpable. The NCAA Softball Tournament kicks off with double-elimination regionals from May 15-17, followed by a best-of-three super regional format from May 21-24, and the Women's College World Series starting May 28. Whether you're cheering from the stands or representing the Badgers from home, it's time to gear up for a thrilling postseason run.