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 they're ready to make some noise.
Here's the breakdown: The Badgers secured an at-large berth and will face the Baylor Bears in the first round on Thursday, May 15, in Austin, Texas. First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m. CT, and you can catch all the action on ESPN+.
Wisconsin enters as the No. 8 seed in its quadrant of the bracket, making them the second-best seed in the regional. The top spot belongs to host Texas, who is not only the No. 1 seed in this part of the bracket but also the No. 2 overall national seed and the reigning national champion. That's a tough draw, but the Badgers have proven they can compete with the best.
How did they get here? Wisconsin posted a solid 32-19 overall record and went 14-10 in Big Ten play. They really turned heads in the Big Ten Tournament, where they pulled off an upset against Oregon—who ended up as the No. 14 overall seed—before falling in the semifinals. That performance was enough to impress the selection committee.
On the other side of the diamond, Baylor comes in unseeded with a 28-26 overall record and a 10-14 mark in Big 12 play. The Bears were shut out in the quarterfinals of their conference tournament, so they'll be looking to bounce back. Meanwhile, Texas will face Wagner in the other first-round matchup on the regional bracket.
This tournament appearance marks the 10th in program history and the eighth under head coach Yvette Healy, who has built a consistently competitive program over her 16-year tenure. The Badgers last made the tournament in 2022, when they finished as the runner-up in the Gainesville (Florida) Regional. All-time, Wisconsin holds a 13-18 record in NCAA Tournament games.
The NCAA Softball Tournament kicks off with double-elimination regionals running from May 15-17. The winners advance to a best-of-three super regional format from May 21-24, with the ultimate prize—the Women's College World Series—starting on May 28.
Whether you're a longtime fan or just getting into the game, this is the perfect time to gear up. Show your Badgers pride with some fresh Wisconsin softball apparel and get ready for a thrilling postseason run. Let's go, Badgers!