Here are five storylines to follow for the 2026 college softball season.
1. Texas Tech revamps with stacked transfer portal class
Texas Tech made it to the national championship last year and just brought in the most stacked transfer class of anyone.
They got multiple All-Americans from across the country. Kaitlyn Terry is a bonafide ace from UCLA, and Desirae Spearman is another arm to back up the best pitcher in the country in NiJaree Canady.
Spring can’t get here soon enough
— Texas Tech Softball (@TexasTechSB)
And then they have multiple bats like Mia Williams and Jasmyn Burns to back them up. In total, the transfers accounted for over 100 homers last season. The question I am excited to see play out is how the chemistry works bringing in so much talent from all over the country.
2. Will Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech dominate the rest?
It certainly feels like these three teams are far and beyond the favorites. OU brings back its loaded lineup on top of two massive transfers in the circle.
Texas will look to repeat with Teagan Kavan leading the way with most of their national championship talent back.
Then Texas Tech is absolutely stacked with the best arm in the nation. Who can compete with these three — or is it their title to battle for?
3. Who won the 2026 transfer portal?
Outside of Texas Tech, who got the biggest facelift and will see the biggest jump from the transfer portal? Is it Oregon?
The Ducks got some big-time names out of the portal like Amari Harper, Addison Amaral and Elon Butler and look to make it back to OKC.
👥 WANT MORE? Take a look at the 12 biggest transfers for the 2026 season
Texas A&M got the likes of Tallen Edwards, Micaela Wark and Taylor Pannell in the circle. Tennessee got two players that put up insane numbers in the mid-major level last year in Sophia Knight and Mackenzie Butt from Boise State. LSU and Arizona also got big boosts out of the portal.
4. Which team will have a breakthrough?
This one is one of my favorite storylines. Can teams like Nebraska, South Carolina and Clemson break through, get over the hump and make it back to the WCWS, or make it there for the first time in history for Clemson?
The Huskers are led by Jordy Bahl Frahm, and they were SO close to making it to OKC but had to face Tennessee in an epic super regional last year.
📺 WATCH: The best web gems from the WCWS from 2021-25
Last year, Clemson had to go through the eventual champs in the Texas Longhorns in the supers and fell short.
South Carolina had its best season in history and got thrust into the spotlight. But they had to go through UCLA in the supers before just barely falling short of OKC.
5. With an elite senior class, who will win POTY?
It is the year of a senior-dominated talent pool. We have been blessed with this class for the past three years, and now one of the most talented classes will play its last year.
So, who will win National Player of the Year? Last year, it was Bri Ellis. There are plenty of big bats this season like Jordan Woolery and Megan Grant at UCLA and Reese Atwood at Texas.
But this year's senior talent is mostly pitchers. NiJaree Canady in her last go-around along with Jordy Bahl Frahm, Karlyn Pickens and more.
Ms. 300 🔥
— Tennessee Softball (@Vol_Softball)
Karlyn Pickens strikes out her 300th batter of the season!
📺 ESPN
