Alabama softball secures No. 1 overall seed in NCAA Tournament, learns regional opponents
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Alabama didn’t win the SEC Tournament trophy it wanted to on Saturday, losing to Texas.
But the powerhouse Crimson Tide only had to wait 24 hours to cheer again. Because when the NCAA softball tournament brackets were revealed on Sunday, Alabama was the No. 1 overall seed as the Tide pursue their first national championship since winning their only crown in 2012.
It’s the first time in 16 years that Alabama is the No. 1 overall seed. If the Crimson Tide follow through on their perch atop the NCAA softball draw in 2026, they will get some extended home cooking. That’s because the top overall seed not only hosts a regional but also a super regional, if Alabama advances past the regional, of course.
Naturally, there was a watch party for the Alabama players on Sunday, giving them a chance to celebrate what they achieved so far this season. The Tide steamrolled their way to a 49-7 record, suffering that seventh loss on Saturday in a 7-1 setback against Texas in the SEC Tournament title game in Lexington.
When Alabama heard its name called on the ESPN selection show, the celebration was on in earning that No. 1 overall seed. The Tide hope it’s far from their last celebration this spring.
But challenges await and will come immediately in the regional in Tuscaloosa. That regional field includes USC Upstate (36-21), SE Louisiana (46-14) and Belmont (40-11), which just happens to feature star pitcher Maya Johnson. That means the Tide could potentially have to face Johnson, who is 27-2 this season with a nation-leading 0.66 ERA.
The Tuscaloosa Regional will be a double-elimination format, starting on Friday and ending on Sunday, with SEC Network covering all the action.
This will be Alabama’s 27th straight NCAA Tournament appearance and the 21st straight season that the Tide will be hosting a regional. Bama has advanced to the Women’s College World Series 15 times, winning that lone national title in 2012.
Later this week, the work begins toward a potential second national crown for the Crimson Tide.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
