TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama softball was announced as the No. 1 overall national seed during Sunday evening’s 2026 NCAA Softball Tournament selection show, securing the Crimson Tide’s 27th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and its 21st straight season as a top 16 national seed.
The Crimson Tide will welcome Southeastern Louisiana, Belmont and USC Upstate to the Tuscaloosa Regional, which begins Friday, May 15 at Rhoads Stadium. Alabama opens against USC Upstate Friday at 12 p.m. CT on SEC Network with Southeastern Louisiana and Belmont following at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Alabama has qualified for the NCAA Tournament every season since 1999, Patrick Murphy‘s first year as the Tide’s head coach, and has also earned a top 16 national seed every season since the current postseason format was adopted in 2005.
From Head Coach Patrick Murphy
“I never take it for granted. [Former Alabama gymnastics coach] Sarah Patterson told me that whenever you see Alabama show up on that screen, you are filled with gratitude. This is 27 in a row, and this feels just as good as the first one. When we beat Florida State twice in Tallahassee way back in week three, I think it gave everyone a jolt of confidence. We’ve just continued it throughout the season. The competition is what has driven this team.”
Alabama Softball NCAA Tournament Superlatives
- Alabama has qualified for the NCAA Tournament every season since 1999, which was Patrick Murphy‘s first year as head coach
- The Crimson Tide has been a top 16 national seed every year since the current postseason format was adopted in 2005
- This year is the second time Alabama has been a No. 1 overall seed, previously doing so in 2010
- Alabama owns a 74-12 (.860) record in NCAA Regional play, including a 67-6 (.918) mark at Rhoads Stadium
- Under the current postseason format, the Tide has won 19 of its 20 Regional rounds it has played at home, including 17 undefeated weekends
