Official NCAA Division III Tournament Bracket

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The NCAA selection committee released the bracket for the 2026 NCAA Division III Softball Championships on Monday morning with the Northwest Conference Regular Season Champion Pacific Lutheran University softball team heading to a familiar location, going to the four-team regional in McMinnville, Oregon. 

The 22nd-ranked Lutes (34-10, 24-4) will head to NWC rival Linfield University and Del Smith Stadium for the four-team double-elimination regional set to begin on Thursday. PLU will face fellow at-large qualifier Transylvania University (Ky.) in the opening game. The other side of the regional will have NWC Tournament Champion and host Linfield taking on Atlantic East Conference Champion Marymount University (Va.). 

PLU's opening opponent Transylvania enters the tournament with a 35-11 record and a 13-5 mark in Heartland Collgaite Athletic Conference play. The Pioneers earned an at-large bid after advancing to the title game of the HCAC Tournament. Fifth-ranked Linfield serves as host and enters the tournament with a 37-6 overall record with a 22-6 record in NWC action, and enters the NCAA Regional on a seven-game win streak. The Wildcats opening opponent— Marymount — boasts a 24-17 overall record and an 11-1 record in AEC play. The Saints punched a ticket to the NCAAs after defeating Neumann University 2-1 in the AEC Tournament Championship Game. 

This is PLU's seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and the program's 17th overall appearance at a national tournament. The Lutes last made the NCAA Tournament in 2012, winning the national title that season while also qualifying for the tournament in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. Pacific Lutheran has also made 10 appearances at the NAIA National Tournament, qualifying in 1997, 1996, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, and 1986, including winning NAIA National Titles in both 1988 and 1992. 

Game times on Thursday will be officially announced later today.