The Badgers finished their softball season 33-21 (14-10 Big Ten), tied with 2025 and 2001 seasons for the third most wins in a season in program history. Wisconsin also made their first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2022 and made it to the Big Ten Tournament semifinal for the third time in program history.
The Badgers started the year 13-8 heading into conference play. UCLA swept the Badgers in a three game series early in the season. Over the next ten games, Wisconsin bounced back and went 8-2 before going 0-3 with Nebraska at home.
With twelve games left in the regular season, the Badgers went on a 9-3 run to clinch the No. 7 seed for the Big Ten Tournament.
In the first round of the tournament, Wisconsin faced No. 10 Purdue. In the last two innings of the game, the Badgers put up four unanswered runs against the Boilermakers and clinched their first Big Ten Tournament win since 2024.
In the quarterfinals, the Badgers played No. 2 Oregon, pulling off a huge upset and beating the Ducks for the first time in program history. Wisconsin scored in six of the seven innings, scoring 11 runs and securing a spot in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
Wisconsin fell to UCLA 19-5 in the semifinal, but that didn’t stop them from getting a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers earned the No. 2 seed for their regional bracket and were grouped with Baylor University, the University of Texas and Wagner College.
The Badgers opened the NCAA tournament with a walk-off win over Baylor in the ninth inning. After their impressive first win, Wisconsin fell to Texas 9-0 and later lost to Baylor, officially putting their national championship dreams to bed.
After an impressive season, head coach Yvette Healy’s five-year contract agreement was extended through June 30, 2031, holding her title at Wisconsin since 2010.
A lot of Wisconsin’s talent hails from nearby Madison. Twelve of the 22 players on the roster are Wisconsin natives and some of the biggest stars’ skills were developed locally.
The Badgers recruitment of homegrown talent has provided the team with a stable dugout in recent years. Hilary Blomberg, a Verona native, broke the record for most home runs in a single season in program history with 16 home runs in the 2026 season.
Blomberg led the team with 60 hits, 16 home runs, 51 RBIs, and a .357 batting average — with the team batting average sits at .305.
After returning to the NCAA Tournament and tying for the third-most wins in program history, Wisconsin will enter 2027 with momentum. With much of the roster returning and team chemistry at an all time high, eyes will be on the Badgers — especially Blomberg — as they enter the 2027 season.
