The Kentucky Wildcats softball team is headed back to the NCAA Tournament for the 16th consecutive season, earning an at-large bid from the Southeastern Conference and setting their sights on the Women’s College World Series, per a release from UK Athletics. Under head coach Rachel Lawson, the Wildcats will compete in the Clemson Regional, hosted by No. 11 national seed Clemson, alongside Northwestern and USC Upstate. Kentucky, the No. 2 seed in the region, opens against third-seeded Northwestern on Friday at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+, with Clemson facing USC Upstate at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Kentucky’s streak of 16 straight NCAA Tournament appearances places them among an elite group, joining just 11 other programs—Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA, and Washington—with that distinction over the past 16 years. Lawson, in her 18th season, has guided UK to the postseason in all but her debut year of 2008, cementing her legacy as one of the nation’s top coaches.
The SEC flexed its muscle in the 2025 selection, with all 14 eligible teams earning NCAA Tournament bids, a new record for the most teams from a single conference in softball championship history. Texas A&M secured the No. 1 overall seed, while nine SEC schools will host regionals, including seven top-8 seeds poised to host super regionals if they advance.
For Kentucky, the Clemson Regional marks the start of another postseason journey. With Lawson’s steady hand and a battle-tested roster, the Wildcats are ready to make noise as they chase a trip to Oklahoma City.
