Alabama Softball Awarded 15 Seed in NCAA Tournament; Bracket
When the NCAA Softball Tournament field was officially announced Sunday evening, the Alabama Crimson Tide found themselves slotted as the No. 15 national seed, securing the right to host a regional in Tuscaloosa. The selection committee’s decision comes after a season of ups and downs for the Tide, who once again proved they are a postseason mainstay under head coach Patrick Murphy.
Despite facing one of the toughest schedules in the country, Alabama’s body of work was enough to convince the selection committee they deserved a coveted top-16 seed and the chance to play in front of the home faithful at Rhoads Stadium. It marks Alabama’s 18th consecutive year hosting an NCAA regional and the program’s 25th straight appearance in the national tournament.
The 2025 Crimson Tide softball team is not like the dominant squads of years past, but in many ways, their journey might be even more admirable. Injuries, offensive inconsistency, and fierce SEC competition tested the Tide repeatedly throughout the season. However, thanks to veteran leadership, clutch pitching, and just enough timely hitting, Alabama weathered the storm to post a strong enough resume.
Alabama finished the regular season with a 39–16 overall record and 13–11 in SEC play. Their résumé includes wins over top-10 opponents like LSU and Tennessee, and they reached the semifinals of the SEC Tournament before falling to eventual champion Florida.
What stood out to the committee was the strength of schedule. Alabama faced 21 games against top-25 teams, one of the most in the country, and while they didn’t win them all, the Tide proved they could compete with anyone.
“We’re battle-tested,” Murphy said after the selection show. “No matter who we face, we’ve already seen that level of competition. Hosting a regional is huge for us, and now we need to take advantage of it.”
As the No. 15 seed, Alabama draws the opportunity to host three other teams in a double-elimination format this coming weekend. Joining the Crimson Tide in the Tuscaloosa Regional are:
- Clemson Tigers (ACC at-large)
- Jacksonville State Gamecocks (ASUN Champion)
- Arizona Wildcats (Pac-12 at-large)
This is no cakewalk. Clemson, despite a midseason slump, boasts one of the nation’s most talented pitchers in Valerie Cagle. Arizona is a perennial powerhouse, and Jacksonville State earned its way in by winning its conference tournament.
Alabama vs. Jacksonville State will be the opening matchup for the Tide on Friday, while Clemson and Arizona square off in what could be one of the most intriguing matchups of the entire regional round.
Murphy emphasized the challenge of the regional field. “Every one of these teams can beat you if you’re not sharp. There are no easy outs this time of year.”
Being seeded 15th means Alabama would be paired with the No. 2 national seed in the Super Regionals—Oklahoma Sooners, if both teams advance. The Sooners have been the standard in college softball for the past half-decade, winning four of the last five national championships.
While a rematch with Oklahoma in Norman is a daunting prospect, Alabama players are not shying away from the challenge.
“We want to play the best,” said senior outfielder Bailey Dowling. “We’ve been through too much this season to back down now. If it’s Oklahoma, bring it on.”
If the Tide can survive their regional and then somehow knock off Oklahoma in the Super Regionals, it would be one of the most significant upsets in program history. But before looking ahead, Alabama must take care of business in Tuscaloosa.
Montana Fouts 2.0? No, But Close: With legendary pitcher Montana Fouts having graduated, Alabama’s circle leadership transitioned to junior Alex Salter and freshman phenom Emma Broadfoot. Salter brings experience and poise, while Broadfoot, despite her youth, possesses elite velocity and a rising-change that has baffled even the best hitters in the SEC.
Salter holds a 2.13 ERA and 132 strikeouts, while Broadfoot has emerged with a sub-2.00 ERA over her last eight appearances.
Bailey Dowling: A cornerstone of the Alabama lineup, Dowling led the team in home runs (11) and RBIs (41). She’s been clutch in big moments and will be vital if Alabama is to score enough runs to advance.
Kenleigh Cahalan: The sophomore shortstop is a dynamo on both sides of the ball. She’s hitting .312 and provides invaluable defense up the middle.
Larissa Preuitt and Marlie Giles: Both provide depth and speed in the outfield. If Preuitt gets on base, she’s a threat to steal and disrupt defenses.
Alabama has one of the most passionate and knowledgeable fanbases in college softball, and Rhoads Stadium is often cited as one of the toughest places to play. When the crowd gets going, it energizes the team and rattles opponents. That home-field advantage cannot be overstated.
The Tide went 26–4 at home this season, including series wins over Kentucky, Auburn, and Ole Miss.
“There’s nothing like playing in Tuscaloosa,” said Murphy. “Our fans give us energy. They’re a real part of this team.”
- No. 1 Seed: Texas Longhorns. Texas dominated the Big 12 and boast arguably the most complete team in the country.
- Top SEC Seeds: Tennessee (4), Florida (5), and LSU (6) earned national seeds. The SEC leads all conferences with 11 bids.
- Snubs and Surprises: Some pundits were surprised to see Alabama receive a top-16 seed over teams like Northwestern and Washington, but the Tide’s RPI and strength of schedule likely tipped the scales.
- Pac-12 Watch: With the Pac-12 dissolving soon, this year’s bracket is the end of an era. UCLA, Arizona, and Stanford are all postseason bound, marking the conference’s last hurrah.
If Alabama is to make it back to Oklahoma City, a few things must go right:
- Solid Pitching Rotation: Salter and Broadfoot need to be at their best. Pitching and defense win in the postseason.
- Avoid the Elimination Bracket: Falling into the loser’s bracket early in the regional would be devastating. Alabama must win Friday and stay on the winner’s side to avoid fatigue.
- Offensive Consistency: The Tide cannot afford long scoring droughts. Dowling, Cahalan, and Giles must produce.
- Smart Base Running: Manufacturing runs through aggressive but smart base running will be crucial.
If they can survive the regional, they’ll likely meet Oklahoma in the Super Regionals—a matchup that would pit two of the sport’s most storied programs against each other for a ticket to the Women’s College World Series.
Given the injuries, inconsistent bats, and stiff SEC competition, many programs would have crumbled. But Alabama didn’t. Murphy’s steady leadership and the team’s resilience kept them not only afloat but thriving.
While Alabama may not enter the NCAA Tournament as a favorite, they enter it as a dangerous underdog with the pedigree and talent to make a run. And perhaps most importantly, they get to start that journey at home.
The Crimson Tide’s No. 15 seed is both a reward for surviving a brutal SEC gauntlet and a challenge to prove they belong among the game’s elite. Hosting a regional gives Alabama a golden opportunity to make another deep tournament run—and potentially shake up the bracket by knocking off one of the sport’s current juggernauts.
“There’s something special about this team,” Murphy said. “They’ve been through it. They’ve earned this moment. Now we go see what we’re made of.”
With the home crowd behind them and momentum beginning to build, Alabama softball begins its postseason journey with everything to gain and nothing to lose. And in May, that’s a dangerous formula.
