Image Source: Sai Trivedi
Key Takeaways
- Northwestern softball will play its 2026 season at The Ballpark at Rosemont due to stadium renovations
- The team’s schedule includes 11 games against teams that made the NCAA tournament last year, including six Top 25 teams
- The Wildcats will face off against top-notch programs like Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Oregon
- Northwestern is returning its top eight hitters from last year’s lineup and has a strong class of newcomers
- The team’s goal is to make the NCAA tournament for the eighth straight season and continue its consistent prowess under Coach Kate Drohan
Introduction to the Season
The clock is ticking down to the start of the Northwestern softball season, and this year, the team will be playing under new lights at The Ballpark at Rosemont. Despite the change in scenery, the mission remains the same: to make the NCAA tournament for the eighth straight season and continue to demonstrate the consistent excellence that has come to define Coach Kate Drohan’s tenure at Northwestern. As Drohan’s squad prepares to take on the best in the sport, the team’s schedule has been released, featuring 11 games against teams that made the tournament last year, including six Top 25 teams. As the article notes, "playing high-level competition should only make the Wildcats even better as the season progresses."
Non-Conference Play
The Wildcats will kick off their season at the Kajikawa Classic, where they’ll face off against Texas State, Toledo, Memphis, and Arizona State. This will be a good test for the team, as they’ll be facing a variety of opponents with different levels of strength. As the article states, "how the ‘Cats fare against Texas State will be interesting to watch, since both teams finished with similar records last season." The team will then head to the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational, where they’ll face off against Texas A&M and Texas Tech, two of the top teams in the country. This will be a great opportunity for Northwestern to test itself against the best and see how it stacks up.
Conference Play
Northwestern will begin its conference play with a trip to the Pacific Northwest, where they’ll face off against Washington. The team will then head to Illinois, where they’ll take on their arch-rivals in a three-game series. As the article notes, "the ‘Cats hope to take advantage" of the Fighting Illini’s 6-15 record from last year. The team will then return to its new home at The Ballpark for two tough series against Oregon and Michigan, two of the top teams in the conference. These games will be crucial for Northwestern as it looks to establish itself as a top team in the Big Ten.
The Rest of the Schedule
After the series against Oregon and Michigan, the schedule gets a bit easier for Northwestern. The team will head to Penn State, where they’ll face off against a middle-of-the-pack team that they dominated last year. They’ll then return to The Ballpark to face off against Michigan State, whom they also crushed last year. The team will have a chance for revenge against Purdue, the team that knocked them out of the Big Ten Tournament last year, and will wrap up its regular season against Minnesota. As the article states, "improving the team’s home record would be the ultimate measure of improvement, as is consistently winning games across different levels of competition."
Conclusion
Overall, Northwestern’s schedule for the 2026 season is packed with tough games against top-notch opponents. However, with its strong returning lineup and talented newcomers, the team is well-equipped to take on the challenge. As Coach Drohan’s squad looks to make the NCAA tournament for the eighth straight season, they’ll need to be consistent and focused throughout the season. With its difficult non-conference schedule and tough conference games, Northwestern will be tested early and often. But as the article notes, "if it can succeed in those areas, there’s no telling what Drohan’s squad can accomplish in 2026."
https://www.insidenu.com/northwestern-softball/59574/northwestern-softballs-2026-schedule-analysis