Growing U.S. audiences underscore softball’s expanding media footprint

With the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 approaching, softball continues to demonstrate strong growth in visibility and audience reach across the United States.

Not only will USA have hosted four WBSC Softball World Cups in the past two years by the end of this year - WBSC Women's Softball World Cup 2026/2027 Group Oklahoma City, WBSC U-15 Women's Softball World Cup 2025, WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup 2024/2025 Group Dallas, WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024/2025 Group Oklahoma - as well as the record-breaking-attended women's softball competition at The World Games 2022 in Birmingham, but media coverage of the national scene is also booming.

ESPN has announced expanded coverage of NCAA Division I college softball for the 2026 season, featuring nearly 150 games across its linear networks — ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network and ACC Network. An additional 3,100+ games will be streamed on ESPN+, SECN+ and ACCNX.

All 3,200+ games will be available to stream on the ESPN App via ESPN DTC or Pay TV authentication.

This year marks a record-setting number of games on ESPN, with 16 top matchups across the network.

The action begins with the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational – ESPN Events’ owned-and-operated softball tournament – showcasing 16 teams in 40 games over the course of four days (Feb. 12-15). Details regarding participating teams, schedule of play and commentator teams can be found here.

ESPN is once again the exclusive home of the NCAA Division I Softball postseason, from the Selection Show to every pitch of the NCAA Women’s College World Series at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Okla. (May 28-June 4/5).

WBSC Women's Softball World Cup

From 12 to 16 September, Devon Park will be the stage for the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group Oklahoma City, with world No. 2 USA; No. 5 Netherlands; No. 7 China; No. 8 Mexico; No. 26 New Zealand; and No. 37 South Africa battling for two available spots in the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2027 in Brisbane. 

The venue will also host the LA28 Olympic Games softball competition, from 23 to 29 July 2028.