University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Memphis Softball Reveals Spring 2026 Slate
Dec 04, 2025 | Softball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis softball head coach Trena Prater announced the full spring schedule Thursday morning.
"I am excited to share what our road map for this season is going to look like," said Prater. "I am not one to shy away from a challenge, and our schedule is a direct reflection of that. We are going on the road to play at some of the top softball schools in the country and we are also bringing historically great Power Four teams to play us at our house. My job is to win championships, and I believe that you have to beat the best to be the best. In my opinion, our preseason tournaments and midweek game opponents arguably make this schedule one of the toughest schedules in Memphis softball history."
Memphis' 56-game schedule features a total of 11 teams that made it to an NCAA Regional in 2025, including two teams that reached the Women's College World Series. Over half of Memphis' 2026 schedule will be played at Tigers Softball Complex, including the reintroduction of the Blues City Invitational, which was absent during the 2025 campaign.
The Tigers will play a total of 10 games against teams from a Power Four conference, including six games against teams from the Southeastern Conference. The 10 games against Power conference opponents are tied for the most in a season in program history, with the only other instance being the 2019 season.
"It is my mission to move this program from the bottom of the conference to the top," Prater remarked about the increased level of competition. "I built this schedule to help prepare us and to challenge for everything that we could possibly see once we start playing in conference. It is going to be an exciting year, and we want all our Memphis fans and alumni to come out to see what we are building."
The season begins in Tempe, Arizona as the Tigers will take part in the Kajikawa Classic, where they will face Toledo (Feb. 6, Feb. 7), Texas State (Feb. 7), Northwestern (Feb. 8) and the host Arizona State Sun Devils (Feb. 8).
Memphis then returns home to host the 901 Classic, featuring contests against Ball State (Feb. 13), Miami University (Feb. 13), Evansville (Feb. 14), Kansas City (Feb. 14) and Southern Indiana (Feb. 15).
The Tigers then hit the road for a quick midweek game at Mississippi State on Feb. 18 before hosting the Blues City Invitational the following weekend. Six teams will venture to Tigers Softball Complex for the weekend, with the Tigers taking on four programs. Memphis begins tournament action against Kentucky and North Carolina A&T on Feb. 21 before playing Bradley and Indiana State on Feb. 22 to finish the classic.
Memphis' final taste of preseason tournament action will be over a three-day stretch after a nonconference game at Southern University on Feb. 26 when the Tigers travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the LSU Invitational. Over the course of the weekend, Memphis will play a five-game slate that begins and ends with Iowa (Feb. 27, March 1) with two contests against the host LSU (Feb. 27, Feb. 28) and a standalone game in the middle against Nicholls (Feb. 28).
American Conference play begins with a home series against South Florida (March 6-8), followed by a home nonconference game against North Alabama on March 11 before heading to the Lone Star State for a series against UTSA (March 13-15). The Tigers then return home to host national powerhouse Oklahoma for a midweek game on March 18. The month of March continues with back-to-back home conference series against East Carolina (March 20-22) and Tulsa (March 27-29) with a road nonconference game against Jackson State in between on March 25. Memphis' final game of March will be its 6th game against an SEC opponent as the Tigers host Ole Miss on March 31.
April begins on the road against UAB (April 2-4) before hosting Alabama A&M for a doubleheader on April 7. The ensuing weekend has the Tigers traveling east for a series at Charlotte (April 10-12) before returning home for their final home midweek game against Alcorn State on April 14. Memphis then plays host to North Texas (April 17-19) and Florida Atlantic (April 23-25) with a road midweek game at Middle Tennessee (April 22) between the two series.
The Tigers finish the regular season in the first weekend of May at Wichita State (April 29-May 2) before the American Conference Championship begins on May 6. This season, East Carolina will serve as the host with all competitions being played in Greenville, North Carolina from May 6-9 at Max R. Joyner Family Stadium.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS
For complete information on Memphis Tigers Softball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
"I am excited to share what our road map for this season is going to look like," said Prater. "I am not one to shy away from a challenge, and our schedule is a direct reflection of that. We are going on the road to play at some of the top softball schools in the country and we are also bringing historically great Power Four teams to play us at our house. My job is to win championships, and I believe that you have to beat the best to be the best. In my opinion, our preseason tournaments and midweek game opponents arguably make this schedule one of the toughest schedules in Memphis softball history."
Memphis' 56-game schedule features a total of 11 teams that made it to an NCAA Regional in 2025, including two teams that reached the Women's College World Series. Over half of Memphis' 2026 schedule will be played at Tigers Softball Complex, including the reintroduction of the Blues City Invitational, which was absent during the 2025 campaign.
The Tigers will play a total of 10 games against teams from a Power Four conference, including six games against teams from the Southeastern Conference. The 10 games against Power conference opponents are tied for the most in a season in program history, with the only other instance being the 2019 season.
"It is my mission to move this program from the bottom of the conference to the top," Prater remarked about the increased level of competition. "I built this schedule to help prepare us and to challenge for everything that we could possibly see once we start playing in conference. It is going to be an exciting year, and we want all our Memphis fans and alumni to come out to see what we are building."
The season begins in Tempe, Arizona as the Tigers will take part in the Kajikawa Classic, where they will face Toledo (Feb. 6, Feb. 7), Texas State (Feb. 7), Northwestern (Feb. 8) and the host Arizona State Sun Devils (Feb. 8).
Memphis then returns home to host the 901 Classic, featuring contests against Ball State (Feb. 13), Miami University (Feb. 13), Evansville (Feb. 14), Kansas City (Feb. 14) and Southern Indiana (Feb. 15).
The Tigers then hit the road for a quick midweek game at Mississippi State on Feb. 18 before hosting the Blues City Invitational the following weekend. Six teams will venture to Tigers Softball Complex for the weekend, with the Tigers taking on four programs. Memphis begins tournament action against Kentucky and North Carolina A&T on Feb. 21 before playing Bradley and Indiana State on Feb. 22 to finish the classic.
Memphis' final taste of preseason tournament action will be over a three-day stretch after a nonconference game at Southern University on Feb. 26 when the Tigers travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the LSU Invitational. Over the course of the weekend, Memphis will play a five-game slate that begins and ends with Iowa (Feb. 27, March 1) with two contests against the host LSU (Feb. 27, Feb. 28) and a standalone game in the middle against Nicholls (Feb. 28).
American Conference play begins with a home series against South Florida (March 6-8), followed by a home nonconference game against North Alabama on March 11 before heading to the Lone Star State for a series against UTSA (March 13-15). The Tigers then return home to host national powerhouse Oklahoma for a midweek game on March 18. The month of March continues with back-to-back home conference series against East Carolina (March 20-22) and Tulsa (March 27-29) with a road nonconference game against Jackson State in between on March 25. Memphis' final game of March will be its 6th game against an SEC opponent as the Tigers host Ole Miss on March 31.
April begins on the road against UAB (April 2-4) before hosting Alabama A&M for a doubleheader on April 7. The ensuing weekend has the Tigers traveling east for a series at Charlotte (April 10-12) before returning home for their final home midweek game against Alcorn State on April 14. Memphis then plays host to North Texas (April 17-19) and Florida Atlantic (April 23-25) with a road midweek game at Middle Tennessee (April 22) between the two series.
The Tigers finish the regular season in the first weekend of May at Wichita State (April 29-May 2) before the American Conference Championship begins on May 6. This season, East Carolina will serve as the host with all competitions being played in Greenville, North Carolina from May 6-9 at Max R. Joyner Family Stadium.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS
For complete information on Memphis Tigers Softball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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