The Weber State Wildcats will begin their run in the 2026 Big Sky Softball Championship against Montana on May 4, according to a May 1 announcement. The tournament is set to take place at Idaho State’s Softball Field in Pocatello, Idaho, with all six conference teams participating in a double-elimination format.
The Big Sky Tournament offers an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for its champion. The Wildcats enter the competition with a season record of 14-40 overall and a conference record of 4-11, after closing out their regular season with an 11-7 win over Utah State in Logan.
Weber State holds a historical advantage over Montana, having won 26 of their previous 39 meetings. However, earlier this season, Montana swept Weber State in three games during a weekend series held in Ogden. This year, Montana has compiled a record of 19-30 overall and is seeded fourth for the tournament—their highest seeding since being ranked fourth or higher in 2021. Grace Lopez leads the Lady Griz offensively with a .363 batting average and 53 hits, while Carah Sweet has recorded seven pitching wins and maintains a 4.08 earned run average.
Last season saw Weber State secure its fifth Big Sky Championship—its first since 2022—and make its fifth appearance at the NCAA Tournament. During regional play in Eugene, Oregon, they notched their second-ever NCAA Regional win by defeating Binghamton.
Key returning players include Riley Whalen and Abby Grundy—both All-Big Sky First Team honorees last year—as well as sophomore Sadie Kirk who was named Co-Freshman of the Year after posting strong numbers both offensively and defensively behind the plate. Five new freshmen have joined this year’s roster: pitchers Kendall Freidinger and Jade Curiel; first baseman McKenzie Quintero; outfielder Attiana Thompson; and utility player Paige Witte.
Tournament games will be streamed live on ESPN+, allowing fans to follow along as teams compete for the conference title.
