United Athletic Conference softball tournament
| Western Athletic Conference softball tournament | |
|---|---|
| Conference softball championship | |
| Sport | Softball |
| Conference | United Athletic Conference |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Format | Double-elimination tournament |
| Played | 1991–present |
| Last contest | 2026 |
| Current champion | California Baptist (1) |
| Most championships | Grand Canyon New Mexico State (4) |
| Host stadiums | |
| Tarleton Softball Complex (2026) John C. Funk Stadium (2025) Logan Field at SU Park (2014, 2016, 2021, 2024) GCU Softball Stadium (2019, 2023) Bearkat Softball Stadium (2022) NM State Softball Complex (2010, 2012, 2015, 2017–18) Lady Techster Softball Complex (2013) Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium (2008) Bulldog Diamond (1999, 2006–07, 2009, 2011) Cottonwood Complex (1992) Seymour Smith Stadium (1991) | |
| Host locations | |
| Stephenville, TX (2026) Riverside, CA (2025) Seattle, WA (2014, 2016, 2021, 2024) Phoenix, AZ (2019, 2023) Huntsville, TX (2022) Las Cruces, NM (2010, 2012, 2015, 2017–18) Ruston, LA (2013) Honlulu, HI (2008) Fresno, CA (1999, 2006–07, 2009, 2011]] Salt Lake City, UT (1992) Omaha, NE (1991) | |
The United Athletic Conference softball tournament (sometimes known simply as the UAC Tournament or United Tournament) is the conference championship tournament in college softball for the United Athletic Conference. It is the successor to the Western Athletic Conference softball tournament, first held at the end of the 1991 season by the conference when it was known as the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The 2025 edition was the last held under the WAC name, as the conference adopted the UAC name in July 2026. The winner receives the United's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I softball tournament.[1]
Format
During periods when the WAC had more than eight softball members (the United currently has eight members), the top eight teams based on winning percentage from the round-robin regular season competed in the double-elimination tournament. The number of teams in the field has varied throughout the history of the event as the size of the conference has changed.
Champions
Year-by-year
| Year | School | Venue | Most Outstanding Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Utah | Seymour Smith Stadium • Omaha, NE | Kelly Brookhart, Creighton |
| 1992 | Utah | Cottonwood Complex • Salt Lake City, UT | Janet Womack, Utah |
| 1999 | Fresno State | Bulldog Diamond • Fresno, CA | Amanda Scott, Fresno State |
| 2006 | Nevada | Bulldog Diamond • Fresno, CA | Jordan McPherson, Nevada |
| 2007 | Fresno State | Bulldog Diamond • Fresno, CA | Robin Mackin, Fresno State |
| 2008 | Louisiana Tech | Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium • Honlulu, HI | Krissi Oliver, Louisiana Tech |
| 2009 | Fresno State | Bulldog Diamond • Fresno, CA | Morgan Mellow, Fresno State |
| 2010 | Hawaii | NM State Softball Complex • Las Cruces, NM | Kelly Majam, Hawaii |
| 2011 | New Mexico State | Bulldog Diamond • Fresno, CA | Valerie Swedburg, New Mexico State |
| 2012 | BYU | NM State Softball Complex • Las Cruces, NM | Stacie Toney, BYU |
| 2013 | San Jose State | Lady Techster Softball Complex • Ruston, LA | Amanda Pridmore, San Diego State |
| 2014 | Utah Valley | Logan Field at SU Park • Seattle, WA | Josi Summers, Utah Valley |
| 2015 | New Mexico State | NM State Softball Complex • Las Cruces, NM | Emma Adams, New Mexico State |
| 2016 | Cal State Bakersfield | Logan Field at SU Park • Seattle, WA | Sydney Raeber, Cal State Bakersfield |
| 2017 | New Mexico State | NM State Softball Complex • Las Cruces, NM | Rachel Rodriguez, New Mexico State |
| 2018 | New Mexico State | NM State Softball Complex • Las Cruces, NM | Kelsey Horton, New Mexico State |
| 2019 | Seattle | GCU Softball Stadium • Phoenix, AZ | Carley Nance, Seattle |
| 2021 | Seattle | Logan Field at SU Park • Seattle, WA | Carley Nance, Seattle |
| 2022 | Grand Canyon | Bearkat Softball Stadium • Huntsville, TX | Ariel Thompson, Grand Canyon |
| 2023 | Grand Canyon | GCU Softball Stadium • Phoenix, AZ | Kayla Rodgers, Grand Canyon |
| 2024 | Grand Canyon | Logan Field at SU Park • Seattle, WA[2] | Ashley Trierweiler, Grand Canyon |
| 2025 | Grand Canyon | John C. Funk Stadium • Riverside, CA | Emily Gonzalez, Grand Canyon |
| 2026 | California Baptist | Tarleton Softball Complex • Stephenville, TX | Makayla Medellin, California Baptist |
By school
No current UAC member has won the tournament. When the WAC adopted the UAC name in 2026, only three schools—Abilene Christian, Tarleton State, and UT Arlington—remained conference members through the transition. They were joined by new members Austin Pray, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama, and West Georgia. All had a previous relationship with the pre-2026 WAC; they arrived from the Atlantic Sun Conference, which along with the WAC operated a football-only UAC from 2023–2025 with those five schools participating.
| School | Championships | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon | 4 | 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| New Mexico State | 4 | 2011, 2015, 2017, 2018 |
| Fresno State | 3 | 1999, 2007, 2009 |
| Seattle | 2 | 2019, 2021 |
| Utah | 2 | 1991, 1992 |
| BYU | 1 | 2012 |
| California Baptist | 1 | 2026 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 1 | 2016 |
| Hawaii | 1 | 2010 |
| Louisiana Tech | 1 | 2008 |
| Nevada | 1 | 2006 |
| San Jose State | 1 | 2013 |
| Utah Valley | 1 | 2014 |
References
- ↑ 2023 Softball Record Book (PDF). Western Athletic Conference. pp. 55–62.
- ↑ Caleb Stipkovits (May 15, 2024). "WAC Softball Tournament Returns to Seattle U". Seattle Spectator. Retrieved July 20, 2024.