UCLA softball ties historic NCAA home run record in Big Ten semifinal victory
The 2026 season has seen unprecedented offensive production, with Grant reaching the milestone in just 54 games against Wisconsin before facing Nebraska in the championship.
Senior Megan Grant has etched her name into collegiate history by tying the NCAA Division I single-season home run record with her 37th homer. The milestone was achieved during the bottom of the second inning as the UCLA Bruins defeated the Wisconsin Badgers 19-5 in the Big Ten tournament semifinals. This victory secures a spot for the Bruins in Saturday's conference championship game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
The record, originally set by Laura Espinoza of the Arizona Wildcats in 1995, remains the benchmark for offensive dominance in the sport. While Espinoza required 72 games to reach the 37-home run mark, Grant achieved the same total in just 54 games this season. This efficiency highlights a significant shift in the pace of scoring within the NCAA, where the competition for the record has been fierce throughout the 2026 campaign.
Teammate Kendall Wells of the Oklahoma Sooners served as the primary challenger for the title during the season. Wells finished the campaign with 36 home runs, falling one short of the record. The rivalry between Grant and Wells underscored the unprecedented offensive production seen across the league this year, with multiple players vying to surpass the long-standing benchmark.
Beyond individual accolades, the offensive output of the UCLA program has reached new heights. Grant and teammate Jordan Woolery have combined to help the Bruins accumulate 173 team home runs for the season. This figure shatters the previous NCAA single-season team record of 161, which was set by Oklahoma in 2001. The statistic places the Bruins among the most dangerous lineups in the country, contributing to a season that has rewritten record books.
Grant's impact extends beyond the softball diamond, having served as a reserve for the UCLA women's basketball team during their 2026 national championship season. Her versatility was further recognised earlier this week when she was selected fourth overall by the Portland Cascade in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League college draft, becoming the first hitter taken in the process.
Despite the historic nature of the achievement, Grant has maintained a focus on the immediate contest against Nebraska. She expressed that while the record is a significant honour, the primary objective remains securing a conference championship. The Bruins will now look to attack aggressively against a formidable opponent in the title match.
