No. 1 Alabama’s 2026 season is rolling into Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series after the Crimson Tide won its first two games of the weekend against No. 16 LSU in the super regional round at Rhoads Stadium.
It was more dominance from the Tide pitching staff as Jocelyn Briski pitched a complete-game shutout on Friday in the 7-0 win, and Briski earned the save in Game 2 after freshman Vic Moten allowed only run over four innings in her first super regional start for the 4-1 victory.
Alabama got offensive contributions from different parts of the lineup with Alexis Pupillo having the best weekend with four hits, including two home runs.
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Next up for the Crimson Tide (54-7), is a date with No. 8 UCLA (52-8) this Thursday on the opening day of the Women’s College World Series. But before then, here are three of my biggest takeaways from Alabama’s performance in super regionals:
Alabama has the pitching to win a national title
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May 23, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama catcher Marlie Giles (34) and Alabama pitcher Jocelyn Briski (23) jump into each others arms after the Tuscaloosa NCAA Super Regional between Alabama and LSU. Alabama advanced to the College World Series with a 4-1 victory and a series sweep. | Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Eight teams across the country punched their tickets to Oklahoma City over the weekend. Some, like Alabama and Tennessee, are expected to be there. Some, like Mississippi State, will be making their first appearance at the WCWS. And some familiar faces, like Oklahoma and Florida, will not be in OKC starting Thursday.
Oklahoma and Florida have a combined 35 WCWS appearances and 10 national titles. Either the Sooners or the Gators have won eight of the last 11 national titles dating back to 2014. Neither team had the pitching to get out of Supers. Oklahoma gave up 18 runs across three games to Mississippi State. Florida allowed 28 runs over the three games against Texas Tech. Alabama has allowed one run over five total games played in the NCAA tournament.
The competition was elevated this weekend as Alabama played an SEC foe in LSU compared to the mid-major schools during the regional round, and the Tide’s top-two pitchers still made it extremely difficult on opposing batters.
Briski and Moten continued to limit free passes with just two total walks compared to 23 strikeouts over the two wins. Briski was even dealing with a little sickness on Friday and appeared to shut down the Tigers with ease.
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Anything can happen in Oklahoma City, and Alabama will be tested off the bat against a UCLA offense that leads the nation in home runs with 196. But the Tide should have the arms to keep it in any game and make a deep run at the WCWS.
Weather-tested before OKC
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The University of Alabama softball team in action against LSU during NCAA Super Regionals at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL on Saturday, May 23, 2026 | UA Athletics
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Alabama and LSU had to sit through two separate weather delays on Saturday that lasted about four hours total. As Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy pointed out multiple times throughout the weekend, these players are used to dealing with weather delays from all the years they’ve spent growing up playing travel softball.
But just because they are used to it doesn’t mean that a weather delay is ideal. When your team has all the momentum, any sort of break literally stops that momentum. Alabama was rolling before the first weather delay and had just taken a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning.
The offense did not score again (credit to LSU pitcher Jayden Heavener), but the team still came out of both breaks with the energy needed to close out the game.
Weather delays in Oklahoma City at the WCWS are almost an inevitability. I mean, the city’s lone major professional sports franchise is literally named the Thunder. Several super regionals around the country were affected by weather this weekend, so it won’t just be Alabama that is prepared, but coming fresh off two long delays gives the Crimson Tide that recent experience in case it arises in OKC.
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Offense steps up without Wells at her best
Alabama Softball Player Salen Hawkins (47) in action against LSU during NCAA Super Regionals at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL on Saturday, May 23, 2026. | UA Athletics
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Sophomore transfer Brooke Wells has been the engine that powers the Alabama offense this year. For most of the year, she has led the team in batting average, home runs and RBIs. She still leads the team in HRs (23) and RBIs (65.) During super regionals against LSU, Wells went 0-for-8 with five strikeouts.
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Alabama still managed to put up 11 total runs across the two games against a solid LSU pitching staff without its best hitter reaching base. Alexis Pupillo brought the power with a home run in each game, and Jena Young had two hits out of the leadoff spot in Game 1, including a bases-clearing double.
The bottom of the lineup came through as well with Salen Hawkins collecting a hit in each game out of the eight-spot. Her two-out, two-RBI single in the fourth inning of Game 2 provided the cushion Alabama needed to put away the Tigers
Wells is used to playing in big games and stepping up to the plate in big moments for the Crimson Tide at times this season, but this is her first trip to the NCAA tournament. Alabama can win without her reaching base–– the Tide proved it this weekend. But in order for Alabama to make a deep run in OKC and have a good chance of winning its first national title since 2012, it likely will need more production from the slugger.
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“After interviewing witnesses and processing the scene for physical evidence, initial investigation shows that the shooting may have been in self-defense during a possible robbery attempt,” he said. “Surveillance video from the business corroborates the witness statements. At this time no one has been charged, but the investigation is ongoing”
This is a developing story. Tuscaloosa Patch will have more information as it becomes available.
Alabama football’s 2027 recruiting class holds commitments from 13 2027 recruits with summer official visits behind them.
The Crimson Tide holds commitments from two quarterbacks, two running backs, two tight ends, one wide receiver, one offensive lineman, two edges, one defensive lineman, one defensive back and a kicker.
With the Tide expected to add a few more players to this class, here is a look at three positions Alabama will likely continue to recruit 2027 prospects at:
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Wide Receiver
Osani Gayles is currently the only wide receiver verbally committed to the Crimson Tide. Alabama would love to grab a commitment from Monshun Sales later this month, but the Tide is not considered to be the favorite to land the five-star less than a week out from his Friday decision. Alabama recently offered Jalijah Rutledge out of Moody High School. Rutledge is a 2027 wide receiver, and he is committed to App State. Before Rutledge announced his offer, Alabama made a strong push for Cedrick Simmons, who eventually committed to Auburn. The Tide wants to add at least one more wideout to this class to pair with Gayles.
Linebacker
Alabama does not have an inside linebacker commit, but the Tide did make a significant push for several off-the-ball linebackers before they committed to other programs. It would not be a surprise if Alabama makes a push for an inside linebacker committed elsewhere or offers a prospect who puts some good film together and flashes potential to start their senior season. Alabama’s push for a prospect at this position in the 2027 class could be very fluid moving forward.
Safety
Alabama also does not hold a commitment from a safety prospect. The Tide’s only defensive back commit is Darrius White, and he is projected to play cornerback at the next level. The Tide did not go after a long list of safeties in this class, but it did show a lot of interest in Junior Tu’upo out of Thompson High School in Alabama. A continued push for Tu’upo is likely, along with the possibility of the Tide evaluating a safety prospect who impresses them to kick off their senior season.
Justin Smith is the Managing Editor and Lead Writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine with over 10 years of writing experience & expertise. Smith has consistently delivered high quality, extensively researched information on the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team that fans can trust. Smith is official credentialed media with the University of Alabama under Touchdown Alabama Magazine. He is also the Director of Recruiting for Touchdown Enterprises, specializing in scouting and analyzing high school recruits around the nation, specifically focusing on recruits within the state of Alabama.
The Alabama Strawberry Festival has been named Alabama’s Best Music Festival in Alabama Magazine’s 2026 Best of Bama Awards, the latest statewide recognition for one of Cullman’s signature events.
The Best of Bama Awards celebrate top attractions, events, restaurants and destinations across the state.
Held each April in downtown Cullman, the festival has grown into one of Alabama’s premier destination events, combining nationally known entertainment with local agriculture, family attractions, artisan vendors and food.
“This recognition belongs to our entire community,” said Nathan Anderson, executive director of Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism, in a statement. He said the festival has become far more than a weekend event, calling it an economic driver, a tourism asset and a source of community pride. Anderson noted the festival drew nearly 70,000 guests from 35 states this year, which he said shows people are coming to experience Cullman itself, not just a concert.
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Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs said the recognition reflects years of deliberate investment in building experiences that support the community while drawing outside visitors, calling the festival one of the signature events not just for Cullman, but for the entire state.
Harmony Heard, executive director of Cullman Area Tourism, said the festival continues to strengthen Cullman’s reputation as one of Alabama’s top travel destinations, noting that tens of thousands of out-of-state visitors translate into impact across local hotels, restaurants, retail shops and attractions.
Festival Manager Daniel Wyatt credited the recognition to the work put in year-round by the team behind the event, from booking entertainment to improving the guest experience and coordinating vendors.
The award adds to a strong year for Cullman’s event calendar. Cullman Christkindlmarkt was named the Alabama Tourism Department’s 2026 Event of the Year earlier this summer, meaning two of the city’s flagship festivals have now received statewide recognition in 2026.
The next Alabama Strawberry Festival is set for late April 2027 at Depot Park in historic downtown Cullman.
