Tennessee Softball Moves to No. 1 in the Nation After 10-0 Start

The Lady Vols have climbed to the top of the Softball America rankings after an impressive opening stretch.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Tennessee Lady Vols softball team has moved up to the No. 1 ranking in the country according to Softball America's latest poll. Tennessee has started the season 10-0, including wins over several top-25 opponents like No. 21 Liberty, No. 5 Oregon, No. 11 Nebraska, No. 23 Florida Atlantic, No. 6 UCLA, and No. 7 Florida State. The Lady Vols have outscored their opponents 76-4 over the first 10 games.

Why it matters

Tennessee's rise to the No. 1 ranking in the country is a significant achievement for the program, which has established itself as an elite softball powerhouse. The Lady Vols' dominant start to the season has put the rest of the country on notice, and they will look to continue their winning ways as they take on a challenging schedule in the coming weeks.

The details

The Lady Vols climbed from the No. 3 spot to the top of the rankings after an impressive opening weekend in Clearwater, Florida. Tennessee earned wins over No. 21 Liberty, No. 5 Oregon, No. 11 Nebraska, No. 23 Florida Atlantic, No. 6 UCLA, and No. 7 Florida State. The team's 10-0 start has been fueled by a stifling defense that has allowed just 4 runs so far this season.

  • Tennessee opened the season 10-0 over the first two weeks.
  • The Lady Vols moved up to the No. 1 ranking in Softball America's poll on February 16, 2026.

The players

Ella Dodge

A utility player for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers softball team.

Taylor Pannell

A former infielder for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers who transferred to Texas Tech after the 2025 season, sparking accusations of tampering from the Red Raiders.

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What’s next

Tennessee will play in the UAB Tournament next weekend, facing Missouri State, UAB, Mercer, and Southern Illinois. The Lady Vols will then host the Tennessee Invitational, with games against Appalachian State, Penn State, and North Carolina Central.

The takeaway

Tennessee's dominant start to the 2026 season has propelled the Lady Vols to the top of the national rankings, solidifying their status as one of the elite softball programs in the country. The team's impressive wins over several top-25 opponents have put the rest of the nation on notice, and the Lady Vols will look to continue their winning ways as they take on a challenging schedule in the coming weeks.