Texas UIL softball postseason brackets start filling up

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Texas UIL high school softball playoffs are set to begin next week as the regular season comes to a close. Several of the nation's top-ranked teams, including the No. 1 Barbers Hill Eagles, will be competing for state titles across different classifications.

Why it matters

Texas is home to some of the best high school softball programs in the country, with nearly a quarter of the teams ranked in the national Top 25 hailing from the state. The UIL playoffs will showcase the talent and competitiveness of Texas high school softball.

The details

The Barbers Hill Eagles took over the No. 1 spot in the MaxPreps national rankings last week, led by star pitcher Macie Bryant. Other top-ranked Texas teams include the No. 4 Lake Creek Lions, No. 6 Melissa Cardinals, No. 11 Midway Panthers, No. 21 Kingwood Mustangs, and No. 25 Byron Nelson Bobcats. The UIL playoffs will be divided into two divisions based on enrollment, with the final brackets to be determined after the district certification deadline on April 21.

• The district certification deadline for all conferences is April 21, 2026.
• The bi-district playoff deadline is April 25, 2026.
• The area playoff deadline is May 2, 2026.
• The regional semifinal deadline is May 9, 2026.
• The regional final deadline is May 16, 2026.
• The state semifinal deadline is May 23, 2026.
• The state tournament for all conferences is May 28-30, 2026.

What’s next

The final brackets for the UIL softball playoffs will be posted once all of the district certifications are in by the April 21 deadline.