LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Eighteen teams, including three NAIA Softball World Series participants - Georgia Gwinnett, Reinhardt and Cumberlands - make up the field for the 2026 edition of the NFCA NAIA Leadoff Classic that will take place Feb. 27-March 1 at the South Commons Complex in Columbus, Ga.
The World Series trio returns to the site of the 2025 World Series and is joined by nine more programs that qualified for the NAIA Opening Round. Georgia Gwinnett reached the national semifinal for the first time in program history, while Cumberlands was the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed and Reinhardt returned to the World Series for the first time since 2014.
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Rio Grande, which won the 2024 Leadoff title, along with tournament runner-up William Carey each were Opening Round participants with the Red Storm reaching the Marion Bracket final and the Crusaders going 1-2 at the Oklahoma City bracket.
Along with Rio Grande and William Carey, Campbellsville, Coastal Georgia, Freed-Hardeman, Johnson, Mobile, Stillman and Thomas all earned NAIA Opening Round berths. For Johnson it was the program’s first-ever NAIA postseason appearance after claiming its first Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament title.
Rounding out the field is Brenau, Faulkner, Lindsey Wilson, Louisiana Christian, Truett McConnell and United States Sports University.
Sixteen of the 18 programs finished with winning records in 2025. Georgia Gwinnett (48-10), Rio Grande (46-11) and Cumberlands (40-9) posted 40-win campaigns, while seven more – Brenau (34-16), Coastal Georgia (35-19), Reinhardt (32-12), Stillman (33-13), Thomas (30-22), Mobile (33-20) and William Carey (36-19) – collected 30 or more victories.
2026 participating teams: Brenau University, Campbellsville University, College of Coastal Georgia, Faulkner University, Freed-Hardeman University, Georgia Gwinnett College, Johnson University, Lindsey Wilson College, Louisiana Christian University, Reinhardt University, Stillman College, Thomas University, Truett McConnell University, United State Sports University, University of Mobile, University of Rio Grande, University of the Cumberlands, William Carey University
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded Leadoff Classic tournaments, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from webinars to awards, to in-person and virtual events, and a National Convention.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining over 7,000 coaches today!
