Buckle up, softball fans! The road to glory leads straight to Columbia, South Carolina, as the Gamecocks prepare to launch their NCAA Tournament run as a national seed for the first time in years.

Claiming the coveted No. 8 seed, South Carolina will host a regional at the iconic Beckham Field, promising intense action this weekend. As a top eight seed, the Gamecocks have secured home field advantage if they advance to the Super Regionals, a thrilling possibility on the horizon.

In a captivating tournament bracket, South Carolina is paired against the formidable UCLA, the No. 9 seed. The Los Angeles Regional features tough competitors, including one-seed UCLA, two-seed Arizona State, three-seed San Diego State, and four-seed UC Santa Barbara.

The excitement will kick off with a matchup against Elon in the Columbia Regional, where the Gamecocks will take center stage as the one-seed, while two-seed Virginia and three-seed North Florida will battle it out in the other opening game. The stakes are high, with winners advancing and losers facing elimination.

Mark your calendars! This year marks the Gamecocks' 25th trip to the NCAA Tournament. The team has been on a roll, making the tournament three consecutive years, and last hosted postseason play at Beckham Field in 2018. South Carolina is eager to make its first appearance in the Women’s College World Series since 1997.

Under the leadership of first-year head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard, who has already smashed the program's record for most wins by a first-year coach, the Gamecocks achieved an impressive 40 wins this season—a feat accomplished only twice since 2003.

Finishing above .500 in SEC play for the first time since 2018, South Carolina notably triumphed over powerhouses like Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, and Alabama. They also shone brightly in non-conference action, clinching series wins against ranked teams like Duke and Texas Tech.

The Gamecocks made a splash in the SEC Tournament too, defeating Alabama in the second round before a tough quarterfinal exit against Texas A&M.

Get ready for the Columbia Regional, kicking off on Friday with North Florida and Virginia facing off at 3 p.m., followed by South Carolina taking on Elon at 5:30 p.m. Don’t miss a moment of the action—tune in to ESPN Plus and cheer on the Gamecocks as they chase their dreams!