PEORIA, Ill. – Preseason tournaments and an updated conference series format highlight the 2026 Bradley Softball schedule.
Bradley begins the non-conference season with a trip to San Antonio, Texas, for the UIW Cardinal Invite. Over Feb. 6-8, the Braves will play two games against Prairie View A&M, two against the hosting Incarnate Word and one against Manhattan.
The Braves will then head to Auburn, Ala., for the War Eagle Classic on Feb. 13-15. Bradley will play Binghamton, Big Ten school Illinois and the hosts, Auburn, over Valentine's Day weekend.
The season's penultimate non-conference tournament sees Bradley travel to Memphis, Tenn., for the Blues City Invitational. Bradley will play a mix of five opponents over Feb. 20-22, facing North Carolina A&T, Morehead State, Kentucky, Northern Illinois and the hosting Memphis.
The Braves travel to Richmond, Ky., for the EKU Colonel Classic in its final non-conference tournament before conference play begins. In addition to playing two games against Eastern Kentucky, the hosts, Bradley will face SIUE, Saint Louis and Pittsburgh over Feb. 27-March 1.
The first weekend in March sees the start of Missouri Valley Conference action. Entering this season, the conference adjusted the weekend series scheduling format. After years of playing one game scheduled for Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon, conference weekends now feature a doubleheader on Friday afternoon and one game on Saturday afternoon.
The conference slate begins with a pair of road series, beginning with a three-game set at Indiana State on March 6-7. The Braves then travel to Carbondale, Ill., for a series against Southern Illinois on March 13-14.
Bradley's final road games before its home opener come on March 18, as the team travels to St. Charles, Mo., for a midweek doubleheader at Lindenwood.
The Braves' home opener at OSF Healthcare Field comes on March 20-21, as the team hosts Belmont in a weekend series. Bradley will then hit the road for a midweek doubleheader against Eastern Illinois on March 25 before returning home for a series against UIC on March 27-28. Bradley closes March and begins April with a seven game road trip, beginning with a midweek conference doubleheader against Drake on March 31.
After an off weekend to begin April, the Braves travel to Murray, Ky., for a series against Murray State and April 10-11 before closing the road trip with a doubleheader at Northern Illinois on April 14.
Bradley briefly returns home for a series against Evansville on April 17-18 before closing its road schedule with its final non-conference game of the season against Western Illinois on April 21 and a series against Valparaiso on April 24-25.
Bradley closes the regular season with five home games, beginning with a doubleheader against Northern Iowa on April 28. The Braves finish the regular season with a series against Illinois State on May 1-2 for Senior Weekend.
The MVC Tournament is hosted by Southern Illinois in Carbondale, spanning from May 6th to May 9th.
