The 2026 softball season saw yet another record fall Saturday after UCLA senior Megan Grant launched her 38th dinger in the Bruins' 7-2 Big Ten tournament loss to Nebraska, breaking the NCAA single-season home run record.
Grant one-upped Arizona alum Laura Espinoza's 1995 high-mark with a solo shot to deep left-center field in the third inning off Nebraska's Jordy Frahm. The milestone homer came in just 55 games, 17 fewer than Espinoza needed to set the previous record.
"I'm just so grateful for the opportunity I was blessed with and just to follow the people that were before me," Grant said after making history.
More home runs could be on deck as the Bruins set off down the path toward this year's Women's College World Series.
Grant isn't alone in her historic pursuit. Oklahoma's Kendall Wells tallied 36 home runs this season, while Grant's teammate Jordan Woolery has 33. Grant and Woolery became the first teammates in NCAA softball history to each hit 30-plus homers in the same season, and plan to continue their careers in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League this summer.
The final record will likely come down to the postseason after former frontrunner Wells failed to get under one in the Sooners' 10-5 SEC tournament loss to Georgia.
Grant had tied Espinoza's 31-year-old record Friday with her 37th homer against Wisconsin in the Big Ten semifinals before claiming sole possession of the mark against Nebraska.
A dual-sport athlete, Grant recently won the 2026 NCAA basketball championship with UCLA.
