STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford Softball will open the 2026 season with the Stanford Invitational, breaking in the new state-of-the-art Stanford Stadium on February 5 against Oklahoma State. The tournament will welcome the Cowgirls, as well as Bay Area rivals California and San José State and run through Feb. 8.
The Cardinal moves into the new Stanford Softball Stadium after spending the 2025 season at Stanford Stadium, filling the football facility with an NCAA-record 13,207 fans on April 19. The team is coming off of a sixth-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, and returns seven starters from 2025.
Headlining the returners are senior All-Americans River Mahler and Emily Jones, who each earned the honor for the first time last season.
The last time Stanford met Oklahoma State was at the 2024 Women’s College World Series, with the Card taking an 8-0 run-rule win in an elimination game. The Cardinal has won six of the last seven matchups with California, and owns a 29-11 all-time record against San José State.
Deposits for 2026 season tickets are now available at Tickets.GoStanford.com, and offer Cardinal fans early access to the best seats at newly renovated Stanford Softball Stadium. Depositors will be contacted by a Stanford Athletics Ticket Office representative once pricing is finalized in Winter 2026. Deposits will be applied towards your Season Ticket Membership purchase when you select your seats. Renewals for returning Season Ticket Members will begin late 2025 and no deposit is necessary prior to that date.