The 2025 NCAA softball season is well underway, and it hasn’t been without a fair share of upsets. From a top seed losing its undefeated streak to a come-from-behind walk-off victory, here are three major upsets of the season so far that are defying the expectations of players and fans alike. The last four years were all about Oklahoma, but there year, parity across teams and conferences abounds.

The University of Virginia (unranked) beats UCLA (4), 7-6

It was a walk-off homerun from Cavalier MC Eaton, a utility infielder, in the bottom of the seventh inning that would clinch a hard-fought victory for Virginia over UCLA. The Cavaliers started out strong on Sunday, Feb. 16, at the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational, taking an early 5-0 lead over the Bruins. While UCLA recaptured the lead in the fourth inning, the Cavaliers were not discouraged. Eaton’s walk-off homerun, which saved the game, secured Virginia’s first win over UCLA in program history and its win over a nationally ranked opponent this year. Needless to say, it was a historic day for the Cavaliers.

“I don’t think there was any doubt that we could come back and win that game,” said head coach Joanna Hardin after the game to University of Virginia Sports. “It was a full team effort and a great way to end the weekend. We have a lot of momentum to carry into the next couple of weekends, and we’re excited about being together.”

Stanford (20) hands Texas (1) its first loss of the season, with 9-5 scoreline

On Friday, Feb. 21, at the Hillenbrand Invitational, the top-ranked Texas Longhorns lost their first game of the season … to the team ranked No. 20. An unstoppable pitching performance from Stanford’s Alyssa Houston was the Cardinal’s secret sauce, as, in her 6.1 innings pitched, she allowed only three runs on seven hits and struck out a career-high seven batters. So far, so good in the post-Nijaree Canady era.

The win did not come easily to the Cardinal. Stanford went up first, but Texas clawed back and managed to tie the game at 4-4 in the fifth inning. But from there, Stanford wasted no time. Infielder River Mahler hit a perfectly-timed two-run single, which was followed by a three-run homer from infielder Joie Economides; suddenly, the score was 9-4. Although the Longhorns got one more run on the board, the Cardinal took home the victory, securing its third victory over a top-two opponent since last season.

Louisiana Tech (unranked) defeats Oklahoma State (13), 6-1

We would be remiss not to go back in time a little bit to point out one of the biggest upsets of the season so far. On Friday, Feb. 7, at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, the unranked Louisiana Tech Bulldogs took down the then-No. 4 Cowgirls of Oklahoma State, 6-1. The difference-maker in the game for the Bulldogs was pitcher Allie Floyd, who allowed only one run on seven hits and struck out four. The rest of the Bulldogs made their at-bats count, while the Cowgirls could only muster a sac bunt and single to third base to score their lone run of the game.

After the game, Louisiana Tech head coach Josh Taylor was gushing with pride for his pitcher. “Allie is just tremendous as far as her work ethic goes,” Taylor said to Tech Sports. “For a lack of better words, and not trying to be too punny, she’s a bulldog. … She’s everything we want a Louisiana Tech Bulldog softball player to look like."

What could this mean for tournament seeding?

Maybe it’s far too early to say, but so what! If these upsets show us anything, teams that sometimes get overlooked fight for respect. The country’s top teams have remained in relative lock-step this season, with Texas on top, Oklahoma in the number two, and the rest of the list filled out by the likes of Florida, UCLA, LSU, FSU, and Tennessee. But expect teams like Stanford, with its grit, and Nebraska, fueled by power of pitcher Jordy Bahl, to fight their ways to top seeds as the tournament sorts itself out.