Confidence and composure often define the elite.
No. 11 UCLA softball (10-3) embodied both throughout three wins Thursday and Friday at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, defeating Auburn (11-3) 23-1 in five innings to open the tournament before coming from behind to defeat Nevada (7-7) 6-5 and No.

This post was updated Feb. 19 at 2:28 p.m.
Hurdles are typically mentioned when referring to track and field.
But for the Bruins, the hurdles were the teams they faced in Florida.

This post was updated Feb. 17 at 12:40 a.m.
Facing a top-10 opponent is always a challenge.
But playing three in two days is even more difficult.

There is no place like home.
UCLA softball is far too familiar with the sentiment since its stomping grounds, Easton Stadium, completed a makeover ahead of the 2026 season.

No. 7 UCLA softball (6-1) will take on No. 3 Tennessee (7-0) and No. 6 Florida State (7-1) on Saturday after splitting its first two games at the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational in Florida.

The New England Patriots reached Super Bowl LX despite eventually falling to the Seattle Seahawks 29-13.
But the Patriots boasted the third-lowest strength of schedule during the 2025 campaign and also defeated a hobbled Denver Broncos squad to claim the AFC championship trophy.

Five-inning mercy rules have been the early story of the season.
But the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational will be the Bruins’ first true test of the season, as they will face three top-10 opponents across the three-day tournament.