11
12 Teams, One Dream: Inside the Little League Softball World Series
The 2026 Little League Softball World Series: Everything You Need to Know
Welcome to the Big Show! Every summer, the best young softball players from around the globe gather for the Little League Softball World Series (LLSWS). Think of it like the "World Cup" for 10-to-12-year-olds. This year, the action happens in Greenville, North Carolina, from August 2–9, 2026.
Quick Glance: The Basics
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What | 2026 Little League Softball World Series |
| When | Games: Aug 2–9 | Opening Ceremony: Aug 1 (6–8 PM ET) |
| Where | Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park, Greenville, NC |
| Teams | 12 Total (8 from USA, 4 International) |
| Games | 22 Games Total |
| TV Channels | ESPN, ESPN2, ABC |
| Streaming | ESPN+ |
| Championship Game | Sunday, Aug 9 at 3:00 PM ET on ABC |
IMPORTANT POINT
All 22 games are televised! You don’t need a ticket to watch every pitch. Just flip on ESPN, ESPN2, or ABC, or stream on ESPN+.
Meet the 12 Teams (Split into Two Brackets)
The tournament uses a double-elimination format (a team has to lose twice to go home). The 12 teams are split into a Purple Bracket and an Orange Bracket. The winner of each bracket meets in the Championship game.
Purple Bracket Teams
1. Canada Champion: OnField Little League (Repentigny, Quebec)
- Veterans: This is their 3rd straight year at the World Series.
- History: They are 1-4 in their previous two trips. They’re hungry for that first big win!
2. Europe-Africa Champion: Emilia Romagna Little League (Bologna, Italy)
- Globe Trotters: This is the program’s 3rd appearance and Italy’s 9th overall.
- Road Here: They went 5-1 in their regional tournament.
- Fun Fact: They first qualified way back in 2008!
3. North Carolina Champion (Host State!): Johnston County Little League (Clayton, NC)
- Rookies: First time ever at the World Series for this program.
- Dominant: Went 3-0 in regionals, outscoring opponents 32-0!
- Cinderella Story: The program only started in 2023. Three years later, they’re on the world stage.
4. Northwest Champion: Snohomish Little League (Snohomish, Washington)
- Family Affair: Star pitcher Madison Locke is the daughter of Danielle Lawrie (Olympic medalist & ESPN analyst).
- Madison’s Magic: She struck out 12 batters in the regional championship game!
- History: First Snohomish team since 2015 (South Snohomish LL). North and South Snohomish merged in 2021 to form this team.
5. Southeast Champion: Lake Mary Little League (Lake Mary, Florida)
- Back for More: 2nd year in a row representing the Southeast.
- Revenge Tour: Beat the 2024 champs (Pitt County, NC) 3-1 in the regional final.
- Drama Queens: Won a walk-off thriller (2-run double in the 7th inning) just to reach the final.
- 2025 Recap: Went 3-2 last year; both losses came against the Southwest champ (Tulsa).
6. Southwest Champion: Greater Helotes Little League (Helotes, Texas)
- Plot Twist: The original regional winner (Tulsa National LL) was disqualified due to a rules controversy.
- Sudden Death: Little League ordered a one-game playoff between Texas West (Helotes) and Louisiana (Eastbank). Helotes won 2-0.
- Pedigree: They won the whole thing in 2016! One of 14 Texas teams to ever win the title.
Orange Bracket Teams
1. Asia-Pacific Champion: Kinki Softball Little League (Sangō, Japan)
- Lightning Fast: The program only got its charter in 2025 and is already at the World Series!
- First Timers: This is their first-ever appearance in this division.
- Perfect: Went 2-0 in regionals.
2. Central Champion: Daviess County Little League (Kentucky) Team to Watch
- Giant Killers: Beat the 2025 Runner-up (Floyds Knobs) 1-0 to win the region.
- Ace in the Hole: Pitcher Michaela Knight is a beast:
- Pitched ALL 30 INNINGS in the 5-game regional.
- 25 Strikeouts total.
- In the final: 6 IP, 4 Hits, 2 Walks, 5 Ks, Shutout.
- History Makers: First Kentucky team since 2005 to qualify. Only the 2nd ever from KY.
- Trend: 4th straight Central champ to come from the loser’s bracket.
3. Latin America Champion: Guayama Softball Little League (Guayama, Puerto Rico)
- Machine: Went 5-0 in regionals.
- Puerto Rico Power: PR has qualified 16 times. Guayama repped them in 2022 & 2023 (went 2-2 in ’23).
- Historic: Puerto Rico is the only non-US state to win the title (Maunabo LL, 2001).
4. Mid-Atlantic Champion: Toms River Little League (Toms River, New Jersey)
- Baseball Town, Softball Stars: Famous for Little League Baseball history; now the softball team makes its first-ever World Series trip.
- Comeback Kids: Came from the loser’s bracket to beat Minersville (PA) 5-3.
- Jersey Pride: Only the 5th NJ team ever to qualify. Robbinsville LL won NJ’s only title in 2014.
5. New England Champion: Bristol Girls Softball Little League (Connecticut)
- Hollywood Script: Down to their last 2 outs, trailing by 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th (final inning).
- Walk-Off Winners:
- Lucy Bastiaanse: Inside-the-park HR.
- Avery Collins: Game-winning infield single.
- Final: 4-3.
- First Timers: Program’s first-ever berth. 5th CT team ever; no CT team has ever won.
6. West Champion: Live Oak Little League (California)
- Perfect: 4-0 in regionals. Beat Summerlin South (Las Vegas) 2-1 in the final.
- First Trip: Program’s first-ever World Series appearance.
- California Dreamin’: 8th CA team to qualify. 5 of the last 7 CA teams WON THE TITLE.
- Last CA Winner: Foothill LL (Glendale) in 1990.
How to Watch: Your Viewing Guide
You have zero excuses to miss a game.
- Cable/Satellite: Flip to ESPN, ESPN2, or ABC. Check your local listings for specific game times.
- Streaming: ESPN+ carries every single game live and on-demand.
- Live TV Streaming: Services like Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, DirecTV Stream carry ESPN networks.
- Schedule: Games run Aug 2–9. The Championship is Aug 9 at 3 PM ET on ABC.
PRO TIP
Bookmark the Official Little League Schedule for exact game times and matchups as the bracket fills in.
History & Records: Who Reigns Supreme?
US Titles by State (Through 2025)
Texas is the undisputed king.
| Rank | State | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 14 |
| 2 | Florida | 8 |
| 3 | California | 5 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 3 |
| T-5 | Georgia, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania | 2 |
| T-10 | Arizona, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia | 1 |
Titles by Country (Through 2025)
- United States: 50
- Puerto Rico: 1 (Maunabo LL, 2001)
Recent Champions (Last 10 Years)
| Year | Champion | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | West Suburban LL | Johnstown, PA |
| 2024 | Pitt County Girls SB LL | Winterville, NC |
| 2023 | Massapequa International LL | Massapequa Park, NY |
| 2022 | Midway LL | Hewitt, TX |
| 2021 | Green Country LL | Muskogee, OK |
| 2019 | Rowan LL | Salisbury, NC |
| 2018 | Wheelersburg LL | Wheelersburg, OH |
| 2017 | Lake Air LL | Waco, TX |
| 2016 | Greater Helotes LL | Helotes, TX |
| 2015 | Rowan LL | Salisbury, NC |
FUN FACT
Midway Little League (Waco, TX) won 7 times in the 90s/00s (1992-1995, 1997-2000, 2002-2004)! That’s a dynasty.
Don’t Miss the Party!
Opening Ceremony & Celebration
- When: Friday, Aug 1, 6:00–8:00 PM ET
- Where: Greenville, NC (Check local city site for exact venue)
- Vibe: Parade of teams, music, fireworks, special guests. Free family fun!
Summary: The Cheat Sheet
- Event: 2026 Little League Softball World Series.
- Where/When: Greenville, NC | Aug 2–9 (Ceremony Aug 1).
- Watch: ESPN / ESPN2 / ABC / ESPN+ (All 22 games).
- Teams: 12 total (8 US, 4 Int’l) in Purple & Orange brackets.
- Storylines:
- Johnston County (NC): 3-year-old program, 32-0 regional score.
- Daviess County (KY): Michaela Knight (30 IP, 25 Ks), 1st KY team in 21 yrs.
- Greater Helotes (TX): 2016 Champs, won sudden-death playoff after controversy.
- Bristol (CT): Walk-off HR + single with 2 outs in final inning.
- Kinki (Japan): 1st year charter, straight to World Series.
- Live Oak (CA): 5 of last 7 CA teams won it all.
- Championship: Sunday, Aug 9, 3 PM ET on ABC.
- History: Texas (14) > Florida (8) > California (5). Only non-US winner: Puerto Rico (2001).
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
1. What age are the players?
League Age 10–12. (Generally, kids who turn 10, 11, or 12 during the calendar year). It’s the "Major Division."
2. How does a team get here?
It’s a marathon. They win their District → Sectional → State → Regional tournament. The 10 US Regional champs + 4 International Regional champs = The 12 teams you see here.
3. What happens if a team loses once?
They aren’t out! It’s Double Elimination. A team moves to the "loser’s bracket" and has to fight back. They only go home after their second loss. (Many champs, like Daviess County this year, come from the loser’s bracket!)
4. Is the Opening Ceremony televised?
Usually not on the main ESPN channels (check ESPN+), but it’s a free, public event in Greenville on Aug 1 (6-8 PM). Great for autographs and atmosphere!
5. Where can I find the exact bracket and game times?
The official, updating bracket is on the Little League website: littleleague.org/world-series/2026/llsws/. ESPN’s schedule page also lists TV assignments.
Final Thought: Whether you’re rooting for the hometown North Carolina kids, the Kentucky fireballer, the Japanese newcomers, or the Texas dynasty—grab some popcorn, turn on ESPN, and enjoy the future of softball. These kids play with heart, hustle, and zero fear.
Article compiled from USA TODAY Sports reporting by Sherlon Christie (Senior Trending Editor, Little League Expert). Original publish date: Aug 1, 2026 | Updated Aug 4, 2026.
