While the Wisconsin Badgers failed to win their first Big Ten tournament since 2013, this softball program has much to be proud of.
As the lowest remaining seed, No. 3 may have humbled the No. 7 Badgers in the semi-finals, but Wisconsin made history in more ways than one.
Ultimately, this is a season Yvette Healy’s roster won’t soon forget. When their tournament run came to an end in five innings thanks to a UCLA squad that put up 19 runs, Wisconsin can still hang their heads high knowing eight huge milestones were hit this tournament.
1. Walk-off vs. Purdue was first in program history during Big Ten Tournament
While it’s hard to believe, sophomore Hannah Conger gave the Badgers their first walk-off win in conference tournament history.
2. Three-run comeback vs. Purdue is tied for the largest in program history
Keep in mind, all of these statistics are solely related to the Big Ten tournament. A three-run deficit in the conference tournament is no joke, and Wisconsin has to go back to 2014 when they replicated that result against Nebraska.
3. Hilary Blomberg tied Kayla Konwet’s program home run record
Blomberg went yard for the 15th time this tournament, which tied Konwet’s single-season record that was set back in 2019.
4. Kaylie Whidden sets career high in hits
A three-hit game might not seem like the biggest achievement in the world to some players, but to Whidden it was a career high she set in the quarter-finals against Oregon.
5. Jaclyn Showalter’s freshman home run record
While Blomberg leads the team with 15 home runs, Showalter was the only other player to reach double-digits (13). With that number, she surpassed Chloe Miller’s mark from 2014.
6. First-ranked win since 2024
Not only were the Ducks the No. 2 team in the conference tournament, but they were ranked No. 11 nationally. It’s been a few years since the Badgers have knocked off a ranked opponent, and it’s worth noting this is their highest-ranked opponent victory since they took down No. 9 Alabama in 2023.
7. Most runs ever scored in a Big Ten tournament game
Sure, Wisconsin beat Oregon, but they did so by putting up 11 runs, which is the most they’ve ever scored in a conference tournament game. That win gets more and more impressive, which is a huge deal, knowing the selection show is right around the corner.
8. First ever win vs. Oregon
It may be hard to believe, but coming into the quarter-finals, Wisconsin was 0-10 and scored a combined 12 runs. Somehow, they put all of that behind them to score 11 and secure their first-ever win against the Ducks when the lights shone the brightest.
9. Hannah Conger and Jaclyn Showalter’s home run milestone
There are only four players in program history to hit two or more home runs in the Big Ten Tournament. Shockingly, half of that list is comprised of players who did so this season. Conger and Showalter join Taylor Johnson (2019) and Hilary Blomberg (2024) in the record books.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Nine ways Wisconsin made history in 2026 Big Ten softball tournament
Reporting by Jordon Lawrenz, Badgers Wire / Badgers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
