UCLA senior Megan Grant made history on Saturday by smashing her 38th home run of the 2026 season, setting a new NCAA Division I softball single-season record. Grant, who also contributed to UCLA’s 2026 NCAA basketball championship run, broke the mark that had stood for 31 years.
During the third inning of Saturday’s contest against Nebraska, Grant launched a deep shot to left-center field, surpassing the previous record of 37 home runs set by Arizona’s Laura Espinoza in 1995. Grant achieved the feat in just 55 games—17 fewer than Espinoza needed.
“Records are meant to be broken,” Mike Candrea, who coached Espinoza at Arizona, told The Athletic. “Breaking such a phenomenal record deserves a tip of the cap.”
Despite Grant’s milestone, Nebraska defeated UCLA 7-2 on Saturday to claim the Big Ten title. In Friday’s Big Ten tournament semifinal against Wisconsin, the Bruins hit their 181st home run of the season, eclipsing the previous NCAA record of 161 set in 2021. Grant pushed that total to 182 with her record-breaking blast.
“When I first arrived in college, I aspired to be remembered among the best, though I wasn’t sure how at the time,” Grant told reporters. “As my career progressed, more opportunities arose, and achieving this feels surreal. I’m incredibly grateful for the chance I’ve been given and honored to follow those who came before me.”
Grant tied UCLA’s single-season record holder, Stacey Nuveman, with her 31st home run during an April 18 doubleheader against Cal, then surpassed her on April 24 against Washington. Grant and Nuveman are the only Bruins to hit at least 80 career home runs. Nuveman, who retired in 2002, holds the program’s all-time record with 90 homers, while Grant now has 85.
Grant and senior teammate Jordan Woolery (33 homers) became the first pair of teammates in NCAA softball history to each hit 30 or more home runs in the same season.
The NCAA Division I Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, where UCLA (47-8) will learn its postseason seeding. The Bruins are chasing their first Women’s College World Series title since 2019 and their 13th in program history.
Grant, Woolery, and Taylor Tinsley all plan to continue their softball careers this summer in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.
