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Softball is one of the younger varsity programs at Stanford, but it has become one of the most fun to watch. The team reached back-to-back Women's College World Series in 2023 and 2024, packed Stanford Stadium for a regular season game in 2025 and moved into a rebuilt ballpark in 2026. On a spring afternoon the stands are close to the field and the foothills rise behind the outfield.
This page covers the program's history, the new stadium, the ACC years and what to know before a game. For the rest of Stanford's spring sports, see Stanford sports and game days.
A short history
Stanford's year-by-year softball records begin in the mid-1990s and the team moved into Boyd and Jill Smith Family Stadium for the 1997 season. Within a few years it was hosting NCAA regionals. The first trip to the Women's College World Series came in 2001 and the second in 2004. Stanford won its only conference title, the Pac-10, in 2005.
| Record | Years, per Stanford Athletics |
|---|---|
| Women's College World Series | 2001, 2004, 2023, 2024 |
| Super regionals | 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| NCAA regionals | 23 appearances, most recently 2026 |
| Conference title | 2005 (Pac-10) |
The modern peak came under Jessica Allister, whose official title is the Paul A. Violich Director of Softball. Stanford hosted super regionals in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and went on to Oklahoma City in the last two of those years. Stanford has not won a national title, so treat the World Series trips as the high-water marks.
From Smith Family Stadium to Stanford Softball Stadium
Smith Family Stadium opened in phases. The field was ready for 1997 and permanent seats, restrooms and a press box followed in 2001. A covered hitting facility and new bullpens came before the 2020 season and lights before 2022. Stanford Athletics says the park hosted six regionals and five super regionals, with views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Dish.
For 2025, while the stadium was rebuilt, the team played its home games at Stanford Stadium. The football venue drew an NCAA record 13,207 fans on April 19, 2025.
The rebuilt park, now called Stanford Softball Stadium, opened on February 5, 2026, with a 4 to 2 win over Oklahoma State. Stanford Athletics lists these upgrades:
- A second deck of seating that lifts capacity from 829 to 1,347, including premium and terrace seats
- Two private party decks for groups
- A concourse with concessions, a merchandise booth and restrooms
- An elevator for accessibility
- More than 4,000 square feet of team space, with locker rooms, a players' lounge and training rooms
The first weeks were bumpy. A mid-February 2026 tournament was played in Saratoga and San Jose instead. Press reports tied the move to finishing work and county sign-off. The team was back in the new stadium for the DeMarini Invitational on February 20 and played most of its remaining home games there. A March series against Notre Dame was listed at Stanford Stadium.
The ACC era
The move to the ACC in 2024 sent Stanford to places like Louisville, Durham and Chapel Hill for three-game weekend series. Stanford made the NCAA tournament in 2025, its sixth straight trip according to Stanford Athletics.
The 2026 team went 39 and 15 with an 18 and 6 ACC record. It won 27 of 35 home games. It swept NC State and Cal at home in April. In the ACC tournament in Charlottesville it beat Louisville in eight innings before losing to Florida State in the semifinals. Its season ended in the NCAA regional at Oklahoma State on May 17, 2026.
The 2027 schedule had not been posted in late October 2026. College softball usually opens in early February and the regular season runs into early May.
Where to sit
The new second deck gives a view over the whole diamond. Seats in the lower bowl behind home plate put you closest to the pitcher and catcher, which is the best way to appreciate how fast the game moves. The terrace and premium seats are sold as separate ticket types, so check the seat map when you buy. Accessible seating is reached by the new elevator.
Tickets
- A ticket is required for every fan older than 24 months. Buy single game and season tickets at tickets.gostanford.com.
- The box office sits in front of the stadium behind home plate and opens 90 minutes before the first game of the day.
- Stanford students get in free to regular season games and can buy up to two guest tickets.
- Tickets are mobile. Load them into your phone wallet ahead of time.
- Group tickets are handled by the Stanford Athletics Ticket Office at 800-STANFORD or groupsales@stanford.edu.
Game day tips
- Arrive when the gates open. Gates open an hour before the first game, through two entrances behind home plate.
- Leave the umbrella at home. Umbrellas, signs and hard bottles are not allowed. Bring a hat and sunscreen instead.
- Watch the weather. Spring rain moves softball games often. Stanford posts updates on its softball social accounts and has a rainout policy on gostanford.com.
- Know the amenities. Beer and wine are sold inside. A grab-and-go booth sits behind home plate and the merchandise table is on the first base concourse.
- Plan for doubleheaders. Tournament weekends and some series include two games a day. Re-entry is allowed during tournament play with a ticket scan.
Good to know
- The clear bag policy applies, as at all Stanford venues.
- Women's restrooms are on the first base concourse and men's on the third base concourse.
- Baseball plays next door at Sunken Diamond, so a spring weekend can include both.
- Visiting for an ACC series? Compare hotels near Stanford on El Camino Real, a short walk from the ballpark.
Parking and transit
Stanford Athletics says parking is free on a first-come basis in the Sunken Diamond Lot on weekdays after 4 p.m. and all day on weekends. Lot 2 and the Track House Lot are extra options. Before 4 p.m. on weekdays, campus visitor parking rules apply and hourly payment runs through ParkMobile. Our Stanford parking and transit guide has details.
The stadium sits in the athletics district near El Camino Real. During one 2026 tournament, Stanford told fans to walk along El Camino Real and turn onto Churchill Mall to reach it, which gives a sense of where it is. From Palo Alto Caltrain station, the walk takes about 20 minutes. The free Marguerite shuttle runs main lines on weekdays only.
Where to eat nearby
Town & Country Village is across El Camino Real at Embarcadero Road. It has Gott's Roadside for burgers, Boichik Bagels and Manresa Bread for an early start and Sushi House or Telefèric Barcelona for a sit-down meal. See our Town & Country food guide for more. For a bigger choice, downtown Palo Alto is about a mile away. Our guide to eating near Stanford sorts restaurants by distance from campus.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Stanford softball play?
At Stanford Softball Stadium, the rebuilt version of Boyd and Jill Smith Family Stadium, which had been the team's home since 1997. The new stadium opened for the 2026 season. In 2025, during construction, the team played home games at Stanford Stadium.
Has Stanford softball won a national championship?
No. Stanford has reached the Women's College World Series four times, in 2001, 2004, 2023 and 2024, according to Stanford Athletics. It has played in 23 NCAA regionals, including 2026.
What was the record crowd for Stanford softball?
Stanford drew an NCAA record 13,207 fans to Stanford Stadium on April 19, 2025, while its own ballpark was being rebuilt. Stanford Athletics cites the figure as an NCAA softball record.
Is parking free for Stanford softball?
Stanford Athletics says parking is free on a first-come basis in the Sunken Diamond Lot on weekdays after 4 p.m. and all day on weekends. Lot 2 and the Track House Lot are additional options.
When does the 2027 Stanford softball season start?
College softball usually opens in early February. Stanford had not posted its 2027 schedule in late October 2026. The 2026 season opened on February 5 with the first game in the new stadium.