INDIANOLA, Iowa - Simpson Softball begins the journey for an NCAA Division III National Championship with an opening-round matchup again Mount Union on Thursday, May 28 in Salem, Va.
2026 DIVISION III WCWS TOURNAMENT PAGE
Simpson punched its ticket to the Women's College World Series after sweeping Saint Mary's 8-3 and 8-5 in Winona, Minn. last week. The Storm reached the Super Regionals after winning the Indianola Regional with two dramatic come-from-behind seventh-inning rallies over Saint Benedict earlier in the month.
The Storm head to the WCWS with a 39-6 record, the most wins since the 2000 season (42), and Simpson's first return to the national stage since the 1999 National Champions team.
Simpson features one of the potent offenses in the country, backed by a formidable one-two punch in the circle. Headlining the offense all season long has been All-Americans Ashlyn Steen and Megan Heidelbauer. Heidelbauer was named the Indianola Regional Most Outstanding Player, while Steen was the Winona Super Regional Most Outstanding Player.
On the year, Steen features a .507 batting average with five home runs, 30 RBIs, and team-leading 44 stolen bases. Steen leads the squad as well in on-base percentage (.593) slugging (.814), and runs scored (68). Heidelbauer leads the way in home runs (9) and RBIs (67) while posting a .430/.476/.799 slash line.
Mackenzie James and Katie Shaner have backed up Steen and Heidelbauer in order all season long. The duo have played in all 45 games with James hitting .323 with three home runs and 38 RBIs, and Shaner at .396 with five long balls and 42 RBIs. Addison Gookin and Brielyn Ginnaty flexed their power during the super regionals, combining to hit four home runs, two each, over the two games, and enter the WCWS with a combined 16 home runs.
On the left side of the infield, all-region selections Caelynn Obleton and Brynn Ortlund have not only formed one of the best defensive infield pairings but also strike for damage at the plate. Obleton on the year hits .325 with 14 extra base hits and 20 RBIs while Ortlund has posted a .378 batting average with five extra base hits and 14 RBIs.
Behind the plate, Gracie Bruening and Makayla Fowler split the duties with Bruening hitting .343 with three home runs and 27 RBIs. Fowler has suited up 22 times with a near flawless .991 fielding percentage and three runners caught stealing.
In the circle, Simpson turns to Super Regionals Most Outstanding Pitcher Emma LaFave and first team all-region selection Marina Cronin. The duo have combined to win 35 of Simpson's 39 games and pitched over 250 innings. LaFave sports an 18-3 record with 13 complete games, a 2.58 ERA and 99 strikeouts for a 5.32 K/7 rate. Cronin sits at 17-2 on the year with four saves, 10 complete games, a 2.04 ERA and a 6.52 K/7 rate.
Simpson stands as one of eight teams still in the hunt for the 2026 Division III Championship trophy. Joining the Storm in Salem will be undefeated Virginia Weselyan, defending National Champions Trine, Linfield, Redlands, Mount Union, Belhaven, and Rowan.
The double elimination bracket begins Thursday, May 28 and the two-day, three-game finals starts on Tuesday, June 2. Simpson faces off against Mount Union in the opening round on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. CDT.
Mount Union sits at 35-7 on the year, winning its regional over Christopher Newport before sweeping the super regionals against UMass Dartmouth. The Raiders feature a deep lineup with nearly five players with a 1.000 OPS or better and Kendyll Cahill in the circle with a 24-2 record and a 1.81 ERA over 154 innings.
Fans will be able to follow along all Women's College World Series action on simpsonathletics.com or on NCAA.com.
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About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to nine full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. Luther College has announced its departure from the conference, effective at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year.
