GULFPORT, Miss. — The Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers are set to begin their postseason run as the No. 1 seed from the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division at the 2026 SWAC Softball Tournament, hosted at the Gulfport Sportsplex.

After a dominant conference campaign, Prairie View A&M (19-4 SWAC) enters the tournament with momentum and a target on its back, looking to turn regular-season success into a championship run.

First Pitch Matchup
The Lady Panthers will open tournament play on Tuesday, May 5 at 3:30 pm CST against No. 4 seed Alabama State, the fourth-place finisher from the Eastern Division.

Tournament Format & Path
The tournament will follow a double-elimination format, meaning every team must lose twice to be eliminated. With a win in Game 3, Prairie View A&M will advance to Wednesday's winner's bracket (Game 7) and move one step closer to the championship round. A loss would drop the Lady Panthers into an elimination game on Wednesday morning.

Scouting the Lady Panthers
Prairie View A&M has been one of the most consistent teams in the conference this season, combining timely hitting with strong pitching performances. The Lady Panthers claimed the top seed in the West after edging out a competitive division that included Southern, Texas Southern, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Around the Tournament Field
Florida A&M earned the No. 1 seed out of the Eastern Division after posting a 19-5 conference record, while Jackson State, Bethune-Cookman, and Alabama State round out the East representatives. On the Western side, Southern (No. 2), Texas Southern (No. 3), and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (No. 4) join Prairie View A&M in the bracket.  Prairie View A&M (19-4) claims the No. 1 seed from the Western Division. Southern (18-6 SWAC) secured the No. 2 seed, followed by No. 3 seed Texas Southern (17-6 SWAC) and No. 4 seed Arkansas-Pine Bluff (7-15 SWAC).

Championship Outlook
Games will run through May 8, with the championship set for Saturday, May 9, if necessary. The winner of the SWAC Tournament will earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

How to Follow
All tournament games will be streamed live on SWAC TV, allowing fans to follow the Lady Panthers throughout their postseason journey.

First pitch is set, and the stakes are clear—Prairie View A&M begins its quest for a SWAC title Tuesday afternoon in Gulfport.