MLB Network to air college softball games for first time

2024 season will kick off with tripleheader broadcast of NFCA Leadoff Classic7:17 PM UTC

This year, the college softball season kicks off on MLB Network.

As part of the season-opening 2024 NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic, live college softball games will be televised on MLB Network for the first time ever.

MLB Network will broadcast three games from the Leadoff Classic on Saturday, Feb. 10:

Utah vs. Notre Dame at 1 p.m. ET
Liberty vs. Missouri at 4 p.m. ET
Clemson vs. Oregon at 7 p.m. ET

Utah is coming off a season in which the Utes made it to the Women’s College World Series, while both Clemson and Oregon reached the Super Regionals of the NCAA softball tournament. Liberty, Missouri and Notre Dame all reached the Regionals.

“We’re thrilled to broadcast live softball on MLB Network for the first time in our 15-year history,” MLB Network president Bill Morningstar said. “Partnering with the NFCA to showcase the Leadoff Classic on a national stage perfectly aligns with Major League Baseball’s ongoing commitment to grow youth softball and baseball, and it accomplishes our goal to present new content that engages and excites our fans.”

The 17-team Leadoff Classic tournament will be held from Feb. 8-11 at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced the tournament’s schedule on Thursday, including the plans for MLB Network broadcasts.

“We feel honored to have our Saturday tripleheader be the first live softball games ever broadcast on MLB Network,” National Fastpitch Coaches Association executive director Carol Bruggeman said. “This opportunity will showcase our exciting sport and expand our reach to a new audience.”

Softball fans around the world will also be able to watch every game of the 2024 NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic for free on the GameChanger app. All 43 games of the tournament will be streamed on GameChanger, which is available on your phone, tablet or desktop.

Viewers can visit MLBNetwork.com to find local channel listings to watch the tripleheader of MLB Network telecasts. Those three games will also be streamed on GameChanger.

“Our commitment to the sport runs deep, and we believe in making every game accessible to fans and players alike through dynamic video coverage,” GameChanger president Sameer Ahuja said. “Alongside NFCA and MLB, we will continue to champion the visibility of the sport and bring the excitement of softball to an ever-expanding audience.”

Nine of the 17 teams playing in the 2024 Leadoff Classic made it to the NCAA tournament last year — the six playing in the MLB Network games, as well as Central Arkansas, Indiana and North Carolina Central. Iowa, which did not play in the Division I softball tournament but won the 2023 National Invitational Softball Championship, is also participating.

Army West Point, Kansas, Missouri State, NC State, South Alabama, St. John’s and Western Kentucky round out the tournament field.