HONOLULU—University of Hawai'i's first-year head softball coach Panita Thanatharn has released the 2026 schedule. Hawai'i will play a total of 52 games, including 21 home games at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
 
Home Opener
For the first time since 2000, the Rainbow Wahine will host just two non-conference home tournaments (against DI opponents). Hawai'i opens the 2026 season hosting the Paradise Classic (Feb. 5-7) as North Dakota, Pacific and SeattleU will all kick off the new year in Honolulu. The Rainbow Wahine kick their season off against SeattleU on Thursday, Feb. 5th at 5:00 p.m. HT.
 
Road tournaments
The 'Bows will then hit the road for a pair of back-to-back road tournaments in California. Hawai'i will first head to Riverside, Calif. to compete in the CBU (Cal Baptist) Classic. UH will play two games vs. former WAC-rival, Utah State on Feb. 14th and 15th. Hawai'i will then take on LMU to conclude their doubleheader on the 15th. UH will end the tourney on Feb. 16th with a single game against host school, Cal Baptist.
 
Final Non-Conference Tournament
Hawai'i will then travel east to play six games in three games at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif.. The Rainbow Wahine will play three-consecutive doubleheaders on three-straight days. On Thursday, Feb. 19, UH will take on BYU and Duke, followed by Nebraska and Oregon State on Friday, Feb. 20. The 'Bows will close the tournament playing Saint Mary's (CA) and an exhibition game vs. Team Japan on Saturday, Feb. 21.
 
The Rainbow Wahine will return home to host its second and final non-conference tournament from Feb. 26-28. The OUTRIGGER Classic will feature Mercyhurst, and Portland State to the three-day tourney.
 
Final Season in Big West
The Rainbow Wahine will open their final season in the Big West with its first of five conference roadtrips at UC Davis. The 'Bows will begin their battle against the Aggies with a doubleheader on Friday, March 6 and a single game on Saturday, March 7 at La Rue Field.
 
Hawai'i will return to the RWSS to host its conference  home opener against Cal State Fullerton starting with a doubleheader on Friday, March 13 followed by a single game on Saturday, March 14th.
 
After alternating a road series at Long Beach State (March 20-21) and a home series vs. CSUN (March 27-28), the Rainbow Wahine will play a mid-week single game against 2025 Women's College World Series competetor, UCLA at Easton Stadium on Thursday, April 2nd prior to their series at UC Santa Barbara (April 3-4).
 
The Rainbow Wahine will then host a doubleheader on Friday, April 10th against Cal State Bakersfield followed by a single game on Saturday, April 11th as Hawai'i celebrates Senior Night as it honors its seven seniors.
 
The Big West's top six teams will compete for the conference title in the 2026 Big West Softball Championship, with the champion earning an automatic berth in the NCAA Championship. The four-day double-elimination format will take place on the campus of Cal State Fullerton at Anderson Family Field for the second straight season. 
 
The 2026 Rainbow Wahine
The Rainbow Wahine return 17 letterwinners—including six starters and two pitchers from last year's squad which posted a 33-20 overall record and a 17-10 Big West mark to finish the conference season in a four-way tie for second. This year's team welcomes in seven newcomers including three transfers and four freshmen. The 'Bows return three of its top five hitters from a year ago. Junior first baseman Jamie McGaughey earned all-Big West second team honors after hitting a .320 average (54-for-157) while leading the Big Wes with 14 home runs. Senior second baseman Carys Murakami finished her first season at UH hitting just a shade under .300, posting a .295 average (46-for-156) with a team-high 28 runs scored, while junior shortstop Milan Ah Yat finished with a .277 batting average. All three Rainbow Wahine—McGaughey, Murakami and Ah Yat—started all 53 games last year.

The pitching staff returns Macy Brandl and Millie Fidge. Brandl led UH with a 17-8 record and a 3.33 ERA. She tossed 16 complete games with six shutouts as a sophomore. Fidge was primarily used as a reliever making 20 appearances with just one start. She posted a 4.07 ERA  while recording a 2-1 overall record. The Rainbow Wahine welcome in three new pitchers—true freshman Maryn Macneil, sophomore transfer Taryn Irimata, and senior transfer Hannah Pitts.