A UCLA senior made softball history this weekend by shattering a three-decade-old NCAA record with a powerful swing that sent the ball soaring into the record books.
Megan Grant launched her 38th home run of the 2026 season during Saturday’s matchup with Nebraska, surpassing the previous NCAA Division I softball record of 37 home runs that Arizona’s Laura Espinoza established back in 1995.
The remarkable achievement came in the third inning when Grant connected on a deep drive to left-center field. What makes the feat even more impressive is that Grant accomplished this milestone in just 55 games, compared to the 72 games it took Espinoza to set the original mark.
Mike Candrea, who served as Espinoza’s coach at Arizona, offered his congratulations to Grant. “Records are made to be broken,” Candrea shared with The Athletic. “It’s a pretty phenomenal record to be able to break, so tip my hat off.”
Despite Grant’s historic moment, Nebraska claimed victory in Saturday’s contest with a 7-2 win to secure the Big Ten championship.
Grant’s record-breaking performance capped off an incredible weekend for the Bruins’ offense. During Friday’s semifinal victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament, UCLA’s team reached 181 home runs for the season, breaking the previous team record of 161 that had been set in 2021. Grant’s Saturday blast pushed that total to 182.
The multi-sport star, who also contributed to UCLA’s 2026 NCAA basketball championship, reflected on her achievement with reporters. “When I first came into college, I wanted to put myself in the books as one of the best, and I didn’t really know how to at the time, but throughout my career, just more and more has gone on, and to be able to do that, it’s just, it’s surreal,” Grant explained. “I am just so grateful for the opportunity I was blessed with, and just to follow the people that were before me. It’s just honor.”
Grant’s path to the record included matching UCLA’s previous single-season mark during an April 18 doubleheader against Cal, when she tied Stacey Nuveman’s school record with her 31st homer. She then broke Nuveman’s UCLA record on April 24 in a game against Washington.
Both Grant and Nuveman now stand as the only Bruins players to reach 80 career home runs. While Nuveman, who finished her career in 2002, holds the program’s all-time record with 90, Grant currently sits at 85 career homers.
Grant has also made history alongside senior teammate Jordan Woolery, who has hit 33 home runs this season. The duo became the first teammates in NCAA softball history to each hit 30 or more home runs in the same season.
The Bruins, who finished the regular season with a 47-8 record, will learn their postseason placement during Sunday afternoon’s NCAA Division I Selection Show. UCLA is pursuing its first Women’s College World Series championship since 2019, which would be the program’s 13th NCAA title overall.
Following the college season, Grant plans to continue her softball career alongside teammates Woolery and Taylor Tinsley in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League this summer.
