The season is just beginning, and only a minimal number of games have been played … not much to formulate early-season rankings.

So, these rankings are based on team success in 2025, team expectations and sheer speculation.

We start the 2026 softball rankings with a Class 1A team at the top. It’s a bold prediction, I admit, but in softball, pitching is queen, and the state’s best pitcher toes the rubber in Wells, Minn., where United South Central High School is located.

Forty-five minutes southeast of Mankato, senior Mariah Anderson is seeking to follow up on her terrific junior year when she posted a 26-1 record and struck out 407 batters. The hard-throwing right-hander with exceptional ball spin has 1,378 career strikeouts and needs 265 to break the state record of 1,642 set by Kasson-Mantorville’s Maddie Damon in 2015.

There is more to United South Central than Anderson. The starting infield is back with Alivia Bruegger, Olivia Bungum and Ivy O’Rourke, a solid defensive base to lean on the rare occasions when opponents manage to put the ball in play.

Right behind USC are Class 4A powers Bloomington Jefferson, the runners-up in Class 4A in 2025, Forest Lake and Farmington, all of which have legitimate state championship dreams.

Minnesota Top 25

Teams are in Class 4A unless noted.

1. United South Central (1A, 1-0)

2. Bloomington Jefferson (4A, 0-0)

3. Forest Lake (0-0)

4. Farmington (0-0)

5. White Bear Lake (1-0)

6. Byron (3A, 1-0)

7. Rocori (3A, 0-0)

8. Centennial (0-0)

9. Sartell (3A, 0-0)

10. St. Cloud Cathedral (2A, 0-0)

11. Rogers (0-0)

12. Spectrum (2A, 0-0)

13. Stillwater (0-1)

14. Park of Cottage Grove (1-0)

15. Houston (1A, 3-0)

16. Lakeville North (0-0)

17. Delano (3A, 0-0)

18. Maple Grove (0-0)

19. Rosemount (0-0)

20. Hill-Murray (3A, 1-1)

21. Bethlehem Academy (1A, 0-0)

22. Rockford (2A, 0-0)

23. Lakeville South (0-0)

24. Chisago Lakes (3A, 0-0)

25. Spring Lake Park (2-0)