OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. –
Armed Forces Softball has returned with all of the best softball players the military has to offer to compete and earn service superiority.
The top ballplayers across the U.S. Armed Forces will hit the dirt from Aug. 26-29 at Devon Park for the 2026 Armed Forces Men’s and Women’s Softball Championships. There are six teams representing the Army, Navy (with Coast Guard athletes) and Air Force (with Space Force athletes) that will fiercely battle for the men’s and women’s championship title.
The players on the teams will be evaluated throughout the tournament by the U.S. Armed Forces Selection Committee for a chance to advance to the Armed Forces Team. The standout athletes will earn the right to represent the military on the national stage at the USA Softball Women’s Open Slow Pitch National Championship or the Men’s Super Slow Pitch National Championship from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2.
The Department of the Air Force Sports representative,Tech. Sgt. Tamra Billanueba, expects to see an elite level of talent during this tournament. “All of these athletes from all of the teams have been selected from their branch to represent them,” said Billanueba. “They were selected as the best and top players of their branch.
Last year, in the men’s division the Army men’s team won the title after an explosive victory over the Air Force. The team has returned to defend their spot as the dominant team.
However, the level of competition they expect from the other branches is high. “I think it's great, honestly, because it shows the level of respect that the other branches have for the Army and our program and how dominant it has been,” said Staff Sgt. Jacob Hensal, from the Army Softball team.
Meanwhile, in the women’s division the Army women’s team holds the crown after dethroning the Navy in a victorious game during the 2025 tournament.
Every athlete from across all branches and installations trained and prepared to step onto the field at Devon Park and compete for the title and win.
“We have tons of energy,” said Sgt. 1st Class Troy Collier, from the Army Softball team. “We've worked on our hitting, fielding and different game scenarios so when it’s brought to the games and we're faced with them, we’ll be able to achieve what we’ve been practicing.”
Players are selected from active duty, reserve or national guard and they are the best talent selected from installations across the globe, bringing an elite lineup to Oklahoma City.
“I feel a lot of people in individual sports are playing for themselves but we play for the name on our chest, which is the Army,” said Hensal. “To be able to represent our branch I think that's pretty big.
The tournament is around the corner, bring a friend and don’t miss out on the opportunity to attend the games. The games start at 9am on Aug. 26 and will continue throughout the duration of the tournament.