The 2026 Little League® Summer of Softball® continues with the Little League Softball World Series, Presented by DICK’s Sporting Goods, set to kick off on August 2 in Greenville, North Carolina. Now in year five of an expanded bracket, this year’s tournament will feature 12 teams, including eight U.S. Region champions and four international champions.
Meet the Girls with Game representing their communities this August as they compete for a LLSWS championship banner.
ORANGE BRACKET
Mid-Atlantic: Toms River (N.J.) Little League
After winning the New Jersey State Championship in four of the last five years, Toms River LL punched their ticket to Greenville after a remarkable 5-3 comeback victory over Pennsylvania. This New Jersey team has an incredibly deep offense, with everyone contributing to the explosive sixth inning during the Mid-Atlantic Championship game. Every game is a ritual for Toms River LL. To help the players prepare for their first at-bat, the team has a “ready for battle” drum chant. Admittedly, the coaches have no idea what it means or why the girls do it, but it works.
Asia-Pacific: Kinki (Japan) Little League
Japan will be making its second consecutive trip to Greenville after sweeping the Philippines with two one-run victories in a best-of-three series. In last year’s international tournament, Japan was recognized with the Girls with Game Sportsmanship Award for their positivity and displays of sportsmanship. The Kinki Little Leaguers will build on that momentum and grow that excitement for youth softball across the country in this year’s tournament. Off the field, these youth athletes all love collecting puffy Bonbon Drop stickers and making handmade good luck charms for each other before each tournament. Additionally, as part of their pregame routine, the team holds hands and sings the Japanese song “Saikō Tōtatsuten” for further preparation and motivation.
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West: Live Oak(Calif.) LL
Live Oak Little League’s journey to its first appearance in Greenville was dominant, going undefeated in the West Region. The Northern California girls held opponents to just five runs in four games and found scoring by stringing together singles, producing 12 runs with only one extra-base hit throughout the tournament. Before each game, these Little Leaguers dance to the “Cha Cha Slide” during player introductions to loosen up. The lyrics of the popular line dance tell the players exactly where to smash line drives – to the right and to the left.
Central: Daviess County LL (Owensboro, Ky.)
In just its second year as a program, Daviess County Little League is heading to Greenville. In a thrilling rematch from last year’s Central Region championship game, Kentucky defeated 2025 LLSWS runner-ups, Floyds Knobs, Indiana, 1-0. As tournament season got underway, Manager JW O’Bryan focused on strengthening the girls’ bond. To keep everyone together both before and after the games, he and his family purchased a bus at the county’s surplus auction, and the team has been riding it throughout the summer. Before each game, the girls find time to relax and get loose by playing a game of hacky sack.
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Latin America: Guayama (Puerto Rico) Softball LL
Guayama Softball Little League is back for its third appearance in Greenville after an unbeaten run through the Latin America Region tournament. They clinched the championship banner with a 3-0 victory over Brazil, punching Puerto Rico’s 17th all-time ticket to the LLSWS. Guayama shut out opponents in three of its wins, including a 15-0 victory over Curacao and a 12-0 win over Mexico. For this Puerto Rican squad, whether they are up in the game or trying to win back a couple of runs, the team is known as “las rompe corazones,” which translates to “the heartbreakers.”
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New England: Bristol (Conn.) LL
Bristol Little League’s debut comes on the heels of an unforgettable comeback win against Rhode Island in the New England Region Championships. Bristol LL trailed 3-1 going into the bottom of the sixth before a late rally with an inside-the-park home run that opened the gates to an offensive kick and a walk-off home run to punch their ticket to Greenville. This Bristol LL team is extremely superstitious. Many of the girls on the team sleep in their uniforms the night before each game for good luck. Keeva Knowles is the team’s chant leader, creating unique chants for each of her teammates before game day, and Dakota Green always eats her same favorite snacks – Goldfish, donuts, and slushies.
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Purple BRACKET
Northwest: Snohomish (Wash.) LL
Snohomish Little League cruises to the LLSWS with an immaculate Northwest Region tournament finish capped off by a dominant 11-3 win over Idaho in the championship game. But it’s a run that almost didn’t happen. The regular season was almost canceled due to record flooding of the Snohomish River in December, but the entire community stepped up to get the fields playable for the spring and summer. Now, they step onto the diamond with their signature hair glitter, which somehow always ends up on their coaches by the end of the game.
Southeast: Lake Mary (Fla.) LL
Lake Mary Little League makes its fourth trip to Greenville. This year’s team made a dominant, undefeated run through the Southeast Region, ending with a 3-1 victory over a tough team from Pitt County, North Carolina. What sets this team apart is their infectious love for music, always singing loudly on the way to their games; but once they step onto the field, it’s strictly business. They quiet down, focus, and pray together before running out onto the diamond, sure to hop over the baseline chalk on their way out. Off the field, these fierce competitors have a bit of a soft side, as they all love collecting squishies.
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Canada: On Field LLS Little League (Repentigny, Quebec)
On Field Little League will represent Canada in its third consecutive appearance in the World Series, earning their spot in the tournament by sweeping Alberta’s Capital Region Little League in a best-of-three series. One of the loudest teams you’ll meet, their dugouts feature lots of music and cheers, and their chemistry is one of their biggest strengths. After a tough season in 2025, the Little Leaguers worked hard to develop their skills, grow their confidence, and learn the fundamentals. That hard work and determination drove them to Greenville.
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North Carolina: Johnston County (N.C.) LL
Johnston County Little League will make its Greenville debut as the host team for the LLSWS. In an undefeated three-game run, Johnston County LL outscored opponents 32-0 during the North Carolina State Tournament with its potent offense and excellent pitching. The team’s dominant run started during the district tournament, outscoring opponents 61-0. Since the start of the summer, these girls have created inseparable bonds. The players hold a private team pep talk without the coaches before each game, building each other’s confidence and getting ready for first pitch.
Europe-Africa: Emilia Romagna (Italy) LL
Emilia Romagna Little League returns to the World Series after an early exit in 2024, marking its third appearance in the LLSWS after a 4-2 region championship win over Czechia. They finished the region tournament with a 5-1 overall record. This is Italy’s ninth World Series appearance since 2008. Many Italian recipes are passed down through generations. This team’s recipe for success is no different. Manager Michela Vitalani and her sister Stefania, who played for the Italian national team, are passing down their own love and passion for the sport to the young women on the roster.
Southwest: Greater Helotes LL (San Antonio, Texas)
Greater Helotes Little League makes its second LLSWS appearance after a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Louisiana. They follow the 2016 Greater Helotes team, who ended the tournament with the Championship Banner. The city gets its name from the Spanish word “elotes,” which translates to corn. You’ll see it everywhere, from actual pieces of corn in the dugout to posters, keychains, and rubber ducks. Greater Helotes LL has also been electrified all tournament by Aubrey Montez’s dad, Jesse, who has been showing up as the team’s mascot, dressed in a luchador mask, a Texas flag cape, and some bling. He, along with the rest of the faithful fans, will be chanting “Roll Corn” all the way to Greenville.
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As a reminder, there is no cost to attend the LLSWS as parking and admission are completely FREE. To plan your visit to Greenville and learn more about what to expect during your trip, be sure to check out the visitors’ tab at LittleLeague.org/LLSWS. For those who cannot make it in person, tune in for the first time in the tournament’s history to watch all 22 games on a linear ESPN platform.
Fans looking to represent their favorite teams can purchase their adidas replica jersey and official New Era cap, as well as other region-specific merchandise, at the Little League World Series’ official retail location by visiting ShopLittleLeague.org or stopping by the retail store at Elm Street Park in Greenville! Also, don’t forget to take advantage of FREE SHIPPING on all U.S. orders at ShopLittleLeague.org, all Series long.