UCLA's Megan Grant Breaks 31-Year NCAA Softball HR Record

UCLA's Megan Grant just rewrote the NCAA record books with one powerful swing.

The senior slugger launched her 38th home run of the season Sunday, shattering a single-season record that had stood for 31 years. Arizona's Laura Espinoza set the previous mark of 37 back in 1995, long before Grant was even born.

The historic moment came in the third inning of the Big Ten Championship Game against top-ranked Nebraska. Grant faced Jordy Frahm, the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, and crushed an 0-2 pitch deep to center field.

As Grant rounded the bases, her teammates mobbed her at home plate. The ball that made history? She tucked it safely in her backpack with plans to give it to her grandmother.

"To be able to do that, it's just, it's surreal," Grant told the Associated Press. "I'm just so grateful for the opportunity I was blessed with and just to follow the people that were before me, it's just an honor."

Grant homered in all three Big Ten Tournament games over the weekend to reach the milestone. She edged out Oklahoma's Kendall Wells, who entered the weekend with 36 home runs but couldn't add to her total.

The record-breaking blast capped an exceptional month for Grant. Just 11 days earlier, she was selected fourth overall in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League Draft, validating her dominance at the collegiate level.

Why This Inspires

Grant's achievement represents more than personal glory. She's inspiring the next generation of softball players who dream of leaving their mark on the sport.

With 85 career home runs, Grant sits just five shy of UCLA legend Stacey Nuveman's program record. The eighth-seeded Bruins will host an NCAA Tournament regional, giving Grant more chances to add to her historic season.

A 31-year-old record has finally fallen, and a new standard of excellence has been set for college softball.