2026 NCAA Basketball Women's Tournament
The 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament field is set, with UConn entering as the undefeated top overall seed after a dominant regular season. Following their 2025 title win, the Huskies are the heavy favorites to repeat, led by national player of the year frontrunner Sarah Strong and a healthy Azzi Fudd. Joining them on the top line are UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina, marking the first time in tournament history that the previous year’s Final Four teams have all returned as number one seeds the following season.
The bracket features two primary regional sites in Fort Worth and Sacramento, where the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight will be held before the road leads to the Final Four in Phoenix. While the top seeds are formidable, Vanderbilt has emerged as a major threat after securing a No. 2 seed, its highest in nearly two decades. On the defensive end, Notre Dame remains a dangerous out due to the elite two-way play of Hannah Hidalgo, who leads the country in steals and transition scoring.
College Basketball Betting Lines
Analysis of the draw suggests a particularly difficult path in the Sacramento Regional, where UCLA and South Carolina are on a collision course. Meanwhile, Iowa State and TCU are trendy upset picks in the early rounds due to their high-volume interior scoring. The action officially begins with the First Four on March 18, with the national championship game scheduled for April 5.
UConn enters the 2026 tournament as the clear best team in the country and the number one overall seed. The Huskies finished the regular season undefeated at 34-0 and are currently riding a 50-game winning streak that dates back to the middle of last season. Sophomore forward Sarah Strong and senior guard Azzi Fudd lead a roster that outscored opponents by nearly 40 points per game on average. Their consistency on both ends of the floor has made them a heavy betting favorite to win their 13th national title on April 5 in Phoenix.
UCLA is widely considered the second-best team entering the field after finishing 31-1 and sweeping the Big Ten titles. The Bruins are led by 6'7" center Lauren Betts and guard Kiki Rice, providing a physical interior presence that few teams can match. Texas follows closely as the third overall seed, having recently defeated South Carolina to win the SEC tournament championship. The Longhorns rely on the elite scoring and playmaking of Madison Booker, who has proven she can carry the team against top-tier competition.
South Carolina rounds out the top tier of contenders as the fourth number one seed. Although they suffered three losses this year, the Gamecocks remain the most physically imposing defensive team in the bracket, led by Raven Johnson and Joyce Edwards. Other top teams capable of making a deep run include Vanderbilt, which earned a number two seed behind the scoring of Mikayla Blakes, and LSU, which led the nation in scoring at over 94 points per game. Notre Dame also remains a dangerous threat, thanks to Hannah Hidalgo's defensive dominance.
2026 NCAA Basketball Women’s Tournament
First Four: March 18-19, 2026 (at campus sites or designated early-round locations).
First and Second Rounds (Round of 64 and Round of 32): March 20-23, 2026 (primarily at campus sites hosted by top-seeded teams).
Sweet 16 and Elite Eight (Regionals): March 27-30, 2026. (Fort Worth, Texas – Dickies Arena & Sacramento, California – Golden 1 Center)
Final Four and National Championship: April 3 (semifinals) and April 5 (championship), 2026. (Phoenix, Arizona – Mortgage Matchup Center)
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2026 NCAA Basketball Women’s Tournament Schedule
First Four
Wednesday, March 18
(11) Nebraska vs. (11) Richmond, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
(16) Missouri State vs. (16) Stephen F. Austin, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Thursday, March 19
(16) Southern vs. (16) Samford, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
(10) Virginia vs. (10) Arizona State, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
First Round/Round of 64
Friday, March 20: First round
(3) Duke vs. (14) Charleston, 11:30 a.m., ESPN2
(3) TCU vs. (14) UC San Diego, 12 p.m., ESPN
(8) Oregon vs. (9) Virginia Tech, 1:30 p.m., ESPN2
(6) Baylor vs. (11) Nebraska/Richmond, 2 p.m., ESPN
(6) Washington vs. (11) South Dakota State, 2:30 p.m., ESPNews
(5) Maryland vs. (12) Murray State, 3 p.m., ESPNU
(5) Ole Miss vs. (12) Gonzaga, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2
(1) Texas vs. (16) Missouri State/Stephen F. Austin, 4 p.m., ESPN
(2) Michigan vs. (15) Holy Cross, 5:30 p.m., ESPN2
(4) North Carolina vs. (13) Western Illinois, 5:30 p.m., ESPNews
(2) LSU vs. (15) Jacksonville, 6 p.m., ESPN
(4) Minnesota vs. (13) Green Bay, 6 p.m., ESPNU
(5) Michigan State vs. (12) Colorado State, 7:30 p.m. ESPNews
(7) NC State vs. (10) Tennessee, 8 p.m., ESPN
(7) Texas Tech vs. (10) Villanova, 8:30 p.m., ESPNU
(4) Oklahoma vs. (13) Idaho, 10 p.m., ESPN
Saturday, March 21: First round
(3) Ohio State vs. (14) Howard, 11:30 a.m., ESPN2
(3) Louisville vs. (14) Vermont, 12 p.m., ESPN
(1) South Carolina vs. (16) Southern/Samford, 1 p.m., ABC
(7) Georgia vs. (10) Virginia/Arizona State, 1:30 p.m., ESPN2
(6) Notre Dame vs. (11) Fairfield, 2 p.m., ESPN
(5) Kentucky vs. (12) James Madison, 2:30 p.m., ESPNU
(6) Alabama vs. (11) Rhode Island, 2:30 p.m., ESPNews
(1) UConn vs. (16) UTSA, 3 p.m., ABC
(8) Clemson vs. (9) USC, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2
(2) Iowa vs. (15) Fairleigh Dickinson, 4 p.m., ESPN
(4) West Virginia vs. (13) Miami (Ohio), 5 p.m., ESPNU
(8) Iowa State vs. (9) Syracuse, 5:30 p.m., ESPN2
(2) Vanderbilt vs. (15) High Point, 7 p.m., ESPNews
(8) Oklahoma State vs. (9) Princeton, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2
(7) Illinois vs. (10) Colorado, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2
(1) UCLA vs. (16) Cal Baptist, 10 p.m., ESPN
Women's NCAA Tournament Format
The NCAA didn't sanction the inaugural women's basketball tournament. Officially, what we know today as the Women’s NCAA Tournament was founded in 1982, and the original edition featured 32 teams. The bracket expanded to 36 teams in 1983, then returned to 32 teams in 1984 and 1985. Then, just as the men moved to a 64-team field in 1985, the ladies started working in that direction as well.
The first 40-team WNCAA Tournament happened in 1986, and three years later, the field expanded again to 48 teams. In 1994, the field grew to the full 64 teams we have today. The number of automatic and at-large bids fluctuated only slightly for a while, generally staying right around 32 conference winners and 32 at-large selections. However, the Women’s NCAA Tournament followed the men in expanding to 68 teams in 2022. Unlike the men’s tournament, though, the First Four is not held exclusively in Dayton; instead, the teams trying to qualify for the tournament proper are sent to regional sites where they will play if they win.
We saw another change in the Women’s NCAA Tournament in 2023. There are still 16 tournament hosts for the first and second rounds, but only two cities will host the Regional Finals, down from the usual four.
National Championship Game Winners
| YEARS |
WINNER |
RUNNER-UP |
VENUE |
| 2025 |
Connecticut |
South Carolina |
Amalie Arena |
| 2024 |
South Carolina |
Iowa |
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse |
| 2023 |
LSU |
Iowa |
American Airlines Center |
| 2022 |
South Carolina |
Connecticut |
Target Center |
| 2021 |
Stanford |
Arizona |
Alamodome |
| 2020 |
Cancelled |
| 2019 |
Baylor |
Notre Dame |
Amalie Arena |
| 2018 |
Notre Dame |
Mississippi St. |
Nationwide Arena |
| 2017 |
South Carolina |
Mississippi St. |
American Airlines Center |
| 2016 |
Connecticut |
Syracuse |
Bankers Life Fieldhouse |
| 2015 |
Connecticut |
Notre Dame |
Amalie Arena |
| 2014 |
Connecticut |
Notre Dame |
Bridgestone Arena |
| 2013 |
Connecticut |
Louisville |
New Orleans Arena |
| 2012 |
Baylor |
Notre Dame |
Pepsi Center |
| 2011 |
Texas A&M |
Notre Dame |
Conseco Fieldhouse |
| 2010 |
Connecticut |
Stanford |
Alamodome |
| 2009 |
Connecticut |
Louisville |
Scottrade Center |
| 2008 |
Tennessee |
Stanford |
St. Pete Times Forum |
| 2007 |
Tennessee |
Rutgers |
Quicken Loans Arena |
| 2006 |
Maryland |
Duke |
TD Garden |
| 2005 |
Baylor |
Michigan State |
RCA Dome |
| 2004 |
Connecticut |
Tennessee |
New Orleans Arena |
| 2003 |
Connecticut |
Tennessee |
Georgia Dome |
| 2002 |
Connecticut |
Oklahoma |
Alamodome |
| 2001 |
Notre Dame |
Purdue |
Savvis Center |
| 2000 |
Connecticut |
Tennessee |
First Union Center |
| 1999 |
Purdue |
Duke |
San Jose Arena |
| 1998 |
Tennessee |
Louisiana Tech |
Kemper Arena |
| 1997 |
Tennessee |
Old Dominion |
Riverfront Coliseum |
| 1996 |
Tennessee |
Georgia |
Charlotte Coliseum |
| 1995 |
Connecticut |
Tennessee |
Target Center |
| 1994 |
North Carolina |
Louisiana Tech |
Richmond Coliseum |
| 1993 |
Texas Tech |
Ohio State |
Omni Coliseum |
| 1992 |
Stanford |
Western Kentucky |
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena |
| 1991 |
Tennessee |
Virginia |
Lakefront Arena |
| 1990 |
Stanford |
Auburn |
Thompson-Boling Arena |
| 1989 |
Tennessee |
Auburn |
Tacoma Dome |
| 1988 |
Louisiana Tech |
Auburn |
Tacoma Dome |
| 1987 |
Tennessee |
Louisiana Tech |
Frank Erwin Center |
| 1986 |
Texas |
USC |
Rupp Arena |
| 1985 |
Old Dominion |
Georgia |
Frank Erwin Center |
| 1984 |
USC |
Tennessee |
Pauley Pavilion |
| 1983 |
USC |
Louisiana Tech |
Norfolk Scope |
| 1982 |
Louisiana Tech |
Cheyney State |
Norfolk Scope |
Most National Championships
| WINS |
TEAM |
YEARS |
| 12 |
Connecticut |
1995, 2000, 2002-2004, 2009-2010, 2013-2016, 2025 |
| 8 |
Tennessee |
1987, 1989, 1991, 1996-1998, 2007-2008 |
| 3 |
South Carolina |
2017, 2022, 2024 |
| 3 |
Stanford |
1990, 1992, 2021 |
| 3 |
Baylor |
2005, 2012, 2019 |
| 2 |
Louisiana Tech |
1982, 1988 |
| 2 |
USC |
1983, 1984 |
| 2 |
Notre Dame |
2001, 2018 |
| 1 |
LSU |
2023 |
| 1 |
Maryland |
2006 |
| 1 |
North Carolina |
1994 |
| 1 |
Old Dominion |
1985 |
| 1 |
Purdue |
1999 |
| 1 |
Texas |
1986 |
| 1 |
Texas A&M |
2011 |
| 1 |
Texas Tech |
1993 |
UConn won 11 national championships between 1995 and 2016, but the playing field is starting to even out with South Carolina, Stanford, Baylor, and Notre Dame all claiming national titles in the last several years.
The first dynasty in women’s basketball was Tennessee, and the Volunteers are the only school to make every edition of the NCAA Tournament to date. Pat Summitt established herself as a household name by leading the Lady Vols to eight national championships, and she retired with 1,098 career wins.
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