2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament: Schedule, Bracket & Top Seeds

The 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament is underway, with the First Four completed and the first round tipping off Friday. UConn, the reigning national champion, enters the tournament as the undisputed No. 1 overall seed, aiming to defend its title and potentially complete an undefeated season. While the Huskies are heavily favored, the bracket is filled with potential contenders, including UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina, all of whom also earned No. 1 seeds.

UConn’s path to a record-breaking 12th national championship began with an impressive 82-59 victory over South Carolina in the 2025 final. That game, played on April 6, 2025, saw Azzi Fudd lead the Huskies with 24 points, earning her Most Outstanding Player honors. Sarah Strong also contributed 24 points and 15 rebounds, while Paige Bueckers added 17 points and six rebounds in what was her final game with UConn. Despite shooting just 5-for-14 from the field, Bueckers’ impact on the game was undeniable.

This year, UConn boasts a perfect 34-0 record, having defeated eight teams that also made the 2026 tournament field. Their dominance is reflected in their No. 1 ranking in NET, Torvik, and Her Hoop Stats Rating, as well as their strength of schedule. They begin their tournament journey at home in Storrs, Connecticut, against No. 16 seed UTSA, with a likely second-round matchup against the winner of No. 8 Iowa State and No. 9 Syracuse.

While UConn is the clear favorite, several other teams pose a significant threat. UCLA, despite not receiving the No. 1 overall seed, has a higher Wins Above Bubble (WAB) ranking and 10 more Quad 1 wins than the Huskies. Texas and South Carolina, also No. 1 seeds, will be looking to create deep runs in the tournament. South Carolina, in particular, could face a challenging path to the Final Four.

The First Four games, held on Wednesday and Thursday, saw Nebraska defeat Richmond 75-56 and Missouri State overcome Stephen F. Austin 85-75. On Thursday, Southern defeated Samford 65-53, and Virginia edged out Arizona State 57-55. These victories set the stage for the first round, which begins Friday with a packed schedule of games.

Friday’s first-round action includes matchups such as No. 3 Duke versus No. 14 Charleston, No. 3 TCU against No. 14 UC San Diego, and No. 1 Texas taking on No. 16 Missouri State. Saturday’s schedule features No. 1 South Carolina against No. 16 Southern and No. 1 UConn against No. 16 UTSA, both highly anticipated contests.

The tournament will progress through the second round, Sweet Sixteen, and Elite Eight, culminating in the Final Four in Phoenix on April 3rd and the championship game on April 5th, televised on ABC. The regional sites for the tournament are Sacramento and Fort Worth.

Current odds favor UConn to win the championship at -265, followed by UCLA at +550, Texas at +700, and South Carolina at +800. LSU, Vanderbilt, Michigan, and Iowa are also considered contenders, albeit with longer odds.

UConn’s quest for back-to-back titles and an undefeated season will be closely watched throughout the tournament. If successful, the Huskies would become the 11th team to achieve an undefeated season and the first to win consecutive championships since their own dominant run from 2013-2016. The 2026 NCAA Women’s Tournament promises to be a thrilling competition, with UConn leading the charge but facing a field of determined and talented teams.