NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament 2026 Field Announced; UConn Huskies Top Overall Seed
Authored by sportsite777.com, Mar 17, 2026
The field for the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament was revealed on Sunday night, a few hours after the men's bracket selection.[1][2]
The UConn Huskies earned the No. 1 overall seed. The Huskies, coached by Geno Auriemma, are pursuing another national title; the program holds a record 11 NCAA championships.[3][4] UConn is led by forward Sarah Strong and guard Azzi Fudd.
South Carolina Gamecocks, coached by Dawn Staley, received the No. 1 seed in Region 4. The Gamecocks won their previous two NCAA titles in 2022 and 2024.[2][4] Key contributors include Joyce Edwards and Madina Okot.
UCLA Bruins, led by center Lauren Betts, and Texas Longhorns, led by guard Madison Booker, claimed the other two No. 1 regional seeds.[1][2] UCLA transferred Betts from Stanford ahead of the 2024-25 season.[5]
First Four games are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, featuring Missouri vs. Stephen F. Austin, Southern vs. Samford for No. 16 seeds, Nebraska vs. Richmond for a No. 11 seed, and Virginia vs. Arizona State for a No. 10 seed.[1]
The main bracket opens Friday and Saturday with first- and second-round games. The Final Four is set for April 3, with the championship on April 5.[1][2]
| Region | No. 1 Seed Matchup | Other Key Games |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (UConn) | UConn vs. UTSA (16) | Iowa State (8) vs. Syracuse (9); Maryland (5) vs. Murray State (12) |
| 2 (South Carolina) | South Carolina vs. Southern/Samford (16) | Clemson (8) vs. USC (9); Oklahoma (4) vs. Idaho (13) |
| 3 (UCLA) | UCLA vs. California Baptist (16) | Oklahoma State (8) vs. Princeton (9); Baylor (6) vs. Nebraska/Richmond (11) |
| 4 (Texas) | Texas vs. Stephen F. Austin/Missouri (16) | Oregon (8) vs. Virginia Tech (9); Louisville (3) vs. Vermont (14) |
Sources
- Fox News Digital
NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament field revealed
March 9, 2026
https://www.foxnews.com/sports - Associated Press
NCAA college basketball game coverage
March 8, 2026
https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-basketball - NCAA.com
Women's Basketball Tournament
Accessed March 9, 2026
https://www.ncaa.com/sports/basketball-women/d1 - Wikipedia
UConn Huskies women's basketball
Accessed March 9, 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UConn_Huskies_women%27s_basketball - ESPN
Lauren Betts player profile
Accessed March 9, 2026
https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/player/_/id/5105733/lauren-betts