UConn Leads the Way: A Look at the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament

The 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament is underway, with the First Four games tipping off on Wednesday, March 18th. The 68-team field was revealed on Sunday, setting the stage for a thrilling March Madness. Undefeated UConn earned the No. 1 overall seed, followed by UCLA, Texas and South Carolina.

Top Seeds and Key Contenders

UConn (34-0), aiming for its 13th national championship and a seventh undefeated season in program history, is the favorite to repeat as champions. They are attempting to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since their own run of four consecutive championships from 2013 to 2016. Stars Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd lead the Huskies.

Joining UConn as No. 1 seeds are UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina. These four teams are considered the frontrunners for the title and will host games in the first and second rounds. All 1-4 seeds will host games before the action moves to the regional sites.

Tournament Schedule & Key Dates

Here’s a look at the schedule for the first few days of the tournament:

Wednesday, March 18: First Four

• Nebraska 75, Richmond 56
• Missouri State 85, Stephen F. Austin 75

Thursday, March 19: First Four

• Southern vs. Samford, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2
• Virginia vs. Arizona State, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Friday, March 20: First Round

• No. 3 Duke vs. No. 14 Charleston, 11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN2
• No. 3 TCU vs. No. 14 UC San Diego, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN
• No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 9 Virginia Tech, 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
• No. 6 Baylor vs. No. 11 Nebraska/Richmond, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN
• No. 6 Washington vs. No. 11 South Dakota State, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPNews
• No. 5 Maryland vs. No. 12 Murray State, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN
• No. 5 Ole Miss vs. No. 12 Gonzaga, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
• No. 1 Texas vs. No. 16 Missouri State/Stephen F. Austin, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN
• No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 15 Holy Cross, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
• No. 4 North Carolina vs. No. 13 Western Illinois, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPNews
• No. 2 LSU vs. No. 15 Jacksonville, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
• No. 4 Minnesota vs. No. 13 Green Bay, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
• No. 5 Michigan State vs. No. 12 Colorado State, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNews
• No. 7 NC State vs. No. 10 Tennessee, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
• No. 7 Texas Tech vs. No. 10 Villanova, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Idaho, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN

Saturday, March 21: First Round

• No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 14 Howard, 11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN2
• No. 3 Louisville vs. No. 14 Vermont, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN
• No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 16 Southern/Samford, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
• No. 7 Georgia vs. No 10 Virginia/Arizona State, 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
• No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 11 Fairfield, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN
• No. 5 Kentucky vs. No. 12 James Madison, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 11 Rhode Island, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPNews
• No. 1 UConn vs. No. 16 UTSA, 3 p.m. ET, ABC
• No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 USC, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
• No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 15 Fairleigh Dickinson, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN
• No. 4 West Virginia vs. No. 13 Miami (Ohio), 5 p.m. ET, ESPN
• No. 8 Iowa State vs. No. 9 Syracuse, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
• No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 15 High Point, 7 p.m. ET, ESPNews
• No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 9 Princeton, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
• No. 7 Illinois vs. No. 10 Colorado, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
• No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 16 Cal Baptist, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN

Regional Sites and Final Four

The tournament will be played across two regional sites: Sacramento and Fort Worth. The Final Four will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, with the championship game scheduled for Sunday, April 5th, at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Odds Favor UConn

As of March 18th, DraftKings lists UConn as the heavy favorite to win the championship at -265. UCLA (+550), Texas (+700), and South Carolina (+800) follow as the next most likely contenders.