UCLA Leads the Way as the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Heats Up in Indianapolis

The 2026 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament is underway at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, with UCLA entering as the clear favorite after a dominant regular season. The tournament, which began on Wednesday, March 4th and concludes on Sunday, March 8th, features a competitive field vying for the conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Tournament Schedule and Results

The tournament schedule is as follows (all times Eastern):

• Wednesday, March 4 – First Round
  • No. 13 Indiana 72, No. 12 Nebraska 69
  • No. 10 Illinois 82, No. 15 Wisconsin 70
  • No. 14 Purdue vs. No. 11 Oregon – 25 min. After Game 2 (Peacock)
• Thursday, March 5 – Second Round
  • Game 4: No. 9 USC vs. No. 8 Washington – 12 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
  • Game 5: Indiana vs. No. 5 Ohio State – 25 min. After Game 4 (BTN)
  • Game 6: Game 2 winner vs. No. 7 Michigan State – 6:30 p.m. (BTN)
  • Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. No. 6 Maryland – 35 min. After Game 6 (BTN)
• Friday, March 6 – Quarterfinals
  • Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. No. 1 UCLA – 12 p.m. (BTN)
  • Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. No. 4 Minnesota – 25 min. After Game 8 (BTN)
  • Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. No. 2 Iowa – 6:30 p.m. (BTN)
  • Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. No. 3 Michigan – 25 min. After Game 10 (BTN)
• Saturday, March 7 – Semifinals
  • Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner – 2 p.m. (BTN)
  • Game 13: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner – 4:30 p.m. (BTN)
• Sunday, March 8 – Championship
  • Title game: Game 12 winner vs. Game 13 winner – 2:15 p.m. (CBS)

Top Contenders

UCLA, the regular-season champion, is the team to beat. They completed a perfect Big Ten season and are heavily favored to secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Iowa, led by Jan Jensen, is looking to continue its success following the departure of Caitlin Clark. The Hawkeyes recently achieved three consecutive wins against top-15 opponents.

Minnesota has emerged as a surprise contender, poised to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 and potentially host a game for the first time in program history.

Tournament Odds

As of March 4, DraftKings lists the following odds:

• UCLA: -295
• Michigan: +400
• Iowa: +1100
• Minnesota: +1400
• Maryland: +1900
• Michigan State: +3000
• Ohio State: +3500
• USC: +6000

The Big Ten Tournament promises exciting basketball action as teams battle for the conference title and a coveted spot in the NCAA Tournament. The tournament’s return to Indianapolis highlights the city’s continued role as a premier destination for collegiate basketball.