UConn Earns No. 1 Overall Seed in 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament

The UConn Huskies women’s basketball team secured the No. 1 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Women’s Tournament on Sunday, entering March Madness with a perfect 34-0 record and a chance to complete the seventh undefeated season in school history. UConn is aiming for its 13th national title and a repeat championship, something the program last achieved with four consecutive titles from 2013-2016.

A Close Call with UCLA

Despite UConn’s unblemished record, the UCLA Bruins presented a strong case for the top seed. The NCAA selection committee acknowledged the difficulty of the decision. “The debate was pretty close the whole time between the two teams,” said Amanda Braun, chair of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee. “Went to a committee vote, watched a lot of UCLA and UConn — the vote went to UConn. The observable component, the way we watched UConn win throughout the year. UCLA did a lot of winning as well. The committee felt the observable component gave UConn the edge.”

UCLA (31-1) ultimately received the second overall No. 1 seed. The Bruins, led by center Lauren Betts, have won 25 consecutive games, with their only loss coming against Texas.

Regional Breakdown

Joining UConn and UCLA as No. 1 seeds are Texas (31-3) and South Carolina (31-3). Here’s a look at the regional breakdowns:

• UConn (Fort Worth Regional): Will open against 16th-seeded UTSA. A potential matchup in the regional final could be against No. 2 Vanderbilt, coached by former UConn great Shea Ralph.
• UCLA (Sacramento Regional): Will face 16th-seeded Cal Baptist. Other top teams in the region include No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Duke, and No. 4 Minnesota.
• Texas (Fort Worth Regional 3): Will play winners from the First Four. Other top teams in the region include No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Louisville, and No. 4 West Virginia.
• South Carolina (Sacramento Regional 4): Will be joined by No. 2 Iowa, No. 3 TCU, and No. 4 Oklahoma.

First-Time Tournament Entry and Conference Representation

The College of Charleston secured a spot in the tournament field for the first time in school history, earning a 14-seed in the tournament. The Big Ten Conference leads all conferences with 12 teams in the field, matching a record set last season. The SEC has 10 teams, the ACC has nine, and the Big 12 has eight.

Financial Compensation for Tournament Teams

For the second consecutive year, teams participating in the women’s tournament will receive financial compensation for each round they play, mirroring the structure of the men’s tournament. The NCAA is providing extra “units” to teams reaching the championship game and the eventual champion, increasing the overall compensation pool.

Tournament Schedule and Locations

Top 16 seeds will host first- and second-round games. Regional rounds will be held at neutral sites in Fort Worth, Texas, and Sacramento, California. The Final Four will take place in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 3rd, with the championship game on April 5th.

Tennessee Extends Tournament Streak

The University of Tennessee Lady Vols extended their streak of reaching every NCAA Women’s Tournament since its inception in 1982, despite a 10th-seed and a 16-win season. This marks the lowest seed for the program since 2019.