Trending Now - 2026 NCAA Tournament Brackets Announced for Men and Women

WHO:

UConn Huskies, UCLA Bruins, Texas Longhorns, South Carolina Gamecocks, NCAA selection committee, Amanda Braun (committee chair), Tennessee Lady Vols, College of Charleston Cougars, BYU, North Dakota State, Utah, Texas A&M.

WHAT:

UConn was awarded the No. 1 overall seed in the women's NCAA tournament.

UConn enters the tournament with a record of 34-0, seeking its 13th national title and the seventh undefeated season in school history.

UCLA is the second overall seed with a record of 31-1.

Texas earned the third No. 1 seed after winning the SEC tournament title with a record of 31-3.

South Carolina is the No. 1 seed in the Sacramento Regional with a record of 31-3.

Tennessee is a 10th seed with 16 wins, the fewest for an at-large team since 2018.

The College of Charleston won the Colonial Athletic Association to make the tournament field for the first time in school history as a 14-seed.

The NCAA is providing financial compensation for each round teams play in the tournament.

WHERE:

UConn will open the tournament at home against 16th-seeded UTSA in the Fort Worth Regional.

The Final Four will be played in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 3, 2026.

WHEN:

The women's NCAA tournament begins on March 20, 2026.

The championship game will be played on April 5, 2026.

The NCAA tournament field was revealed on March 15, 2026.

WHY:

UConn was awarded the top seed based on its performance throughout the season, as noted by Amanda Braun: "The observable component, the way we watched UConn win throughout the year."

HOW:

The selection committee voted on the seeding and placement of teams based on their performance during the season.

(UPDATED March 16, 2026 03:53 UTC)

UConn has been awarded the No. 1 overall seed in the women's NCAA tournament, entering with an impressive record of 34-0 as they seek their 13th national title and a seventh undefeated season in school history. The tournament kicks off on March 20, with UConn set to face 16th-seeded UTSA at home in the Fort Worth Regional, while the Final Four will take place in Phoenix on April 3. The NCAA selection committee, led by Amanda Braun, determined the seeding based on each team's performance throughout the season, with UConn's dominance being a key factor in their top placement.