Women's March Madness bracket 2026: Updates, NCAA Tournament schedule and dates

Here's everything to know about the 2026 women's NCAA Tournament as the bracket is unveiled on Selection Sunday

By Jack Maloney

Mar 15, 2026 at 8:43 pm ET • 2 min read

Selection Sunday has arrived in women's college basketball, and the field for the 2026 NCAA Tournament was revealed Sunday night. We now know all 68 teams in the field and when and where they'll be playing in March Madness.

UConn, the undefeated reigning champion, was named the No. 1 overall seed. UCLA, Texas and South Carolina joined them on the top line. Those four teams, the title favorites, are among the 16 teams that will host games in the first and second rounds next weekend. Every 1-4 seed in the field will play host before the action will shift to the regional sites later in the month. Once again, there are just two regional sites for the women's tournament: Sacramento and Fort Worth. The 2026 Final Four is set for Phoenix, with the championship game on Sunday, April 5.

2026 NCAA Women's NCAA Tournament schedule

First-round times to be announced. All games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC are available to stream on fubo (Try for free).

Wednesday, March 18: First Four

Missouri State vs. Stephen F. Austin
Nebraska vs. Richmond

Thursday, March 19: First Four

Southern vs. Samford
Virginia vs. Arizona State

Friday, March 20: First round

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

Saturday, March 21: First round

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

Sunday, March 22: Second round

Eight second-round games

Monday, March 23: Second round

Eight second-round games

Friday, March 27: Sweet 16

Four Sweet 16 games in Fort Worth and Sacramento

Saturday, March 28: Sweet 16

Four Sweet 16 games in Fort Worth and Sacramento

Sunday, March 29: Elite Eight

Two Elite Eight games in Fort Worth and Sacramento

Monday, March 30: Elite Eight

Two Elite Eight games in Fort Worth and Sacramento

Friday, April 3

Two Final Four games in Phoenix

Sunday, April 5

Championship game in Phoenix, 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC/fubo

And here's the full NCAA Tournament bracket, which will be updated as the field is revealed:

2026 NCAA Tournament women's bracket

UConn, led by Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, is the heavy favorite to win it all and complete another perfect season. If the Huskies win it all, they will become the 11th team to go undefeated and the first team to win back-to-back titles since they won four in a row from 2013-16.