2026 Women’s March Madness: Bracket, Schedule, and Key Dates

The 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament is almost here, and fans can barely wait for the madness to begin. The official bracket and schedule just dropped, revealing all 68 teams ready to chase the championship.

This year, UConn sits at the top as the No. 1 overall seed. There’s a lot to unpack—let’s look at the schedule, top seeds, and the matchups that could make or break this tournament.

2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament: Key Dates and Schedule

The action starts with the First Four games on March 18 and 19. After that, the first and second rounds hit over the weekend.

Regional rounds will be held in Sacramento and Fort Worth. Everything builds up to the Final Four and the championship game in Phoenix.

First Four Matchups

The First Four games decide the last teams to join the main bracket. Here’s what’s coming up:

• Nebraska vs. Richmond – March 18, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2
• Missouri State vs. Stephen F. Austin – March 18, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2
• Southern vs. Samford – March 19, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2
• Virginia vs. Arizona State – March 19, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2

First Round Highlights

The first round’s got some wild matchups lined up. Top seeds will try to dodge those classic early upsets.

• No. 3 Duke vs. No. 14 Charleston – March 20, 11:30 a.m. ET on ESPN2
• No. 1 Texas vs. No. 16 Missouri State/Stephen F. Austin – March 20, 4 p.m. ET on ESPN
• No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 16 Southern/Samford – March 21, 1 p.m. ET on ABC
• No. 1 UConn vs. No. 16 UTSA – March 21, 3 p.m. ET on ABC
• No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 16 Cal Baptist – March 21, 10 p.m. ET on ESPN

Top Seeds and Title Favorites

UConn, UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina locked up the top seeds. UConn comes in as the reigning champ and the clear favorite.

These teams get to host the first two rounds before everyone heads to the regional sites.

UConn: The Team to Beat

UConn, led by stars Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, looks like the team everyone wants to avoid. If they pull off another perfect season, they’ll be the 11th team ever to go undefeated and the first to win back-to-back titles since their own run from 2013 to 2016.

According to DraftKings, UConn’s odds to win sit at -270. Not exactly a shocker.

Other Top Contenders

Still, UConn isn’t the only squad in the hunt:

• UCLA – Odds: +550
• Texas – Odds: +700
• South Carolina – Odds: +800
• LSU – Odds: +1400

Notable Matchups and Potential Upsets

March Madness always brings the chaos. Which games could flip the script this year?

First Round Potential Upsets

Here are some first-round games that might get wild:

• No. 6 Baylor vs. No. 11 Nebraska/Richmond – March 20, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN
• No. 5 Maryland vs. No. 12 Murray State – March 20, 3 p.m. ET on ESPNU
• No. 5 Ole Miss vs. No. 12 Gonzaga – March 20, 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2
• No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 9 Virginia Tech – March 20, 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2

Second Round Showdowns

The second round brings eight games on March 22 and another eight on March 23. These are the games that decide who moves on to the Sweet 16.

Regional Rounds and the Road to Phoenix

After those first two rounds, everything shifts to Sacramento and Fort Worth. The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight go down from March 27 to March 30.

Sweet 16 and Elite Eight

Each regional site hosts four Sweet 16 games. Winners head to the Elite Eight, where the Final Four tickets get punched.

• Sweet 16 – March 27-28
• Elite Eight – March 29-30

Final Four and Championship Game

The big finish happens in Phoenix. The Final Four games tip off April 3, and the championship game is set for April 5 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Championship Aspirations

The tournament heats up, and everyone starts wondering who’ll take home the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball title. Can UConn pull off another perfect season? Or maybe, just maybe, a dark horse will steal the spotlight.

If you want the latest updates or need to check the schedule and bracket, CBS Sports has you covered.