USC leads field in way-too-early 2027 Women's NCAA Tournament bracketology

A returning JuJu Watkins and a loaded roster put USC atop USA TODAY Sports' early 2027 NCAA Tournament projections.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:06am

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With the 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament just wrapped up, USA TODAY Sports is already looking ahead to the 2027 tournament. Despite many uncertainties around transfers and coaching changes, the outlet is projecting USC to be the No. 1 overall seed, led by the return of star player JuJu Watkins and a stacked roster. Other top contenders include UConn, Michigan, and South Carolina.

Why it matters

Women's college basketball is always an exciting and unpredictable landscape, with roster changes and coaching moves often dramatically shifting the competitive landscape from one season to the next. This early projection provides a glimpse into how the 2027 tournament field could shape up, giving fans a chance to start anticipating the matchups and storylines to come.

The details

USA TODAY Sports' early 2027 Women's NCAA Tournament projection has USC as the No. 1 overall seed, led by the return of star player JuJu Watkins and a talented supporting cast that includes Jazzy Davidson, Kennedy Smith and Saniyah Hall. UConn is also expected to earn a high seed with Sarah Strong leading the way, while Michigan and South Carolina are also seen as top contenders. The field will feature 32 automatic bids from conferences and 36 at-large bids, one fewer than in previous years due to the Pac-12's expansion.

  • The 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament just wrapped up in Phoenix with UCLA winning the national championship.
  • The 2027 Women's NCAA Tournament is still over a year away.

The players

JuJu Watkins

A star player who will be returning to USC for the 2027 season.

Jazzy Davidson

A key member of USC's talented roster for the 2027 season.

Kennedy Smith

Another standout player on USC's loaded 2027 team.

Saniyah Hall

One of the other top players expected to suit up for USC in 2027.

Sarah Strong

The star player who will be leading UConn's charge in the 2027 tournament.

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What they’re saying

“Much still needs to settle in women's college basketball before we can have a real grasp on the best teams next season. A few transfers available in the portal this week — from Audi Crooks to Kymora Johnson — could dramatically change a team's outlook. A few openings on the coaching carousel also need to be resolved.”

— Mitchell Northam, Author

What’s next

As the 2026-27 college basketball season approaches, fans will be closely monitoring the transfer portal and coaching changes to see how the landscape shifts ahead of the 2027 NCAA Tournament. The field is expected to be highly competitive, with several teams vying for top seeds.

The takeaway

This early projection provides an exciting glimpse into the potential powerhouses and storylines that could define the 2027 Women's NCAA Tournament. While much can change in the coming year, the return of star players like JuJu Watkins and Sarah Strong has set the stage for what could be an unforgettable tournament.