Indian Wells Women's Draw: Top Takeaways

Power players, prodigies and renaissance performers are poised to make an impact in Tennis Paradise.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The singles draws for the 2026 BNP Paribas Open were conducted, featuring former champions Mirra Andreeva, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, Naomi Osaka, Paula Badosa and Bianca Andreescu. The top takeaways include Aryna Sabalenka's challenging path, Mirra Andreeva's title defense, Elena Rybakina's clear path, and dark horse contenders like Belinda Bencic, Karolina Muchova, and Clara Tauson.

Why it matters

The BNP Paribas Open, also known as the Indian Wells Masters, is one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments outside of the Grand Slams. The women's draw features many of the top players in the world, and the outcomes of their matches can have significant implications for the rest of the season.

The details

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka could face a challenging path to the final, potentially having to go through Naomi Osaka, Amanda Anisimova, and Coco Gauff. Defending champion Mirra Andreeva will have to deal with the pressure of defending her title and ranking points. Third-seeded Elena Rybakina has a relatively clear path to the final, while dark horses like Belinda Bencic, Karolina Muchova, and Clara Tauson could make deep runs.

  • The singles draws for the 2026 BNP Paribas Open were conducted on Monday, March 2, 2026.

The players

Aryna Sabalenka

The world No. 1 player, who is a two-time finalist at Indian Wells and is seeking her first title at the event.

Mirra Andreeva

The 18-year-old defending champion, who is aiming to defend her title and ranking points.

Elena Rybakina

The third-seeded player and 2023 Indian Wells champion, who has a relatively clear path to the final.

Belinda Bencic

The No. 12 seed and a 2019 Indian Wells semifinalist, who is considered a dark horse contender.

Karolina Muchova

The No. 13 seed and recent WTA 1000 champion in Doha, who is also a dark horse contender.

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What they’re saying

“We're defining dark horses as players outside the Top 10 seeds, therefore 10th-seeded Victoria Mboko, very capable of doing major damage here, does not qualify.”

— Richard Pagliaro, Author (tennisnow.com)

The takeaway

The 2026 BNP Paribas Open women's draw features a mix of former champions, rising stars, and dark horse contenders, setting the stage for an exciting and unpredictable tournament in Tennis Paradise.