NCAA Women's Basketball Committee Reveals Top 16 Seeds

UConn, UCLA, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt named as No. 1 seeds

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The NCAA women's basketball selection committee has revealed its first top 16 seeds for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Undefeated UConn was named the overall No. 1 seed, followed by UCLA, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt as the other top seeds. The top 16 seeds will host the first and second round games, with the regional rounds being played at neutral sites in Fort Worth, Texas and Sacramento, California.

Why it matters

This early reveal gives teams an idea of where they stand heading into the final stretch of the regular season. It also provides insight into the committee's criteria for seeding, which includes both subjective and data-driven factors. The top seeds will have the advantage of hosting the opening rounds, which can be a significant boost for their tournament hopes.

The details

According to NCAA women's basketball selection committee chair Amanda Braun, the committee uses 12 criteria to determine seeding, including overall record and an "observable component" that evaluates a team's performance. Vanderbilt, for example, moved up to a 1-seed after beating Texas on Thursday. The SEC and Big Ten each have six teams in the top 16, highlighting the strength of those conferences this season.

  • The NCAA basketball selection committee did its first reveal of the top 16 seeds on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • The NCAA will have one more reveal on March 1, 2026 before the final bracket is announced on March 15, 2026.

The players

Amanda Braun

NCAA women's basketball selection committee chair.

UConn

The overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA women's basketball tournament.

UCLA

The No. 1 seed in the Sacramento regional.

South Carolina

The No. 1 seed in the Fort Worth regional.

Vanderbilt

The No. 1 seed in the Sacramento regional.

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What they’re saying

“Some are subjective there and some data driven. The overall record for UConn and the observable component are impressive. UCLA observable is also very strong as well.”

— Amanda Braun, NCAA women's basketball selection committee chair (The Associated Press)

“It was that close between the two of them that head-to-head made a difference. We were impressed by both teams.”

— Amanda Braun, NCAA women's basketball selection committee chair (The Associated Press)

What’s next

The NCAA will have one more reveal on March 1, 2026 before the final bracket is announced on March 15, 2026.

The takeaway

This early reveal of the top 16 seeds provides valuable insight into the NCAA women's basketball selection committee's criteria and decision-making process. It highlights the strength of conferences like the SEC and Big Ten, and shows how factors like head-to-head matchups can impact seeding. Fans and teams will be closely watching the next reveal on March 1 to see if any changes occur before the final bracket is set.