South Carolina Women's Basketball Earns Top Seed in NCAA Tournament Reveal

Gamecocks land No. 1 seed in Fort Worth 3 bracket as NCAA announces initial Top 16 rankings

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The NCAA has released its first Top 16 reveal for the upcoming women's basketball tournament, and the South Carolina Gamecocks have earned a No. 1 seed. The Gamecocks will be the top seed in the Fort Worth 3 bracket, joining Louisville, Iowa, and Michigan State. UConn, UCLA, Vanderbilt, and South Carolina were named the four No. 1 overall seeds.

Why it matters

The Top 16 reveal provides an early look at the NCAA Tournament field and gives teams a sense of their potential seeding and path to the Final Four. South Carolina's No. 1 seed solidifies their status as one of the top contenders for the national championship, as they look to build on their recent success under head coach Dawn Staley.

The details

In the first Top 16 reveal, the NCAA selection committee named UConn, UCLA, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt as the four No. 1 overall seeds. The Gamecocks will be the top seed in the Fort Worth 3 regional, joined by Louisville, Iowa, and Michigan State. The two seeds are Texas, Michigan, Louisville, and LSU, while the three seeds are Ohio State, Duke, Iowa, and TCU. The four seeds are Maryland, Michigan State, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma.

  • The first NCAA Tournament Top 16 reveal was released on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • The second Top 16 reveal is normally announced in the last week of February.
  • Selection Sunday is set for March 15, 2026.

The players

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, who has led the program to sustained success and national prominence.

UConn

The University of Connecticut women's basketball team, a perennial powerhouse and the top overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

UCLA

The University of California, Los Angeles women's basketball team, earning a No. 1 seed in the Sacramento 2 regional.

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What’s next

The NCAA will announce the second Top 16 reveal in the last week of February, providing an updated look at the tournament field ahead of Selection Sunday on March 15.

The takeaway

South Carolina's No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament's Fort Worth 3 regional solidifies their status as a top contender for the national championship, as the Gamecocks look to build on their recent success under head coach Dawn Staley and compete for their first title since 2017.