South Carolina Defeats TCU in Elite 8, Future of NCAA Tournament in Sacramento Uncertain

The city hosted a successful women's basketball weekend, but the return of March Madness remains unclear.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:39pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a women's basketball game, with sharp planes of deep blue, bright orange, and metallic silver overlapping to create a dynamic, fragmented visual composition.The vibrant, fractured energy of the NCAA women's tournament in Sacramento hints at the city's potential to host future March Madness events.Today in Sacramento

The 2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament held a successful weekend in Sacramento, California, with the South Carolina Gamecocks defeating the TCU Horned Frogs in the Elite 8. However, the future of the NCAA Tournament returning to the city remains uncertain, as officials and organizers evaluate the event's impact and viability in the region.

Why it matters

Sacramento has long sought to host the NCAA Tournament, seeing it as an opportunity to showcase the city and boost local businesses. The successful women's tournament weekend has raised hopes that March Madness could make a return, but questions remain about the city's ability to support the event long-term.

The details

The 2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament was widely praised for its organization and fan engagement during the Elite 8 weekend in Sacramento. Local businesses reported strong sales, and the city's downtown core was bustling with tournament-related activity. However, the NCAA has not yet committed to returning the men's or women's tournament to Sacramento, citing factors like arena capacity, hotel availability, and transportation infrastructure that will need to be evaluated.

  • The 2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament Elite 8 games were held in Sacramento on March 28-30, 2026.
  • The last time the NCAA Tournament was held in Sacramento was in 2017 for the men's West Regional.

The players

South Carolina Gamecocks

The women's basketball team from the University of South Carolina, who defeated TCU in the 2026 Elite 8 game held in Sacramento.

TCU Horned Frogs

The women's basketball team from Texas Christian University, who lost to South Carolina in the 2026 Elite 8 game in Sacramento.

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What they’re saying

“The energy and enthusiasm of the Sacramento fans was incredible. We'd love to come back and play here again.”

— Dawn Staley, Head Coach, South Carolina Gamecocks

“Sacramento proved it can host a top-notch NCAA event. The only question is whether the city has the long-term capacity to support the tournament on a regular basis.”

— Mark Emmert, President, NCAA

What’s next

The NCAA will evaluate Sacramento's suitability to host future men's and women's tournament games over the next year, looking at factors like arena size, hotel availability, and transportation infrastructure.

The takeaway

Sacramento's successful hosting of the 2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament has raised hopes that March Madness could return to the city, but significant questions remain about the long-term viability of the event in the region.