UConn Hosts UTSA in NCAA Women's Tournament Opener

Defending champions UConn take on first-time tournament team UTSA in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 5:40am

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The defending national champion UConn Huskies, led by Sporting News Player of the Year Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, host the UTSA Roadrunners in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament. UTSA, making its first tournament appearance since 2009, won the AAC Tournament to earn an automatic bid. The game will be broadcast on ABC, with Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo on the call.

Why it matters

This matchup features the powerhouse UConn program, which is seeking its 13th national title, against the upstart UTSA squad making its first tournament appearance in over 15 years. It will be a test of the Huskies' dominance against a Roadrunners team looking to pull off a major upset.

The details

UConn enters the tournament undefeated after winning the Big East regular season and tournament titles. UTSA, led by head coach Karen Aston, earned an automatic bid by winning the AAC Tournament for the first time since 2009. The Roadrunners are paced by top scorers Cheyenne Rowe and Ereauna Hardaway.

  • The game is scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
  • UConn is making its fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, while this is UTSA's first tournament berth since 2009.

The players

UConn Huskies

The defending national champion UConn Huskies are the number one seed in the tournament and are led by Sporting News Player of the Year Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd.

UTSA Roadrunners

The UTSA Roadrunners are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009 after winning the AAC Tournament. They are led by head coach Karen Aston and top scorers Cheyenne Rowe and Ereauna Hardaway.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough challenge against UTSA. They earned their spot in the tournament and we can't take them lightly.”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn Huskies

“This is a huge opportunity for our program to showcase what we can do on the national stage. We're excited to compete against the defending champions.”

— Karen Aston, Head Coach, UTSA Roadrunners

What’s next

The winner of the UConn-UTSA matchup will advance to face the winner of the Maryland-Oregon State game in the second round of the 2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between the dominant UConn Huskies and the upstart UTSA Roadrunners will be a test of the Huskies' continued excellence against a team looking to make its mark on the national stage for the first time in over a decade.