Iowa Women's Basketball Among Top NCAA Tournament Seeds

Hawkeyes to host first-round games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena

Mar. 14, 2026 at 8:04pm

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The women's NCAA Tournament selection committee announced the top 16 seeds on Saturday, March 14, 2026, and the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team was among them. As a top 16 seed, the Hawkeyes will host the first and second rounds of the tournament at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 20-23.

Why it matters

Being named a top 16 seed is a significant accomplishment for the Iowa women's basketball program, as it means they will have the opportunity to play in front of their home fans during the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament. This is a testament to the team's strong regular season performance and their status as one of the top contenders for the national championship.

The details

The selection committee released the 16 teams in alphabetical order, with the actual seeds to be announced on Selection Sunday, March 15. The Hawkeyes are expected to be a 2-seed in one of the four regionals when the full bracket is revealed.

  • The women's NCAA Tournament selection committee released the top 16 seeds on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
  • The actual seeds will be announced on Selection Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.
  • The first and second round games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena will be played on March 20-23, 2026.

The players

Iowa Hawkeyes Women's Basketball

The women's basketball team at the University of Iowa, a Division I program that competes in the Big Ten Conference.

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What’s next

The Hawkeyes will await their official seed and first-round opponent when the full NCAA Tournament bracket is announced on Selection Sunday.

The takeaway

The Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team's selection as a top 16 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament is a testament to their strong regular season performance and their status as one of the top contenders for the national championship. As a top seed, the Hawkeyes will have the opportunity to play in front of their home fans during the opening weekend of the tournament, which should provide a significant advantage.