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NCAA Women's Tournament: UConn Dominates, Iowa Survives Scare
Top seeds UConn and Iowa advance, while USC gets unexpected break
Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:25pm
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In the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, the top-seeded UConn Huskies cruised to a dominant victory, while the second-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes narrowly held off an upset-minded Fairleigh Dickinson squad. Meanwhile, the USC Trojans received an unexpected break when their scheduled opponent had to withdraw from the tournament.
Why it matters
The NCAA Women's Tournament is one of the most anticipated events in college sports, showcasing the top talent in the women's game. These early-round results provide a glimpse into which teams have the best chance of making deep tournament runs and potentially winning the national championship.
The details
The UConn Huskies, led by star player Paige Bueckers, easily dispatched their first-round opponent, winning by a wide margin. In Iowa City, the Iowa Hawkeyes faced a tougher challenge from the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights, but ultimately prevailed in a close contest. Meanwhile, the USC Trojans received a surprise when their scheduled opponent had to withdraw from the tournament due to COVID-19 protocols, giving USC an unexpected break in the early rounds.
- The 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament began on March 20, 2026.
- The first-round games took place on March 22, 2026.
The players
Paige Bueckers
A star player for the UConn Huskies women's basketball team.
Hannah Stuelke
A player for the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team.
Rebcca Osei-Owusu
A player for the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights women's basketball team.
What they’re saying
“We knew Fairleigh Dickinson was going to be a tough opponent, and they really pushed us to the limit. I'm proud of the way our team battled and found a way to win.”
— Lisa Bluder, Head Coach, Iowa Hawkeyes
What’s next
The winners of the first-round games will advance to the second round, which is scheduled for March 24, 2026.
The takeaway
The opening round of the NCAA Women's Tournament showcased the dominance of top seeds like UConn, as well as the parity in the women's game, with lower-seeded teams like Fairleigh Dickinson giving higher-ranked opponents a scare. The tournament is shaping up to be an exciting and unpredictable event.
