Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament Seeding Announced

Illinois women's team seeded 10th, will face 15th-seeded Wisconsin in opening round

Mar. 2, 2026 at 7:47pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Big Ten women's basketball tournament bracket has been set, with UCLA, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota receiving the top four seeds and automatic bids to the quarterfinals. Illinois, with a 19-10 overall record and 9-9 conference mark, earned the 10th seed and will face 15th-seeded Wisconsin in the opening round on Wednesday. The tournament semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, with the championship game set for Sunday on CBS.

Why it matters

The Big Ten women's basketball tournament is a highly anticipated event, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The seeding and matchups will determine which teams have the best path to the conference title and a spot in the national championship tournament.

The details

UCLA, the second-ranked team in the country, received the No. 1 seed after going 18-0 in conference play. The Bruins, led by senior center Lauren Betts and guard Kiki Rice, lost only once this season, to No. 4 Texas in November. Illinois, at 19-10 overall and 9-9 in the Big Ten, earned the 10th seed and will face 15th-seeded Wisconsin in the opening round on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to play No. 7 seed Michigan State on Thursday.

  • The Big Ten women's basketball tournament will take place from March 4-8, 2026.
  • The opening round games will be played on Wednesday, March 4.
  • The tournament semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, March 7 at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
  • The championship game will be played on Sunday, March 8 at 1:15 p.m. on CBS.

The players

UCLA

The No. 1 seed in the Big Ten women's basketball tournament, with an 18-0 conference record and a 19-1 overall mark. They are led by senior center Lauren Betts and guard Kiki Rice.

Illinois

The No. 10 seed in the tournament, with a 19-10 overall record and a 9-9 conference mark. They will face 15th-seeded Wisconsin in the opening round.

Wisconsin

The No. 15 seed in the tournament, who will face Illinois in the opening round.

Michigan State

The No. 7 seed in the tournament, who will face the winner of the Illinois-Wisconsin game in the second round.

Northwestern

The team that missed out on the tournament, going 8-21 overall and 2-16 in conference play in coach Joe McKeown's final season before retirement.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The Big Ten women's basketball tournament is always a highly competitive event, and this year's field is no exception. With the top teams receiving byes to the quarterfinals, the opening-round matchups will be crucial in determining who advances.”

— Colleen Kane, Sports Reporter (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

The opening-round games of the Big Ten women's basketball tournament will take place on Wednesday, March 4, with the winner of the Illinois-Wisconsin game advancing to face Michigan State on Thursday.

The takeaway

The Big Ten women's basketball tournament promises to be an exciting event, with the top teams in the conference vying for the conference title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The seeding and matchups will be crucial in determining which teams have the best path to the championship.