March Madness 2026: Women's NCAA Tournament first-round tip times, TV channels announced

The complete schedule for the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament has been released.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:35am

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The 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament bracket has been unveiled, with the UConn Huskies, UCLA Bruins, Texas Longhorns, and South Carolina Gamecocks earning the top seeds. The tournament will begin with the First Four matchups on Wednesday and Thursday, leading up to the national championship game in Phoenix on April 6.

Why it matters

The NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament is one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the year, drawing massive viewership and generating significant interest and excitement among fans. The release of the full tournament schedule allows fans to plan their viewing and make preparations to follow their favorite teams on the road to the national championship.

The details

The tournament will feature a 68-team field, with the First Four matchups taking place on March 18-19. The first two rounds will be played at campus sites, while the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight will be held in Fort Worth and Sacramento. The national championship game is scheduled for April 6 at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.

  • The 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament bracket was unveiled on March 16, 2026.
  • The First Four matchups will take place on March 18-19, 2026.
  • The first two rounds of the tournament will be played at campus sites from March 20-23, 2026.
  • The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight will be held in Fort Worth and Sacramento from March 25-28, 2026.
  • The national championship game is scheduled for April 6, 2026 in Phoenix.

The players

UConn Huskies

The UConn Huskies are the No. 1 overall seed in the Fort Worth 1 Region of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

UCLA Bruins

The UCLA Bruins are the No. 1 seed in the Sacramento 2 Region of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

Texas Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns are the No. 1 seed in the Fort Worth 3 Region of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

South Carolina Gamecocks

The South Carolina Gamecocks are the No. 1 seed in the Sacramento 4 Region of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

Mortgage Matchup Center

The Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona will host the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament national championship game.

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What’s next

The First Four matchups will take place on March 18-19, 2026, leading into the first two rounds of the tournament from March 20-23.

The takeaway

The release of the full 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament schedule has fans eagerly anticipating the start of March Madness and the opportunity to follow their favorite teams on the road to the national championship.