LSU Women's Basketball Eyes No. 1 NCAA Tournament Seed

Tiger Rag Radio discusses LSU's chances of earning a top seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament

Feb. 26, 2026 at 8:35pm

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The No. 6 LSU women's basketball team, led by head coach Kim Mulkey, is making a late-season push to earn a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Despite having four losses, including to top-5 teams, LSU could still secure a top seed by winning the SEC Tournament. Tiger Rag beat writer Reed Darcey discussed LSU's tournament outlook on the Tiger Rag Radio show.

Why it matters

Earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament would give LSU significant advantages, including an easier path to the Final Four. The Tigers are looking to build on their 2023 national championship, which they won as a No. 3 seed after an upset in the semifinals.

The details

LSU (24-4, 10-4 SEC) has a critical game against Tennessee (16-10, 8-6 SEC) on Tuesday, which could secure a double-bye in the SEC Tournament. If LSU can then win at Mississippi State and capture the SEC Tournament title, they may earn a No. 1 seed. Even if they fall short of the tournament title, their strong resume with only four losses to top-5 teams could still warrant a top seed consideration.

  • LSU hosts Tennessee on Tuesday, February 28 at 5pm CT.
  • The SEC Tournament runs from March 4-8 in Greenville, South Carolina.
  • The 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament begins on March 18.

The players

Kim Mulkey

The head coach of the LSU women's basketball team, who has won four national championships, including three at Baylor.

Reed Darcey

The LSU women's basketball beat writer for the Baton Rouge Advocate, who discussed the team's NCAA Tournament outlook on Tiger Rag Radio.

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What they’re saying

“There's still a small chance that LSU can get a No. 1 seed. But in order to do that, they'd have to win the whole thing – the SEC Tournament. That would be a seven-game winning streak. It's difficult, but it's not impossible.”

— Reed Darcey, LSU Women's Basketball Beat Writer

“The NCAA Selection Committee will have to make some tough decisions putting together the bracket (and the seeding). Do they pair LSU and South Carolina in the same region, or South Carolina and Vanderbilt in the same region? Or do they try to avoid those match-ups with SEC teams as much as they can until the Final Four? That's going to be pretty difficult.”

— Reed Darcey, LSU Women's Basketball Beat Writer

What’s next

If LSU wins the SEC Tournament, they will likely earn a No. 1 seed in the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. The NCAA Selection Committee will have to carefully consider how to seed the top SEC teams to avoid potential matchups before the Final Four.

The takeaway

Kim Mulkey's LSU Tigers are making a late-season push to earn a coveted No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, which would give them a significant advantage in their quest to defend their 2023 national championship. Despite their four losses, LSU's strong resume and Mulkey's coaching pedigree make them a serious contender for a top seed if they can finish the season strong.