SDSU Women's Basketball Earns NCAA Tournament Bid

Jackrabbits to face Washington in first round, with potential matchup against TCU looming

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:54pm

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The South Dakota State University women's basketball team has earned an at-large bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament, drawing a first-round matchup against the 6th-seeded Washington Huskies. This marks the Jackrabbits' 11th NCAA Tournament appearance, and they'll be looking to replicate their success from last year's tournament when they upset 6th-seeded Oklahoma State in the opening round.

Why it matters

The Jackrabbits' NCAA Tournament berth is a significant achievement for the program, which has established itself as a consistent contender in women's college basketball. A potential second-round matchup against host TCU would provide an intriguing regional storyline, as SDSU aims to advance deeper into the tournament.

The details

SDSU earned an 11-seed in the Fort Worth regional, setting up a first-round clash with 6th-seeded Washington. The Jackrabbits will be looking to their veteran leadership and tournament experience to pull off another upset, much like their win over Oklahoma State last year as a 6-seed. Head coach Aaron Johnston has guided SDSU to the NCAA Tournament in 11 of the last 13 seasons, establishing the program as a mid-major power.

  • The 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament will take place from March 20-April 7.
  • SDSU and Washington will face off in the first round on March 22 in Fort Worth, Texas.

The players

Aaron Johnston

The head coach of the South Dakota State University women's basketball team, who has led the Jackrabbits to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 13 seasons.

Washington Huskies

The 6th-seeded team that will face SDSU in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

TCU Horned Frogs

The 3rd-seeded team that could potentially face the winner of the SDSU-Washington matchup in the second round, as TCU is hosting the Fort Worth regional.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to be back in the NCAA Tournament and have the opportunity to face a tough Washington team. Our players have worked hard all season to earn this bid, and we're looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

— Aaron Johnston, Head Coach, SDSU Women's Basketball

What’s next

The winner of the SDSU-Washington first-round matchup will advance to face the winner of the TCU-TBD second-round game on March 24 in Fort Worth.

The takeaway

SDSU's consistent success in women's basketball has earned the program another NCAA Tournament berth, where they will look to build on their recent tournament experience and pull off another upset as a lower seed. The Jackrabbits' potential second-round matchup against host TCU would add an intriguing regional storyline to the proceedings.