Texas Women's Basketball Earns No. 1 NCAA Tournament Seed

Longhorns to host first two rounds of 2026 tournament

Mar. 16, 2026 at 11:05am

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The University of Texas women's basketball team has earned the No. 1 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and will host the first two rounds of the championship event in Austin.

Why it matters

This is the first time the Longhorns women's basketball program has earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, a significant milestone for the team and the university's athletics department. Hosting the early rounds of the tournament will also bring increased attention and economic activity to the Austin area.

The details

The Longhorns, led by head coach Vic Schaefer, had an outstanding regular season with a 29-3 record and won the Big 12 Conference championship. Their performance earned them the top seed in the NCAA Tournament, which will allow them to play the first two rounds at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin.

  • The 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament will take place in March and April 2026.

The players

University of Texas Longhorns

The women's basketball team at the University of Texas, a Division I program that competes in the Big 12 Conference.

Vic Schaefer

The head coach of the University of Texas women's basketball team, who has led the Longhorns to their first-ever No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed.

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What they’re saying

“Earning a No. 1 seed is a tremendous accomplishment for our program and a testament to the hard work of our student-athletes and coaching staff.”

— Vic Schaefer, Head Coach, University of Texas Women's Basketball (kvue.com)

What’s next

The Longhorns will now await their opponent for the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, which will be announced on Selection Sunday in March 2026.

The takeaway

The University of Texas women's basketball team has reached new heights by earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, showcasing the program's growth under head coach Vic Schaefer and the talent of the Longhorns' roster. This achievement will bring increased attention and excitement to the team and the Austin community as they host the early rounds of the championship event.