Four Schools Clinch Conference Titles Ahead of March Madness

Duke, UCLA, Texas, and West Virginia win Power 5 conference tournaments as NCAA Tournament approaches.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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With only one NCAA women's 'Power 5' conference basketball championship left to be played, four schools - Duke, UCLA, Texas, and West Virginia - have officially secured their conference titles. The tournaments saw some expected top teams dominate, as well as a few unexpected upsets, setting the stage for an exciting NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

These conference tournament results provide insights into which teams may be the top contenders heading into March Madness. The performances of teams like UCLA, Texas, and West Virginia have raised their profiles as potential national title threats, while other squads like Louisville and Notre Dame have shown they could be dangerous tournament sleepers.

The details

UCLA in particular has made a strong case for being the best team in the nation, dominating opponents like Iowa in the Big Ten Championship. Texas also made a statement by taking down South Carolina in the SEC title game, potentially earning a No. 1 seed and home-state advantage. Meanwhile, ACC teams like Duke, Louisville, and Notre Dame proved they can hang with the top teams, setting up intriguing potential matchups in the NCAA Tournament.

  • The NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed on Sunday, March 15.
  • The first round of the NCAA Tournament is scheduled to begin on March 20.

The players

UCLA Bruins

The UCLA Bruins women's basketball team has emerged as a top national title contender, with their dominant performances in the Big Ten Tournament solidifying their case as potentially the best team in the country.

Texas Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns women's basketball team won the SEC Championship, potentially earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and home-state advantage through the Elite Eight.

West Virginia Mountaineers

The West Virginia Mountaineers women's basketball team won the Big 12 Championship, capping off a strong late-season run and establishing themselves as a potential tournament sleeper.

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What’s next

The NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed on Sunday, March 15, giving these conference champions and other top teams less than a week to prepare for their first-round opponents.

The takeaway

The conference tournament results have set the stage for an exciting and unpredictable NCAA Tournament, with several teams emerging as potential national title contenders and others proving they could be dangerous sleepers capable of making deep tournament runs.