March Madness 2026: Top 16 Women's NCAA Tournament Contenders Ranked

UConn, UCLA, and Texas lead the pack as the NCAA women's basketball tournament tips off

Mar. 16, 2026 at 10:07pm

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With the NCAA women's basketball tournament commencing this week, our experts have released their initial power rankings of the top 16 contenders. Undefeated UConn and UCLA lead the pack, followed closely by SEC champion Texas and runner-up South Carolina. The stacked Sacramento 2 bracket could become chaotic, while Texas may have an easier path in the Fort Worth super regional. A No. 1 seed has won 32 of the last 43 championships, and this year appears to be no exception.

Why it matters

The women's NCAA tournament is one of the most anticipated events in college sports, with millions of fans tuning in to watch the best teams and players compete for the national championship. These power rankings provide a glimpse into the favorites, underdogs, and potential Cinderella stories that could unfold over the next few weeks of March Madness.

The details

Undefeated UConn, led by star player Sarah Strong and legendary coach Geno Auriemma, enters the tournament as the clear favorite. Close behind are UCLA, which finished undefeated in Big Ten play, and SEC champion Texas, which has a 3-1 record against fellow No. 1 seeds. South Carolina, a growing Final Four powerhouse, rounds out the top four. The Sacramento 2 bracket features a stacked field with UCLA, LSU, and Duke, while Texas may have an easier path in the Fort Worth super regional.

  • The NCAA women's basketball tournament commences this week in the First Four.

The players

UConn

An American women's basketball program that has won a record 11 national championships and is led by legendary coach Geno Auriemma.

Sarah Strong

The star player for UConn and a projected WNBA lottery pick.

Azzi Fudd

A WNBA lottery pick and key player for UConn.

Texas

The SEC champion women's basketball team, led by standout point guard Rori Harmon and National Player of the Year contender Madison Booker.

UCLA

The women's basketball team that finished undefeated in Big Ten play, led by 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts, a projected WNBA lottery pick.

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The takeaway

This year's women's NCAA tournament features a clear upper echelon of teams led by undefeated powerhouses UConn and UCLA, with Texas and South Carolina also among the favorites. The stacked Sacramento 2 bracket could produce some thrilling upsets, while Texas may have an easier path to the Final Four in the Fort Worth super regional. Ultimately, a No. 1 seed has won 32 of the last 43 championships, and this year appears to be no exception.