Kentucky Coach Calls for Super Regionals in NCAA Tournament

Brooks believes the super regional format would enhance the student-athlete experience.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 6:30pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring fragmented, geometric shapes in navy, powder blue, and crimson, conceptually representing the dynamic action and energy of a women's basketball game.Coach Brooks' vision for a more immersive NCAA women's tournament experience could reshape the future of postseason play.Fort Worth Today

Kentucky women's basketball coach Kenny Brooks is advocating for the NCAA to adopt a super regional format for the tournament, similar to what the men's tournament uses. Brooks believes the super regional setup, where multiple teams are housed in the same city, creates a more vibrant atmosphere and better overall experience for the student-athletes.

Why it matters

The current NCAA women's tournament format has teams playing in different regional sites, which can diminish the event-like atmosphere that Brooks believes is important for the student-athlete experience. Adopting a super regional format could help create a more memorable tournament experience.

The details

Brooks pointed to his own experience in the tournament, noting that one of the best NCAA experiences he had was when his team played in the Pittsburgh super regional early in his coaching career. He also cited the 2020 NCAA Tournament, which was held in a single location in San Antonio due to COVID-19, as creating a 'really good buzz' similar to a large AAU event.

  • Brooks' Kentucky team played in the NCAA Tournament second round against host West Virginia in 2026.
  • Kentucky was then eliminated by Texas in the regional semifinal in Fort Worth, Texas, also in 2026.

The players

Kenny Brooks

The head coach of the Kentucky women's basketball team, who is advocating for the NCAA to adopt a super regional format for the tournament.

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What they’re saying

“I think my first year that we played in an NCAA Tournament it was super regionals and we went to Pittsburgh I think it was and there were eight teams in the hotel, in the city. It was abuzz. It was great. Probably the best NCAA experience I had other than going to the Final Four.”

— Kenny Brooks, Kentucky Women's Basketball Head Coach

“Just me and my experiences for the student-athletes, I'm a big fan of the super regionals, kind of like what the men are doing. It just puts you like you're at an NCAA event. You work all year to get to this and make it to the NCAA Tournament and you want it to be an event.”

— Kenny Brooks, Kentucky Women's Basketball Head Coach

What’s next

The NCAA will likely consider Brooks' feedback as it evaluates potential format changes for the women's tournament in future years.

The takeaway

Coach Brooks' advocacy for a super regional format in the women's NCAA Tournament highlights his desire to create a more vibrant, event-like atmosphere that he believes will enhance the overall experience for the student-athletes participating.