2026 NCAA Women's Tournament Preview: Fort Worth 3 Region

The Fort Worth 3 region may seem unassuming at first, but it’s entirely possible the national champion comes out of the Metroplex.

No. 1 seed Texas is the favorite to come out of the region, but No. 2 seed Michigan and No. 3 seed Louisville could also have something to say in the Lone Star State.

(Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

The Top Dogs

No. 1 Texas (31-3, 16-2 SEC)

Head Coach: Vic Schaefer

How They Got Here: SEC Champions

Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025 (Final Four)

THE TEXAS LONGHORNS ARE THE 2026 SEC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS @TexasWBB x #SECTourney pic.twitter.com/7fUilFXscq

— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) March 8, 2026

Madison Booker and top-seed Texas appear poised for a second consecutive trip to the Final Four. With two wins over South Carolina and a win over otherwise unbeaten UCLA, the Longhorns have proven they can beat any team in the country and are as viable as any to threaten UConn’s back-to-back bid. Booker’s 18.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game lead Texas, which has won 13 of its last 14 games en route to an SEC Tournament title.

No. 2 Michigan (25-6, 13-5 Big Ten)

Head Coach: Kim Barnes Arico

How They Got Here: At-Large (Big Ten Semifinal)

Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025 (Round of 32)

Game winner from Olivia Olson#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/d5TYDDOCTw

— Michigan Women’s Basketball (@umichwbball) February 26, 2026

Michigan managed to hold onto its spot as the No. 2 line despite a 17-point loss to Iowa in the Big Ten Semifinals, in large part because of convincing wins against Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Maryland. It’s the highest NCAA Tournament seed in program history for the Wolverines, who are led by sophomore guard Olivia Olson’s 19.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Michigan is hoping to improve on its program’s best Elite Eight appearance in 2022 by making its first-ever Final Four appearance, but it’ll have to get by some tough competition to reach Phoenix.

No. 3 Louisville (27-7, 15-3 ACC)

Head Coach: Jeff Walz

How They Got Here: At-Large (ACC Runners-Up)

Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025 (Round of 32)

how ’bout another, @LauraZieglerBMS

ESPN2#GoCards pic.twitter.com/JcRGd2eINZ

— Louisville Women’s Basketball (@LouisvilleWBB) March 7, 2026

Louisville wasn’t able to overcome regular-season champion Duke in the ACC Tournament title game, but the Cardinals have proven they can compete with all of the best teams in the country. Wins over then-ranked opponents North Carolina, Tennessee, and Notre Dame highlight their resume, but a two-point loss to South Carolina and a 13-point loss to world-beating UConn have each actually aged quite well.

No. 4 West Virginia (27-6, 14-4 Big 12)

Head Coach: Mark Kellogg

How They Got Here: Big 12 Champions

Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025 (Round of 32)

The latest chapter of Big 12 women’s basketball history belongs to the West Virginia Mountaineers.#Big12WBB | @phillips66gas pic.twitter.com/p7Zjq1Yylb

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) March 10, 2026

West Virginia is riding high entering the NCAA Tournament after overcoming two regular-season losses to TCU to beat the Horned Frogs 62-53 in the Big 12 Championship Game earlier this month. Led by a quartet of scorers averaging between 12 and 15 points per game, the Mountaineers have earned impressive wins over Duke, Iowa State, and Baylor this season before they went on their statement run through the conference tournament.

Possible Sleepers?

No. 7 NC State

Head Coach: Wes Moore

How They Got Here: At-Large (ACC Quarterfinals)

Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025 (Sweet 16)

What a performance by Zoe @zoebrooks35 scored 16 of her 20 PT in the first half on 8-11 shooting, along with 5 AST, 4 REB & 4 STL@PackWomensBball | @PackAthletics | #GoPack pic.twitter.com/hoc57gwu1v

— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) March 1, 2026

It hasn’t been the smoothest season for head coach Wes Moore and NC State, who enter the tournament coming off a blowout loss to Notre Dame in the ACC quarterfinals. Still, wins over Maryland and Tennessee to start the year showed that the Wolfpack certainly have the talent to compete, and you can never count out a Moore-led bunch in March.

No. 13 Miami (Ohio)

Head Coach: Glenn Box

How They Got Here: MAC Champions

Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2008 (Round of 64)

#RiseUpRedHawks | #MiamiOHWBB | #Get2It pic.twitter.com/00NRejHP3S

— Miami University WBB (@MiamiOH_WBB) March 14, 2026

Is there enough Miami Magic in Oxford to go around? We all saw what Peter Suder and company did during the regular season and in the Men’s First Four against SMU, but the RedHawks are the ones who actually won their conference tournament after dominating the regular season. Miami (OH) gave No. 4 seed Louisville a competitive game in the Round of 64 in its last trip to the dance in 2008; don’t be surprised if West Virginia faces a similar challenge.