Lauren Betts and the UCLA Bruins will look to defend the Golden State from some Tigers (LSU), defenders (Duke), and Gophers (Minnesota).
Cue the music, sharpen your pencil, and let it fly … March Madness is finally here.
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
The college basketball season is on pace for an explosive conclusion, one set to a soundtrack of March maladies, mayhem, and, of course, madness, as the respective roads to Indianapolis and Phoenix have officially been paved with the 68-team brackets.
Ballislife has you covered at every checkpoint on the bracket with analysis, thoughts, and more, listed below …
Women’s Sacramento 2 Regional
Top Seed: UCLA
First/Second Round Locations: Cameron Indoor Stadium (Durham, NC), Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, CA), Pete Maravich Assembly Center (Baton Rouge, LA), Williams Arena (Minneapolis, MN)
Regional Final Location: Golden 1 Center (Sacramento, CA)
Who’s In?
Lauren Betts adds two more @UCLAWBB
: CBS pic.twitter.com/f58Ak6NEJS
— Big Ten Women’s Basketball (@B1Gwbball) March 8, 2026
1. UCLA Bruins
Head Coach: Cori Close (15th season, 352-144)
How They Got Here: Big Ten champions
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025
Few, if any, in the country and beyond have enjoyed 2026 more than the Bruins, who have yet to lose since the calendar flip. At the forefront, of course, is Lauren Betts: in a relative down year for the future WNBA draft pick (she averaged nearly four points fewer compared to her double-decade-plus from last season), she still took home All-American honors to pair with the Big Ten’s Player of the Year and defensive queen titles. Betts perhaps only declined thanks to some sterling additions, such as Gianna Kneepkens and a well-fostered Kiki Rice, who swiped the conference’s tournament MVP title from Betts.
Flau’jae Johnson can’t be stopped!
ABC#NCAAWBB pic.twitter.com/IpXXVwdsUH
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) February 15, 2026
2. LSU Tigers (27-5)
Head Coach: Kim Mulkey (5th season, 143-25)
How They Got Here: At-large (SEC)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025
Reese has ceased her work in Baton Rouge, and it’s all Greek to LaDazhia Williams now. But the Tigers still carry championship experience left over from the famed 2023 championship run, namely in the form of Flau’jae Johnson, who added outside shooting to her already-expansive repertoire at just over 40 percent with an extra point on the line. LSU even took some in from abroad in the form of MiLaysia Fulwiley, whose decision to leave South Carolina paid instant dividends for all parties. Combine that with the lasting Tiger talents of Jada Richard and Mikaylah Williams, and it’s going to be hard to deny the Bayou Bengals championship entry.
TOBY FOURNIER WITH THE AND-1
ABC pic.twitter.com/xZ0cPrnWBn
— Duke Women’s Basketball (@DukeWBB) February 15, 2026
3. Duke Blue Devils (24-8)
Head Coach: Kara Lawson (6th season, 121-49)
How They Got Here: ACC champions
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025
Star-spangled redemption defined the Blue Devils’ season: some had columns and tweets at the ready when newly-crowned United States national team coach Lawson oversaw a 3-6 start to the season and a descent out of the polls but she was more than happy to give proof of her suitability through the night, namely with a 17-game winning streak that stretched from Christmas to Presidents’ Day and got Duke back in the good graces of both the polls and the ACC honor roll.
A good bit of that was the supplemental two-way talents of Toby Fournier (17.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.3 blocks), but more experienced talents like Taina Mair and Delaney Thomas also made their respective presences felt at various clutch points, such as an ACC title game where the former tallied a double-double.
Two things:
1. Sophie Hart double-doubled (17 PTS & 10 REB) tonight
2. She beat the 3Q buzzer with this @GopherWBB basket pic.twitter.com/jKFqiWLQzJ
— Big Ten Women’s Basketball (@B1Gwbball) December 2, 2025
4. Minnesota Golden Gophers (22-8)
Head Coach: Dawn Plitzuweit (3rd season, 67-35)
How They Got Here: At-large (Big Ten)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2018
The third time was the charm for Plitzuweit, as the Gophers are not only back on the bracket but the beloved “Barn” is hosting women’s tournament action for the first time since 2005. It’s perhaps a karmic reward for the Gophers’ golden loyalty, as each of their regular starters carry extensive time in Minneapolis. While they’ve made the most of this redemptive second chance, the Gophers haven’t been interested in affording similar opportunities: paced by the 6’5 Sophie Hart, Minnesota lets up the fifth-fewest offensive boards in the nation at just over eight per game.
COTIE MCMAHON
No. 17 @OleMissWBB has the Oxford crowd going wild on ESPN and the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/hoP51XD4Dk
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) February 20, 2026
5. Ole Miss Rebels (23-11)
Head Coach: Yolett McPhee-McCuin (8th season, 148-106)
How They Got Here: At-large (SEC)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025
The McPhee-McCuin-led revolution continues in Oxford, which enjoys women’s bracket representation for the fifth consecutive season, creating the longest streak since they appeared on the first 11 between 1982 and 1992. The current guard has seen Shakira Austin, Marquesha Davis, and Madison Scott typed up on the WNBA Draft board over the last four years, and Ohio State transfer Cotie McMahon figures to be next in line after using her overpowering frame to get to the foul line.
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs recorded her 31st career double-double yesterday in @BaylorWBB 99-43 win over Le Moyne on Sunday.
She finishing with 26 points on 12-of-13 shooting and 11 rebounds. Still one of the most energetic matchup problems in the country! pic.twitter.com/pJ0z6YEFyi
— Rachel Galligan (@RachGall) November 17, 2025
6. Baylor Bears (24-8)
Head Coach: Nicki Collen (5th season, 126-44)
How They Got Here: At-large (Big 12)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025
The Collen congratulations continue to carry, as the Bears continue to appear on the bracket and pile up postseason wins since their last national title in 2019. It’s said that defense wins championships, and Baylor certainly hopes that’s the case: opponents shot less than 26 percent from deep against the Bears this season, an output no doubt helped by the long reach of four-year Waco resident Darianna Littlepage-Buggs and her well-rounded double-double (10.7 points, 10.1 rebounds).
AND 1⃣ FOR SNUDDA COLLINS #Big12WBB | ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/3K6SdCYMSI
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) February 19, 2026
7. Texas Tech Red Raiders (25-7)
Head Coach: Krista Gerlich (6th season, 102-90)
How They Got Here: At-large (Big 12)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2013
The Lady Raiders didn’t have to wait until March to steal an NCAA Tournament bid, and they reached the quarter-century plateau in wins for the first time since Marsha Sharp’s heyday in 2004. While unable to sustain the momentum of a 19-0 start (personified by a shocking Big 12 Tournament loss to Kansas State in Kansas City), the Raiders reaped the benefits of promoting in-conference transfer Jalynn Bristow, the conference’s leader in blocks at 68. Depth may be Lubbock’s greatest strength, as Ole Miss grad transfer Snudda Collins was the team’s second-leading scorer despite not starting a game this season.
Micah Gray and Jadyn Wooten combined for 42 points in @OSUWBB 83-52 win over Houston earlier today.
The Cowgirls controlled the glass 44-31, forced 22 turnovers, and had 23 assists on 34 made shots. pic.twitter.com/6mal29J884
— Rachel Galligan (@RachGall) January 4, 2026
8. Oklahoma State Cowgirls (23-9)
Head Coach: Jacie Hoyt (83-44, 4th season)
How They Got Here: At-large (Big 12)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025
The Cowgirls lived up to their namesake by shooting away: they placed 15th in scoring nationally, and no one in the Big 12 fired up more threes than Micah Gray in her second Stillwater season. Despite some solid wins against tournament competition, the Cowgirls endured a rollercoaster conference tour that ended by becoming another victim of Kansas State’s near-Cinderella run. Though they’ve been March mainstays since Hoyt took over for Jim Littell, they’re still seeking their first win in the competition in half a decade.
TIGERS EARN THE IVY WIN.
No. 25 @PrincetonWBB opened Ivy play with a 74–68 win at Penn, improving to 12–1 on the season. Olivia Hutcherson led the Tigers with 20 points, while Madison St. Rose netted 15 points, including the 1,000th of her career.
— Ivy League (@IvyLeague) January 3, 2026
9. Princeton Tigers (26-3)
Head Coach: Carla Berube (7th season, 147-27)
How They Got Here: Ivy League Champions
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025
The Tigers continue to roll under Berube, but returned to some of their more prestigious heights by ending the regular season in the 23rd spot on the Associated Press poll and picking up a single-digit seed for the second time in the last three years. With the program having picked up its sixth Ivy League title in eight stagings of the event, local talent Madison St. Rose is going out in style after an injury wiped out most of her junior year, while Fadima Tall lived up to her surname by breaking out for over seven boards a game.
Jasmine Bascoe and @novawbb are 11-1 in their last 12 games and look like it early in this one pic.twitter.com/Dc8wWKFbAZ
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) January 11, 2026
10. Villanova Wildcats (25-7)
Head Coach: Denise Dillon (6th season, 139-58)
How They Got Here: At-large (Big East)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2024
While it’s hard to make any sort of noticeable championship impact in the Big East with the UConn-sized cloud overseeing everything, the Wildcats survived some early stumbles to slide into the runner-up spot and are back on the bracket for the first time since Maddy Siegrist’s ascension to the WNBA. Villanova earned a win over Big 12 champion West Virginia in Morgantown as Jasmine Bascoe built on a fantastic freshman season en route to becoming the top Big East scorer, while Brynn McCurry reached double-figures in scoring after missing all of last season with an ACL ailment.
11. Nebraska Cornhuskers (18-12)/Richmond Spiders (26-7)
Head Coach: Amy Williams (10th season, 174-135)/Aaron Roussell (7th season, 148-71)
How They Got Here: At-large (Big Ten/Atlantic 10)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025/2025
Amidst the resurgence of the Husker men’s program, the women’s group has built a solid lineage under Williams, reaching the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season. But momentum, paced by the second-year Omaha native Britt Prince (over 17 points and four assists/rebounds a showing), was somewhat derailed by a struggle to defeat elite competition, producing a 4-10 mark in their last B1G showings.
The Spiders are in a similar spot: they fell short of both the A-10’s regular season and tournament titles, but the last stand of Maggie Doogan (the conference’s leader in points and field goal percentage) was enough to wedge themselves into an at-large bid. Wednesday’s First Four bout may carry more than just an invitation to the 68 and may well be defining for each program’s future.
For one final time, the Gonzaga women are champions of the WCC. Lauren Whittaker was a monster. Allie Turner had a huge second half. Paige Lofing made a game-changing three. Zags are back in the NCAA Tournament. Fantastic basketball game. pic.twitter.com/EggtRhef5B
— Steven Karr (@SKarrG0) March 10, 2026
12. Gonzaga Bulldogs (24-9)
Head Coach: Lisa Fortier (12th season, 313-83)
How They Got Here: West Coast champions
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2024
After a one-year hiccup, the Bulldogs are back on the bracket for the ninth time in Fortier’s tenure. Youth in revolt defined Gonzaga’s final year in the WCC before it moves on to the rebooted Pac-12, as New Zealand import Lauren Whittaker (she of a double-double per night at over 19 points and 10 rebounds, reaching such double-figure tallies 17 times this year) followed in Courtney Vandersloot’s sneakers as the WCC Player of the Year, the first freshman to earn the honor since original victory Sonya Carter in 1986.
Jenna Guyer is on early!
She’s got 10 points halfway through the first quarter.
GB 12, WSU 9 | 5:01 in the 1Q#RiseWithUs pic.twitter.com/WO8x6mezlC
— Green Bay Women’s Basketball (@gbphoenixwbb) December 31, 2025
13. Green Bay Phoenix (25-8)
Head Coach: Kayla Karius (2nd season, 54-14)
How They Got Here: Horizon League champions
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2025
Following the respective dynasties set up by Kevin Borseth and Matt Bollant, the former South Dakota boss Karius has built a streak of her own after taking the Phoenix to the Tournament in back-to-back seasons. Green Bay put up strong numbers in the weak Horizon League, as lasting senior Jenna Guyer, who helped oversee the transition from the retiring Borseth to Karius, swept both the conference’s Player of the Year and tournament MVP titles while filling the production a packed senior class, headlined by previous Defensive Player of the Year Bailey Butler.
Women’s #CAAHoops Rookie of the Year@cofcwbb‘s Taryn Barbot led all first-year players and ranked fifth in the conference with 14.9 points per game pic.twitter.com/uQ2pjegguo
— CAA Basketball (@CAABasketball) March 12, 2024
14. Charleston Cougars (27-5)
Head Coach: Robin Harmony (7th season, 122-80)
How They Got Here: CAA champions
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: First Appearance
Partaking in major March Madness for the first time since making the Division I ascension in 1991 after consecutive showings in the WNIT, the Cougars enjoyed a breakout season that saw them handle business at the top of nearly every major CAA category. Charleston is led by twin sisters Taryn and Taylor Barbot, who have sheared the competition with their shared prowess: Taryn led the league in points, three-pointers, and steals, kept steadily fed by Taylor and her own league-best 193 assists.
94 feet with Tatum Brown
: https://t.co/p5W0N7VUBK
: https://t.co/PBaCqPByQP
#RideTheWave | #JaxBasketball | #TheDestination pic.twitter.com/K8T9YmVnre
— Jacksonville Women’s Basketball (@JAX_WBB) March 5, 2026
15. Jacksonville Dolphins (24-8)
Head Coach: Special Jennings (3rd season, 49-45)
How They Got Here: Atlantic Sun champions
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2016
The Dolphins made a splash in Jennings’ third season at the helm, rising from a seventh-place ranking in the preseason ASUN poll to post the best win total in program history, tied with the 2017-18 squad. Heading down to the Bayou to face the mighty Tigers, Jacksonville will likely lean on the two-way work of Tatum Brown, one of two Dolphins to reach double figures in scoring while leading the conference with 74 steals.
#WACtopPlay Nominee – Dime by Filipa Barros to Khloe Lemon for the and 1! Vote in our Poll! pic.twitter.com/NlydCGPAHu
— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) February 10, 2026
16. California Baptist Lancers (23-10)
Head Coach: Jarrod Olson (14th season, 319-126)
How They Got Here: WAC champions
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2024
The Lancers have repped the WAC in two of the last three NCAA Tournaments and have reached a bracket in five of the last six overall postseasons, a stretch that includes a Women’s Basketball Invitational title in 2023. CBU’s primary hope in pulling off either an upset or at least a cover of a half-century spread against UCLA likely lies in Filipa Barros, a multi-talented point guard who fell two points short of a triple-double in the final WAC title game, the culmination of a return to glory after an ankle injury limited her to two games during a 12-win tour.
All Region Team (Sacramento 2)
Lauren Betts, UCLA
Kiki Rice, UCLA
Toby Fournier, Duke
Flau’jae Johnson, LSU
Cotie McMahon, Ole Miss
The Favorite: UCLA
While this half of the California couple is extraordinarily top-heavy—this is one where the resurgent Blue Devils are a third seed—working against a Bruins group that won’t have to leave its time zone on the path to a potential national title seems like a recipe for scratched out names on the bracket. Not only have the Bruins handled business, but they’ve done so in emphatic fashion: they’ve lost just one game by less than 10 in 2026, back when Michigan played them to a three on Feb. 8.
The Wary: Ole Miss
Despite their continued prowess, the Rebels do come in somewhat reeling after dropping their last four regular-season games, though they did force their way into the SEC Tournament’s semifinal stage. The road gets no easier with sharpshooting, relentless Gonzaga, a group that has racked up recent tournament victories over major programs like Nebraska and Utah, looming on the horizon.
The Cinderella: Villanova
Perhaps no one could’ve envisioned the Wildcats working off their post-Maddy malaise after early losses to Fairfield and Princeton, but the experienced core of Bascoe and McCurry has meshed well with the two-way newcomer Kennedy Henry. Formidable challenges await at the bottom of the bracket, but the Wildcats used their time in absentia well, reaching the WBIT’s final four in each of the last two seasons.
NCAA Tournament Sacramento 2 Regional Schedule
Round
Date
Game/Score
Location
Time (ET)
TV
First Four
Wednesday, March 18
(11) Richmond vs. (11) Nebraska
Durham, NC
7 p.m.
ESPN2
1st Round
Friday, March 20
(3) Duke vs. (14) Charleston
Durham, NC
11:30 a.m.
ESPN2
1st Round
Friday, March 20
(6) Baylor vs. (11) Nebraska
Durham, NC
2 p.m.
ESPN
1st Round
Friday, March 20
(5) Ole Miss vs. (12) Gonzaga
Minneapolis, MN
3:30 p.m.
ESPN2
1st Round
Friday, March 20
(2) LSU vs. (15) Jacksonville
Baton Rouge, LA
6 p.m.
ESPN
1st Round
Friday, March 20
(4) Minnesota vs. (13) Green Bay
Minneapolis, MN
6 p.m.
ESPNU
1st Round
Friday, March 20
(7) Texas Tech vs. (10) Villanova
Baton Rouge, LA
8:30 p.m.
ESPNU
1st Round
Saturday, March 21
(8) Oklahoma State vs. (9) Princeton
Los Angeles, CA
7:30 p.m.
ESPN2
1st Round
Saturday, March 21
(1) UCLA vs. (16) California Baptist
Los Angeles, CA
10 p.m.
ESPN
Staff Regional Final Predictions
Geoff Magliocchetti: UCLA over Duke
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
Editor’s Pick
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