The field for the 2026 NCAA women’s basketball tournament is set. From undefeated powerhouses to first-time participants and surging mid-majors, here’s what you need to know about every team in the field, listed alphabetically.
Alabama
Alabama (23-10, 7-9 SEC) will participate in the March Madness tournament for the fifth time in the last six years. The Crimson Tide have been knocking on the door but still have not made the Sweet 16 since 1998.
Arizona State
Arizona State (24-10, 9-9 Big 12) punched its ticket into the March Madness tournament for the first time since the 2018–19 season. It is also the first under head coach Molly Miller, whose 24 wins were the most by a first-year head coach in program history.
Baylor
Baylor (24-8, 13-5 Big 12) extends the nation’s third-longest active March Madness appearance streak with 22. The Bears finished third in the Big 12 but were knocked out in the first round of the conference tournament by Colorado. It’s been seven years since Baylor’s last national championship as the program continues to rebuild in the post–Kim Mulkey era.
California Baptist
California Baptist (23-10, 15-3 WAC) is one of the feel-good teams of the tournament, participating in March Madness for the first time in program history after beating Abilene Christian 74-58 in the conference title game.
Clemson
Clemson (21-11, 11-7 ACC) makes its 17th NCAA tournament appearance but just its second since 2002. The last time the Tigers were in the Big Dance, they lost to Mississippi State in the second round as a nine seed. Clemson’s 21 wins are the most since 2000.
College of Charleston
College of Charleston (26-5, 16-2 CAA) will play in its first NCAA tournament after winning the Coastal Athletic Association title. The 27 wins were the most in program history since moving to Division I.
Colorado
Colorado (22-11, 11-7 Big 12) is headed to the Big Dance for the 17th time in program history. The Buffaloes’ last two trips ended in the Sweet 16, and with wins over seven other teams in the field, they have reason to feel confident against higher seeds.
Colorado State
Colorado State (27-7, 15-5 Mountain West) won a trip to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2016. The Rams are only giving up 55.3 points per game, which is No. 10 in the country, as they have held 23 of 32 opponents under 60 points this season.
🎮 Play the NCAA Women’s Bracket Challenge Game
Duke
Duke (24-8, 16-2 ACC) secured its trip to the NCAA tournament, defeating Louisville 70-65 in OT to win a second straight ACC championship. The Blue Devils overcame a sluggish start, opening with a 3-6 record before going 21-2 to finish the season. Duke is one of the hottest and fastest ascending teams entering this tournament.
Fairfield
Fairfield (28-4, 19-1 MAAC) has been one of the stronger mid-major schools this season. The Stags have made the tournament three of the last four years without advancing to the second round. Fairfield leads the nation in three-pointers made and ranks ninth in three-point percentage, making them a dangerous matchup for any team if they get hot.
Fairleigh Dickinson
Fairleigh Dickinson (29-4, 18-0 NEC) won its 40th straight conference game and has gone undefeated in league play for back-to-back years, joining only UConn as the other team to do so. The Knights ride a third-best-in-the-nation 22-game win streak entering the first round.
Georgia
Georgia (22-9, 8-8 SEC) is back in the dance after a two-year hiatus. Georgia was boosted by a perfect 14-0 non-conference slate, with its signature conference win coming over then-No. 5 Vanderbilt at home.
Gonzaga
Gonzaga (24-9, 14-4 WCC) fended off Oregon State in the West Coast title game. The Bulldogs will rely on star forward Lauren Whittaker, who leads the league in points, rebounds and field goal percentage. Gonzaga is back in the dance after missing out last season but making the previous four.
Green Bay
Green Bay (25-8, 17-3 Horizon) snatched a third straight Horizon League title and its 19th in program history. While it is the Phoenix’s 21st postseason appearance, they have not advanced to the second round since 2012, after beating Iowa State. They’ll look to end that streak this season with a first-round upset.
High Point
High Point (27-5, 13-3 Big South) won another Big South championship to return to the NCAA tournament. For the second year in a row, both HPU men’s and women’s programs will represent the school in the postseason.
Holy Cross
Holy Cross (23-9, 14-4 Patriot) won a third conference title in the last four years, defeating defending champion Lehigh 77-70 in the championship game. It’ll be the school’s 15th tournament appearance, though it has only advanced past the first round once in 1991.
Howard
Howard (26-7, 13-1 MEAC) returns to the Big Dance after defeating Norfolk State 53-46 in the MEAC championship for the first time since 2022. The Bison will be armed with the MEAC’s leading scorer and rebounder, Zennia Thomas, averaging 15.2 points and eight rebounds per game.
Idaho
Idaho (29-5, 17-1 Big Sky) took down Montana State to win the Big Sky Conference tournament championship and secured its spot in this year’s tournament. The Vandals are coming in hot on an 18-game win streak, the longest in program history in the NCAA era.
Illinois
Illinois (21-11, 9-9 Big Ten) makes the March Madness tournament for a second straight season for the first time since doing so four times between 1996 and 2000. The Illini picked up three ranked wins in 2025–26, including a Top-10 victory over then-No. 7 Maryland.
Iowa
Iowa (26-6, 15-3 Big Ten) will host the first two rounds of the tournament after finishing runner-up in the conference tournament. The Hawkeyes have played one of the toughest schedules in the country, only losing to Quad 1 teams and ranking 10th in the NET. Iowa will look to rebound from last year’s second-round exit after reaching back-to-back national finals in 2023 and 2024.
Iowa State
Iowa State (22-9, 10-8 Big 12) makes its 24th NCAA tournament appearance. It is the seventh straight bid for the Cyclones and 17 of the last 19. All eyes will be on one of the nation’s leading scorers in Audi Crooks, averaging a league-best 25.5 points per game on 65 percent shooting.
👉 Click or tap here for full interactive bracket
Jacksonville
Jacksonville (24-8, 13-5 ASUN) secured its second-ever ASUN Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The Dolphins tied their program record of 24 wins and enter the tournament having won 13 of their last 14 games.
James Madison
James Madison (26-8, 14-4 Sun Belt) secured a bid to the NCAA tournament in the Sun Belt title game. The Dukes will be led by their leading scorer Peyton McDaniel, who’s averaging 18.9 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. It’ll be JMU’s first March Madness since 2023 when they lost to Ohio State in the first round.
Kentucky
Kentucky (23-10, 8-8 SEC) finished .500 in a tough SEC conference slate. The Wildcats are 16th in both the NET and AP Poll. Kentucky lost narrowly to Kansas State last season in the second round and this year are led by Tonie Morgan who leads the conference with 8.2 assists per game.
Louisville
Louisville (27-7, 15-3 ACC) finished second to Duke in the ACC standings and will have the first and second round games in its home arena. The Cardinals have the ninth most Quad 1 wins in the nation and are tied for the most of any team in the conference.
LSU
LSU (27-5, 12-4 SEC) has been on a historic offensive tear. The Tigers lead the nation in points per game at 94.6, with no other team averaging 90. Baton Rouge will host the first weekend of the tournament where the Tigers are 13-2 on the season and rank fifth in the NET. It’s been three years since LSU has taken home the trophy, but the Tigers cannot be counted out as long as Kim Mulkey is at the helm.
Maryland
Maryland (23-8, 11-7 Big Ten) is led by First Team All-Big Ten honoree Oluchi Okanwa. Maryland has six Quad 1 wins and only Quad 1 losses which means they know how to take care of business. It’s the Terrapins’ sixth straight berth, advancing out of the first two rounds four of the last five seasons.
Miami (OH)
Miami (OH) (26-2, 16-2 MAC) much like the men’s team has also had a bit of a miracle season, securing its bid with a 68-58 win over Toledo in the conference title game. It’s the RedHawks’ first appearance since their lone showing in the 2008 tournament.
Michigan
Michigan (25-6, 15-3 Big Ten) finished tied for second in the Big Ten going into the conference tournament, its highest finish since 2000. The Wolverines set a new program record with 24 regular season wins and 15 Big Ten wins. Michigan is another Top-16 host site for the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament.
Michigan State
Michigan State (22-8, 11-7 Big Ten) started off very strong before losing six of its last nine. The Spartans still finished ninth in the nation in both field goals made and percentage this season. Michigan State hasn’t made it out of the first two rounds the last two seasons, but if it can rediscover its early-season form they could challenge deeper rounds.
Minnesota
Minnesota (22-8, 13-5 Big Ten) is another Big Ten team hosting the first weekend of postseason play. The Golden Gophers are ninth in the NET rankings. Minnesota returns to the field for the first time since the 2017-18 season where they lost to Oregon in the second round.
Missouri State
Missouri State (22-12, 11-7 CUSA) won the Conference USA title over Louisiana Tech to reach its 18th NCAA tournament appearance and 12th conference tournament title. Missouri State enters the tournament ranked 24th in the nation in total rebounds with three players averaging six or more this season.
Murray State
Murray State (30-3, 19-1 MVC) made light work of its conference tournament, beating Evansville 91-70 in the championship game. Murray State brings one of the nation’s most high-powered offenses, ranking fifth in total points. The Racers lost in the opening round of the tournament last year to Iowa.
⛹️♀️ Keep up with all the action all tournament long
NC State
NC State (20-10, 13-5 ACC) boasts four players averaging double-figure points this season, with Khamil Pierre and Zoe Brooks at 16.8 and 16.3 points, respectively, leading the way. Pierre has been one of the most impactful transfers this season out of Vanderbilt, averaging a double-double with 12.0 rebounds per game to lead the ACC and rank sixth nationally.
Nebraska
Nebraska (18-12, 7-11 Big Ten) started the season blazing hot with a 13-0 record before struggling in conference play. The Cornhuskers have not made it to the regional round since 2013.
North Carolina
North Carolina (26-7, 14-4 ACC) finished the season ranked third in the ACC and 15th in the AP Poll. Lanie Grant led the conference in three-point shooting, knocking down 43% from the outside. The Tar Heels have made the tournament for the sixth straight year, losing to rival Duke in the Sweet 16 last March.
Notre Dame
Notre Dame (24-8, 16-2 ACC) finished fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season standings and won two tournament games before losing by two points to eventual champion Duke in a semifinal contest. Notre Dame is 9-2 since February and boasts six Quad 1 wins, the 12th most in Division I.
Ohio State
Ohio State (26-7, 13-5 Big Ten) finished fourth in a stacked Big Ten field. The Buckeyes are led by defensive standouts Elsa Lemmila, who leads the conference with 2.2 blocks a game, while Kennedy Cambridge leads the conference with 3.9 steals a game. Ohio State hosts the first round again but has struggled to get out of Columbus the past two seasons.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma (24-7, 11-5 SEC) has made its presence known since joining the conference. The Sooners finished 13th in the NET and are one of only two schools to beat South Carolina this season along with rival Texas. Leading scorer Aaliyah Chavez leads the nation with 94% from the line while averaging 18.4 points a game.
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State (23-9, 12-6 Big 12) has five players averaging 11 or more points a game. They rank ninth in the nation in three-pointers made per game, making them one of the most deadly teams from outside with Micah Gray leading the conference with 88 triples this season. The Cowboys look to improve on their first-round exit last March.
Ole Miss
Ole Miss (23-11, 8-8 SEC) was another team to finish even in a difficult SEC schedule. It is the fifth straight year that Ole Miss has made the NCAA tournament under head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. The Rebels made it to the Sweet 16 in 2023 and 2025 and will look to make their first Elite Eight since 2007.
Oregon
Oregon (22-12, 8-10 Big Ten) is led by sophomore standouts Katie Fiso and Ehis Etute. Over their last seven games, Fiso averaged 19.4 points per game on 53.8 percent shooting, while Etute posted five double-doubles over the same span with 19.7 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.
Princeton
Princeton (26-3, 12-2 Ivy League) cruised through its conference tournament to secure an automatic tournament bid. The Tigers will compete in the Big Dance for the seventh time in the last eight seasons, never making it past the second round, but were ranked for 11 weeks this season and look to compete with most teams in the Top 25.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island (28-4, 16-2 A-10) punched its ticket to the dance for the first time in 30 years by beating second-seeded George Mason 53-51 in the Atlantic 10 Championship game. It is just the Rams’ second appearance in the NCAA tournament, where they only have to win one game to set a new program best.
Richmond
Richmond (26-7, 15-3 A-10) got into the field of 68 behind Maggie Doogan’s league-leading 21 points per game on 50 percent shooting. Ally Sweeney also leads the league in assists, so the Spiders will rely heavily on their star duo.
Samford
Samford (16-18, 6-8 SoCon) won its conference tournament in spite of a losing record, upsetting top-seeded Chattanooga 72-67 to snatch the SoCon auto bid. The Bulldogs will lean on their league-leading three-point shooter Briana Rivera, who’s knocking down over three triples a game on a .365 clip.
South Carolina
South Carolina (31-3, 15-1 SEC) remains squarely in title contention as usual. The Gamecocks fell short to Texas in the SEC title game but rank third in the country with 12 Quad 1 wins and will host the first two rounds of the tournament, where they are 16-0 at home. The Gamecocks are 1-1 in NCAA title games the last two seasons and will look to get back on top in Phoenix.
South Dakota State
South Dakota State (27-6, 14-2 Summit) solidified its NCAA tournament berth in the Summit League championship. The Jackrabbits rank 14th in the nation in offensive rating as they look to improve on their second-round appearance last season.
Southern California — southern-california
Southern California (17-13, 9-9 Big Ten) pushed through an injury-riddled season to make another tournament appearance. The Trojans started the year 10-3 with losses to UConn and South Carolina but struggled through conference play. It will be a tall task to return to the Elite Eight, but USC has overcome challenges all season.
Southern University — southern-university
Southern University (19-13, 12-6 SWAC) repeated as SWAC champions, dominating Alabama State 73-56 in the conference tournament final. It’s Southern’s third NCAA tournament appearance in the last four seasons. The Jaguars have never made it through the first round in seven attempts, falling to UCLA in last year’s opening round.
Stephen F. Austin — stephen-f-austin
Stephen F. Austin (25-9, 16-6 Southland) won a second straight SLC tournament championship to punch its ticket to the NCAA tournament. The Ladyjacks have five players averaging over double figures. SFA lost to Notre Dame in the first round last season but had consistent success in the 1990s and look to return to competing in these early rounds.
Syracuse
Syracuse (23-8, 12-6 ACC) punched its ticket to the NCAA tournament for the 14th time in program history and second time in three seasons. The Orange lead the ACC in offensive rebounds per game (16.8), which ranks seventh nationally, and are second in the league in both steals and turnovers forced.
TCU
TCU (29-5, 15-3 Big 12) is led by Big 12 Player of the Year Olivia Miles, who is averaging 19.6 points, 6.4 assists, 6.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals a game. The Horned Frogs rank 14th in the AP and 12th in the NET, winning the Big 12 regular season title.
Tennessee
Tennessee (16-13, 8-8 SEC) has still yet to miss out on an NCAA tournament, having made 45 of 45 possible appearances. The Lady Vols lost in the Sweet 16 to Texas in head coach Kim Caldwell’s first season. Year two has been less kind as Tennessee enters the tournament having lost 10 of its last 12. The Lady Vols still rank eighth in the nation in threes per game, so they are still liable to get hot from deep at any moment.
Texas
Texas (31-3, 13-3 SEC) has yet to miss a conference title game in the two years it has been in the SEC, beating South Carolina 78-61 to win the tournament this season. The Longhorns are one of the top schools in the nation, ranking ninth in strength of schedule, fifth in offensive rating and third in defensive rating, along with the second most Quad 1 wins in the country. Texas lost in the Final Four last season and hasn’t lifted the trophy since 1986, but will be as big a challenger for the crown as they have ever been.
Texas Tech
Texas Tech (25-7, 12-6 Big 12) is making its first NCAA tournament appearance since the 2012–13 season. The Lady Raiders enter the tournament with ranked wins over Baylor, beating them twice, and TCU. It was a struggle down the stretch as they went 7-7 over their last 14 games, including a loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 tournament opener, but if they find their earlier form Texas Tech is a team to watch.
UCLA
UCLA (31-1, 18-0 Big Ten) repeated as Big Ten champions, dismantling second-seeded Iowa 96-45 in what has been a dominant season. The Bruins are 19-1 in Quad 1 games with five more wins than the next closest team. UCLA has been building momentum for a couple seasons now, but we’ll see if this is the year they get over the hump.
UC San Diego
UC San Diego (24-8, 17-3 Big West) won the Big West tournament title for the second year in a row. The Tritons have had 20 or more wins for the first time in back-to-back seasons since joining Division I.
UConn
UConn (31-0, 20-0 Big East) is riding the fifth-longest win streak in DI women’s college basketball history at 50 straight games, dating back to last February, and are the reigning national champions. The Huskies wrote their bid in stone by capturing their 24th Big East tournament title behind their two best players, Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd. The likely favorite of most brackets, it’ll take a big performance to end UConn’s streak.
UT San Antonio
UTSA (18-15, 9-9 American) won the American Women’s Basketball Championship as a sixth seed and has turned a rocky season into an NCAA tournament berth. It is just the Roadrunners’ third postseason appearance and first since 2009 when they lost to No. 2 Baylor 87-82 in overtime.
Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt (26-7, 11-7 SEC) has had an all-time program best season. The Commodores will host the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2011-12. It is Vanderbilt’s third straight at-large bid after a program-best 27 regular season wins and 13 conference wins.
Vermont
Vermont (27-7, 13-3 America East) enters the tournament as back-to-back America East champions, knocking off Maine 61-43 in the championship game. While the Catamounts are 80th in the NET, which is a step up from their 94th place ranking last year when they qualified for the big dance, they will still be looking to play spoiler to someone’s bracket.
Villanova
Villanova (25-7, 16-4 Big East) is headed to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2023 and the 14th time in school history. The Wildcats finished second in the Big East behind UConn and were the only team to hold a halftime lead over the Huskies.
Virginia
Virginia (19-11, 11-7 ACC) makes its first tournament bid since 2018 when it lost in the second round to South Carolina. The Cavaliers will rely heavily on Kymora Johnson, who averages 19 points and an ACC-best 5.9 assists per game.
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech (23-9, 12-6 ACC) started conference play 1-3 before going on a seven-game winning streak with wins over Syracuse, Boston College and Virginia. After losing back-to-back games to Notre Dame and Syracuse, the Hokies bounced back by winning five of their next six.
Washington
Washington (21-10, 10-8 Big Ten) makes its second straight NCAA tournament berth and the second under head coach Tina Langley. The Huskies are 25th in the NET with six Quad 1 victories. Washington will look to Sayvia Sellers, who is averaging a team-leading 18.5 points per game.
West Virginia
West Virginia (27-6, 14-4 Big 12) will host the first two rounds of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament for the first time in the modern era. The Mountaineers achieved this by winning their second Big 12 Conference tournament championship. Their 27 wins are the third most in program history as they’ll strive to add onto this already historic season.
Western Illinois
Western Illinois (26-5, 16-4 OVC) got the Ohio Valley Conference’s automatic bid, beating Lindenwood 71-65 for the program’s first OVC title and first March Madness appearance since joining the conference. It’ll be Western Illinois’ first trip to the dance since the 2016–17 season, where they lost to Florida State as a 14 seed.
