2026 NCAA Women's March Madness
Full Tournament Schedule, Dates & Locations
Every round from Selection Sunday (March 15) through the National Championship in Phoenix (April 5). Regional sites, campus-hosted rounds, and key dates for all 67 games.
2026 NCAA Women's Tournament Schedule
2026 Women's Tournament Venues
Unlike the men's tournament, the top 16 seeds in the women's bracket host first and second round games at their campus arenas. The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight converge at two predetermined regional sites, with the Final Four in Phoenix.
Key Dates at a Glance
8 PM ET on ESPN
7 PM ET on ESPN
Host: Arizona State University
3:30 PM ET on ABC
Host: Arizona State University
Future Women's Final Four Sites
Recent NCAA Women's Tournament Champions
Women's March Madness All-Time Records
How to Watch Women's March Madness 2026
Women's Tournament Terms & Glossary
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2026 NCAA Women's Tournament start?
The 2026 NCAA Women's Tournament begins with Selection Sunday on March 15, 2026 at 8 PM ET on ESPN. The First Four games start on March 18, with the First Round beginning March 20.
Where is the 2026 Women's Final Four?
The 2026 Women's Final Four and National Championship Game will be held at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The semifinals are on Friday, April 3 at 7 PM ET and the championship game is on Sunday, April 5 at 3:30 PM ET on ABC.
How many teams are in the 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament?
68 teams are selected for the 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament. Four teams play in the First Four, leaving 64 for the main bracket. The field includes 32 automatic qualifiers and 36 at-large bids.
Where are the 2026 Women's Sweet 16 and Elite Eight?
The 2026 Women's Sweet 16 and Elite Eight regional rounds are held at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas and Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California from March 27-30.
Who hosts the first and second rounds of the Women's NCAA Tournament?
The top 16 seeds in the 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament host first and second round games at their campus sites. This format ensures the highest-seeded teams have home-court advantage in the early rounds.
What channel is the Women's NCAA Tournament on?
The 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament airs across ESPN networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU). The National Championship Game is on ABC at 3:30 PM ET on April 5. All games stream via the ESPN app.
How is the Women's NCAA Tournament different from the Men's?
The Women's Tournament uses the same 68-team format as the Men's. Key differences: the top 16 seeds host first/second round games at campus sites (vs. neutral sites for men), the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight are at two predetermined regional sites (vs. four for men), and the Final Four is at a separate venue.
When is the 2026 Women's NCAA Championship Game?
The 2026 Women's National Championship Game is on Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 3:30 PM ET on ABC. It will be played at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Who won the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship?
UConn won the 2025 Women's NCAA Championship, defeating South Carolina 82-59 in the title game in Tampa, Florida. It was UConn's 12th national title under Geno Auriemma.
Which school has the most women's basketball national championships?
UConn leads with 11 NCAA Women's Basketball Championships. Tennessee is second with 8, and South Carolina has 3 (2017, 2022, 2024). Baylor and Stanford each have 3.
Who is the winningest coach in women's college basketball?
Geno Auriemma (UConn) holds the record for most NCAA Women's Basketball Championships with 12. He has led UConn to 23 Final Four appearances and built the most dominant dynasty in women's sports history.
Has there ever been a perfect season in women's basketball?
Yes, multiple teams have gone undefeated. Texas went 34-0 in 1986 (the first), UConn went 39-0 four times (2002, 2009, 2010, 2014), Baylor went 40-0 in 2012, and South Carolina went 38-0 in 2024.
How to stream the Women's NCAA Tournament 2026 for free?
The championship game on ABC can be streamed free with the ESPN app and an antenna. Other games require a cable or streaming TV login through the ESPN app. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV offer free trials that cover the full tournament.
What are the odds of a perfect women's March Madness bracket?
The odds are roughly 1 in 9.2 quintillion for a perfect 63-game bracket. The women's tournament has historically been more predictable than the men's, with fewer upsets, but a perfect bracket has never been achieved.
What is the Caitlin Clark effect on women's March Madness?
Caitlin Clark's record-breaking career at Iowa (2021-2024) dramatically increased viewership, attendance, and media coverage for women's college basketball. The 2024 championship game drew 18.9 million viewers, the most-watched basketball game (men's or women's) on ESPN ever.
When do Women's NCAA Tournament tickets go on sale?
Tickets for the Women's Final Four in Phoenix are available through NCAA.com/tickets and Arizona State. First/Second round tickets are sold by the host institutions after Selection Sunday. Sweet 16/Elite Eight tickets for Fort Worth and Sacramento are available through Ticketmaster.
Related
Schedule data sourced from NCAA.com. Dates and venues subject to change.