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March Madness is rolling toward Selection Sunday, and the race for automatic berths in the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament is heating up. Fifteen conference champions have already punched their tickets, several more will be decided this week, and fans are tracking schedules, TV windows and a handful of key matchups that could reshape the bracket.
Who’s already locked into the 2026 field
Fifteen teams have clinched automatic bids through conference tournament titles. These programs have secured their spots and will await the full bracket on Selection Sunday.
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- UConn (34-0) — Big East
- UCLA (31-1) — Big Ten
- Texas (31-3) — SEC
- South Dakota State (27-6) — Summit
- West Virginia (27-6) — Big 12
- Duke (24-8) — ACC
- Rhode Island (28-4) — Atlantic 10
- Jacksonville (24-8) — Atlantic Sun
- High Point (27-5) — Big South
- Green Bay (25-8) — Horizon
- Fairfield (28-4) — MAAC
- Western Illinois (26-5) — Ohio Valley Conference
- Samford (16-18) — Southern Conference
- James Madison (26-8) — Sun Belt
- Gonzaga (24-9) — West Coast
On Monday, UConn dominated Villanova 90-51 to claim the Big East crown. Other recent results include Green Bay edging Youngstown State 57-49 and Gonzaga topping Oregon State 76-66. The Mountain West title game will feature Colorado State (26-7) against Air Force (16-17).
Conference tournament calendar and how to watch
Conference tournaments determine 31 automatic qualifiers. Below are dates, championship game days, broadcast windows and where to stream or watch.
| Conference | Tournament Dates | Championship Day | Tip-off Time (ET) | TV / Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACC | March 4–8 | March 8 | 1:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Big Ten | March 4–8 | March 8 | 2:15 p.m. | CBS |
| Big 12 | March 4–8 | March 8 | 5:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Big East | March 6–9 | March 9 | 7:00 p.m. | Peacock |
| SEC | March 4–8 | March 8 | 3:00 p.m. | SEC Network |
| American | March 10–14 | March 14 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPNU |
| America East | March 5–13 | March 13 | 5:00 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Atlantic 10 | March 4–8 | March 8 | 4:00 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Atlantic Sun | March 3–9 | March 9 | 5:00 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Big Sky | March 7–11 | March 11 | 5:00 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Big South | March 4–8 | March 8 | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Big West | March 11–14 | March 14 | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| C-USA | March 10–14 | March 14 | 5:30 p.m. | CBSSN |
| CAA | March 11–15 | March 15 | 2:00 p.m. | CBSSN |
| Horizon | March 2–10 | March 10 | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Ivy League | March 13–14 | March 14 | 5:30 p.m. | ESPNU |
| MAAC | March 5–9 | March 9 | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| MAC | March 11–14 | March 14 | 11:00 a.m. | CBSSN |
| MEAC | March 11–14 | March 14 | 4:00 p.m. | ESPNews |
| MVC | March 12–15 | March 15 | 2:00 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Mountain West | March 7–10 | March 10 | 9:30 p.m. | CBSSN |
| Northeast | March 9–15 | March 15 | 12:00 p.m. | ESPNU |
| OVC | March 4–7 | March 7 | 4:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Patriot | March 7–15 | March 15 | 12:00 p.m. | CBSSN |
| Southern | March 5–8 | March 8 | 12:00 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Southland | March 9–12 | March 12 | 5:00 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Sun Belt | March 3–9 | March 9 | 2:00 p.m. | ESPNU |
| SWAC | March 9–14 | March 14 | 1:00 p.m. | ESPNU |
| WAC | March 11–14 | March 14 | 3:30 p.m. | ESPNU |
| West Coast | March 5–10 | March 10 | 4:00 p.m. | ESPN2 |
Key remaining matchups to watch this week
Several conference championship games still loom and could alter seeding and bubble hopes. Keep an eye on these contests:
- Mountain West final: Colorado State vs. Air Force
- Horizon final already decided: Green Bay beat Youngstown State 57-49
- West Coast semifinal result: Gonzaga 76, Oregon State 66
Projected No. 1 seeds heading into Selection Sunday
Bracketologists have started to sort favorites for the top seeds in the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament field. Early projections list these teams at the top:
- UConn — 34-0
- UCLA — 31-1
- South Carolina — 31-3
- Texas — 31-3
When and where the bracket will be revealed
The full 68-team field is set to be announced on Selection Sunday, March 15, at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. That reveal will confirm the 31 automatic qualifiers and the 37 at-large teams.
Final Four dates and location
The 2026 Women’s Final Four is scheduled for April 3–5 in Phoenix. Teams that survive the early rounds will converge there for the national semifinals and final.
