UConn, UCLA, South Carolina and Vanderbilt top first reveal of 2026 – NCAA.com

INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee tabbed UConn, UCLA, South Carolina and Vanderbilt as the No. 1 seeds in its first top 16 reveal of the season.
Following those teams as the projected No. 2 seeds are Texas, Michigan, Louisville and LSU. Ohio State, Duke, Iowa and TCU would be the No. 3 seeds. Rounding out the top 16 are Maryland, Michigan State, Ole Miss and Oklahoma placed on the four line.
The committee also provided regional assignments for all 16 seeds. Fort Worth Regional 1 included UConn, LSU, Ohio State and Oklahoma. UCLA, Texas, Duke and Ole Miss were assigned to Sacramento Regional 2. Fort Worth Regional 3 would feature South Carolina, Louisville, Iowa and Michigan State, and Vanderbilt, Michigan, TCU and Maryland were placed in Sacramento Regional 4. The number listed next to the regional site location (e.g. Fort Worth Regional 1) reflects the true seed number of the number one seed within that respective regional pod.
“The committee is excited to share our current top 16 teams and give insight into our conversations,” said Amanda Braun, director of athletics at Milwaukee and chair of the committee. “This season, we’ve seen a high level of play across the country, and finalizing this ranking was a difficult task. With many significant regular season games and all conference tournaments ahead of us, there is still a lot of opportunity for movement.”
UConn (26-0) is undefeated and was named top seed in the reveal. The defending national champions are currently the top in the NET rating and hold marquee wins over Michigan, Louisville, Iowa and Ohio State.
Behind UConn is another Women’s Final Four team from 2025, UCLA (24-1). The Bruins have the toughest schedule in the country and have not lost since November.
South Carolina (24-2) is in line potentially for another number one seed. If they stay on the one line, it would be the sixth straight season that the Gamecocks earned a top seed.
Rounding out the number one seeds is Vanderbilt (24-2). The Commodores are fresh off a win Thursday night against Texas, adding to an already impressive resume that featured wins over Michigan, LSU and Oklahoma.
Saturday’s reveal was the first of two that will be provided by the committee during the 2025-26 regular season. The other reveal will take place at 11 a.m. Eastern time, Sunday, March 1 on ESPN.
The top 16 teams announced during both reveals have no bearing on the final 68-team field for the 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship. The full bracket will be revealed on Sunday, March 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. This season, for the first time, the committee will announce the top 16 teams in the field, in alphabetical order, on Saturday, March 14, with a time and network to be announced at a later time.
Regional play at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, and at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, will take place March 27-30, with each site hosting two regional semifinal games March 27 and two March 28. In addition, each site will host a regional championship game March 29 and one on March 31.
The 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four will be played April 3 and 5 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.
NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee Top 16 Ranking – February 14, 2026*
 
1.    UConn
2.    UCLA
3.    South Carolina
4.    Vanderbilt
5.    Texas
6.    Michigan
7.    Louisville
8.    LSU
9.    Ohio State
10.    Duke
11.    Iowa
12.    TCU
13.    Maryland
14.    Michigan State
15.    Ole Miss
16.    Oklahoma
 
Regional Assignments*
 
Fort Worth 1
1.    UConn (1)
2.    LSU (8)
3.    Ohio State (9)
4.    Oklahoma (16)
Sacramento 2
1.    UCLA (2)
2.    Texas (5)
3.    Duke (10)
4.    Ole Miss (15)
Fort Worth 3
1.    South Carolina (3)
2.    Louisville (7)
3.    Iowa (11)
4.    Michigan State (14)
Sacramento 4
1.    Vanderbilt (4)
2.    Michigan (6)
3.    TCU (12)
4.    Maryland (13)
 
*Rankings and regional assignments based on games played through Friday, February 13
 

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