The Field is Set: Top Storylines for the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament

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The bracket has been revealed, and the road to the Final Four in Dallas is officially open. The 2026 tournament features a new generation of icons and a historically dominant favorite looking to protect a perfect season.

Here are the biggest storylines to watch as the Field of 68 tips off.

The UConn Juggernaut: 34-0 and Counting

The UConn Huskies entered the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and the undisputed team to beat.

The Streak: UConn is a perfect 34–0 this season and currently holds a 50-game winning streak dating back to last year.
Life Without Paige: While many wondered how the Huskies would fare after Paige Bueckers turned pro, sophomore sensation Sarah Strong has emerged as the National Player of the Year frontrunner, leading Geno Auriemma to the brink of a record 13th national title.
The Path: As the top seed in Regional 1, UConn will host the first two rounds in Storrs, where they haven’t lost a tournament game in decades.

USC’s New Reality: Life Without JuJu

Perhaps the most heartbreaking storyline of the season is the absence of USC superstar JuJu Watkins.

The Injury: Watkins, the 2025 Wooden Award winner, is sitting out the entire 2025–26 season to recover from a torn ACL suffered in last year’s tournament.
The “Next Up” Mentality: Despite losing the face of the program, the Trojans (an 8-seed in Regional 1) have remained competitive thanks to National Freshman of the Year Jazzy Davidson.
A Familiar Foe: If USC survives their opening game against Princeton, they are on a collision course to face UConn in the second round—a rematch of the 2025 Elite Eight.

The South Carolina Redemption Tour

After a heartbreaking loss to UConn in last year’s National Championship, Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks (31–3) are back as a No. 1 seed in Regional 4.

SEC Dominance: South Carolina captured both the SEC regular-season and tournament titles, proving they remain the deepest team in the country.
The Freshman Factor: Their path to the Final Four is peppered with potential landmines, including a possible second-round matchup against USC (the 9-seed in their region) or a Sweet Sixteen showdown with Oklahoma.

The Number 1 Seeds

Region	Team	Record	Key Player
Regional 1	UConn	34–0	Sarah Strong (So. Forward)
Regional 2	UCLA	31–1	Kiki Rice (Sr. Guard)
Regional 3	Texas	31–3	Madison Booker (Jr. Forward)
Regional 4	South Carolina	31–3	MiLaysia Fulwiley (Jr. Guard)

The “Complete” Campaign: Hannah Hidalgo

Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo has spent the last week on billboards across the country, with the Irish athletic department launching a massive “Complete Player” campaign for her National Player of the Year candidacy.

The Numbers: Hidalgo led the nation in steals for the second straight year and averaged over 25 PPG during the ACC tournament.
The Trap: Notre Dame enters as a 6-seed in Regional 1, but they face a dangerous “Cinderella” pick in Fairfield (28–4) in the first round.

Quick Hits & Upset Watches

Iowa After Clark: The Hawkeyes (26–6) are a 2-seed in Regional 4. While they no longer have No. 22, they remain a high-octane offense led by Hannah Stuelke.
The 12-Seed to Watch: Keep an eye on Murray State (31–3) in Regional 1. They face 5-seed Maryland in what many experts are calling the most likely “bracket-buster” of the opening round.
The Home Court Advantage: Remember, the Top 16 seeds host the first two rounds. This gives teams like Vanderbilt, LSU, and Ohio State a massive edge in escaping the first weekend.