Big Ten Conference Ties Record with 12 Programs Headed to the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament

ROSEMONT, Ill. – For the second year in a row, a record-tying 12 Big Ten Conference schools received berths into the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, the NCAA announced Sunday night.

For the second time in conference history, 12 programs earned their way into the NCAA Tournament, led by No. 2 overall seed UCLA. The 12 berths were the top mark among all Division I conferences, followed by the SEC (10), ACC (9) and Big 12 (8).

This marks the sixth time a Big Ten program has garnered a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament in the last four years. UCLA was the overall No. 1 seed a season ago and reached the program’s first-ever NCAA Final Four.  

The 12 selections tied the conference record for most teams chosen in one season, which was set during the 2025 NCAA Tournament. It is the 21st time in the past 25 years and 28th time in Big Ten history that at least six current conference members have been selected to compete in the NCAA Tournament.

The First Four will be played Wednesday-Thursday (March 18-19) at four of the top 16 host sites, with the first-and second-round games being played on the campuses of the top 16 seeds from March 20-23. Tournament play then shifts to two eight-team regional sites in Fort Worth, Texas and Sacramento, Calif., from March 27-30. The four regional winners will advance to the NCAA Final Four, which will take place April 3 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., before the NCAA Championship Game on Sunday, April 5.

The 2026 NCAA Tournament will be televised live on the ESPN family of networks and can also be seen on the ESPN app.

For second time in as many years, UCLA is the Big Ten’s automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament after the Bruins won their second straight Big Ten Tournament title. UCLA is a No. 1 seed and earned a spot in the Sacramento 2 Region. The Bruins will take on No. 16 seed Cal Baptist inside Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday. UCLA, which made it to the NCAA Final Four for the first time in program history last year, is making its 21st entry into the NCAA Tournament and owns a 29-20 record in the postseason event.

Iowa will play host to the first and second rounds for the fourth time in the last five years. The Hawkeyes, who gained entry into their 32nd NCAA Tournament, secured the No. 2 seed in the Sacramento 4 Region. Iowa will host No. 15 seed Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round Saturday.

For the second time in program history, Michigan will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines garnered the No. 2 seed in the Fort Worth 3 Region as they embark on their 14th appearance. Michigan is slated to play No. 15 seed Holy Cross on Friday and has a 12-13 mark in the tournament.

Ohio State is making its 30th NCAA Tournament appearance after claiming the No. 3 seed in the Fort Worth 1 Region. The Buckeyes are set to host at the Schottenstein Center and challenge No. 14 seed Howard in the first round. With a win, Ohio State would take on No. 6 Notre Dame or No. 11 Fairfield. The Buckeyes have a 33-29 postseason record.

Minnesota is headed back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 and will be hosting its first games since 2005. The Golden Gophers are making their 11th venture in the NCAA Tournament and has a 12-10 record. Minnesota earned the No. 4 seed in the Sacramento 2 Region and will prepare to welcome No. 13 seed Green Bay on Friday.

Maryland earned the No. 5 seed in the Fort Worth 1 Region and is heading into its 33rd overall and 16th straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Terrapins will travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., and take on No. 12 seed Murray State on Friday.  

Michigan State will make its way to Norman, Okla., as the No. 5 seed in the Sacramento 4 Region to meet No. 12 seed Colorado State. The Spartans are looking to improve on their 20-20 record as they embark on their 21st overall appearance.

Washington is making back-to-back showings in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since it made three straight trips from 2015-2017. The sixth-seeded Huskies, in their 21st appearance, are set to clash with No. 11 seed South Dakota State in Fort Worth, Texas. Washington is hoping to improve its 21-20 record and is part of the Sacramento 4 Region.

Illinois, the No. 7 seed in the Fort Worth 1 Region, begins its journey against No. 10 seed Colorado in Nashville, Tenn. The Fighting Illini are back in the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time and hold a 9-10 record in the event.

Oregon is in the NCAA Tournament for the 19th time in program history. The eighth-seeded Ducks will open action in Austin, Texas, in the Fort Worth 3 Region against No. 9 seed Virginia Tech. Oregon is 18-18 in tournament play.

USC claimed the No. 9 seed in the Sacramento 4 Region and will face No. 8 seed Clemson in Columbia, S.C. The Trojans are headed to their 20th NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight the past two seasons with a 35-17 mark in tournament action.

Nebraska is heading to its 18th NCAA Tournament after notching the No. 11 seed in the Sacramento 2 Region as part of the First Four. The Huskers will see fellow No. 11 seed Richmond in Durham, N.C., on Wednesday as they look to build on their 9-17 tournament mark.

Game times will be announced in the coming days.