Big Ten, SEC Earn NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament’s Top Seeds

As Selection Sunday unfolded, the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament bracket showcased the dominance of the Big Ten and SEC, with all four No. 1 seeds belonging to teams from these powerhouse conferences. For the first time in program history, UCLA (30-2) secured the tournament’s top overall seed, marking a milestone moment for the Bruins. They were joined on the top line by South Carolina (30-3), Texas (31-3), and USC (28-3), setting the stage for an electrifying tournament.

Conference champions UConn (31-2), TCU (31-3), and Duke (28-7) earned No. 2 seeds, adding even more depth to a bracket packed with talent and compelling matchups.

How Each Region Turned Out

Spokane 1 Region: UCLA Leads the Charge

The road to the Final Four in the Spokane 1 region runs through UCLA, which enters the tournament riding high after a dominant season. The Bruins will have to navigate a competitive field that includes No. 2 seed NC State (26-6), the ACC runner-up, and No. 3 seed LSU (28-5), a team eager to bounce back after falling to Texas in the SEC semifinals. The Tigers will face No. 14 San Diego State (25-9), which is looking to make a statement in the first round.

No. 4 Baylor (27-7) will battle No. 13 Grand Canyon (32-2), which is making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, hoping to extend its historic run. Meanwhile, the First Four matchup between UC San Diego (20-15) and Southern University (20-14) will determine who earns a spot in the main bracket. For UC San Diego, just making the tournament is a breakthrough moment.

Spokane 4 Region: USC Looks to Bounce Back

USC, fresh off a loss to rival UCLA in the Big Ten championship game, still secured the No. 1 seed in the Spokane 4 region. The Trojans will face No. 16 UNC Greensboro (25-6) in their opening game, hoping to prove they belong atop the bracket. Meanwhile, No. 2 seed UConn, led by star guard Paige Bueckers, will take on No. 15 Arkansas State (21-10), a program making its tournament debut and looking to pull off a Cinderella upset.

Former No. 1 seed Iowa (22-10) finds itself in an unfamiliar position as a No. 6 seed this year. The Hawkeyes will face No. 11 Murray State (25-7), aiming to recapture some of last year’s magic. No. 3 seed Oklahoma (25-7), the SEC’s top representative in this region, faces a tough challenge against No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast (30-3), a program that is looking to go past the second round for the first time.

Birmingham 2 Region: South Carolina’s Quest For A Repeat

Defending national champion South Carolina enters the tournament with a chip on their shoulder. The Gamecocks landed the No. 1 seed in the Birmingham 2 region but were denied the top overall seed, a decision head coach Dawn Staley did not agree with. “I’m a little bit surprised because we manufactured our schedule to be the No. 1 overall seed,” Staley told ESPN, pointing to a resume filled with high-profile wins. However, a lopsided 29-point loss to UConn, and a conference realignment that granted UCLA tough competitors in the Big Ten, likely cost them the No. 1 overall spot.

“Two key factors between UCLA and South Carolina. One was the head-to-head matchup”, NCAA selection committee chair Derita Dawkins told ESPN. “The other was one of our criteria is competitive in losses, and South Carolina suffered a 29-point loss to UConn. Those were the two key differences in those résumés.”

South Carolina opens against No. 16 Tennessee Tech (26-5), hoping to kick off a title defense with a dominant performance. Duke, the No. 2 seed, will take on No. 15 Lehigh (27-6), while No. 3 seed North Carolina (27-7) prepares for a battle with No. 14 Oregon State (19-15), a team that fought its way into the tournament with a late-season push.

Birmingham 3 Region: Texas Eyes the Prize

The Birmingham 3 region belongs to Texas, which secured the No. 1 seed after a grueling SEC title run. The Longhorns will await the winner of the First Four matchup between High Point (21-11) and William & Mary (15-18), the latter making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and hoping to extend its historic season.

TCU, the Big 12 champion, earned the No. 2 seed and will take on Fairleigh Dickinson (29-3), a newcomer to the tournament looking to shake things up. Meanwhile, Notre Dame (26-5) enters as the No. 3 seed, facing No. 14 Stephen F. Austin (29-5) in the first-round matchup as it looks to regain confidence after stumbling towards the end of conference play.

As the tournament tips off, the bracket is filled with storylines—historic firsts, redemption arcs, and powerhouse programs aiming to cement their legacies. With so much talent spread across the regions, this year’s NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament doesn’t have a clear favorite and could showcase some of the most competitive runs ever.