UConn, UCLA lead early reveal of NCAA women’s top 16 seeds

The NCAA has projected UConn, UCLA, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt as No. 1 seeds in the women’s tournament, announced on Saturday as part of their initial reveal of the top 16 seeds.

In the announcement, the NCAA also outlined the projected regions for the top 16 seeds. This year’s regionals will take place in Fort Worth, Texas, and Sacramento, California. The women’s tournament transitioned to a two-regional format in 2023, with champions crowned at each site.

Defending national champion UConn, holding the overall No. 1 seed, is placed in the Fort Worth 1 regional alongside LSU (No. 8 overall seed), Ohio State (No. 9), and Oklahoma (No. 16). Currently, the Huskies are 26-0, making them the only unbeaten team in Division I women’s basketball. They aim for the program’s seventh perfect season and 13th national championship.

UCLA (No. 2 overall), Texas (No. 5), Duke (No. 10), and Ole Miss (No. 15) are assigned to the Sacramento 2 regional.

The Fort Worth 3 regional is led by No. 3 overall seed South Carolina, with Louisville (No. 7), Iowa (No. 11), and Michigan State (No. 14) following.

In the Sacramento 4 regional, Vanderbilt, fresh from a significant win over Texas, is the No. 4 overall seed. The Commodores will compete against Michigan (No. 6), TCU (No. 12), and Maryland (No. 13).

Prior to Vanderbilt’s win over the Longhorns, Texas was considered one of the top-four seeds.

even if Texas holds the No. 5 overall seed, they couldn’t be placed into the Sacramento 4 or Fort Worth 3 regionals due to the presence of two other SEC teams as top seeds.

Overall, six teams each from the SEC and Big Ten make up this top 16. Two teams are from the ACC, one from the Big 12, and one from the Big East. UConn, UCLA, South Carolina, and Texas reached the Final Four last season.

The next reveal for the women’s top 16 is scheduled for March 1 at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN.

Selection Sunday for the NCAA tournament is set for March 15, with First Four games being held on March 18-19. The first and second-round games will take place from March 20-23, hosted at the sites of the top 16 seeds.

Sweet 16 games are scheduled for March 27-28, followed by the Elite Eight games on March 29-30. The women’s Final Four will occur at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, featuring semifinal games on April 3 and the national championship game on April 5.

All NCAA women’s tournament games will be broadcast on ABC/ESPN networks.