The bracket is finalized, and the First Four games are already underway. This Friday marks the official commencement of the first round of the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament.
With 16 matchups scheduled for Friday and another 16 on Saturday, deciding which games to prioritize can be challenging. To help you navigate the action, here are eight top first-round contests you won’t want to miss.
8. No. 5 Kentucky vs. No. 12 James Madison
Saturday, 2:30 p.m., ESPNU
This particular game carries significant emotional weight. Kentucky’s head coach, Kenny Brooks, has deep ties to James Madison, having played for the university and later served as the head coach of their women’s team from 2003 to 2016. During his tenure, Brooks guided the Dukes to numerous CAA regular-season and tournament championships, making five NCAA Tournament appearances, and he is now enshrined in the James Madison Athletics Hall of Fame.
While this season marks the Dukes’ strongest performance since Brooks departed for Virginia Tech in 2016, Kentucky presents a formidable opponent. Keep a close eye on the battle in the paint; JMU ranks among the nation’s top 15 in both rebounds and rebounding margin, largely due to Ashanti Barnes. However, the Wildcats counter with 6-foot-5 center Clara Strack, who boasts impressive averages of 17.1 points and 10 rebounds per game.
7. No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 9 Princeton
Saturday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2
The Oklahoma State Cowgirls are a team known for their unpredictability. For instance, in late February, they suffered a 72-40 loss to West Virginia, only to rebound with an 88-77 victory over Iowa State. Despite their inconsistencies, the Cowgirls managed an impressive fourth-place finish in the highly competitive Big 12 and are eager to secure their first NCAA Tournament victory under head coach Jacie Hoyt.
Princeton enjoyed a stellar 26-3 season, clinching the Ivy League championship and earning their fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. The Tigers haven’t advanced past the first round since their upset win over NC State in 2023, but this year’s squad, ranked No. 23 nationally, appears poised to deliver a significant win for the mid-majors.
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6. No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 11 Fairfield
Saturday, 2 p.m., ESPN
While this game could potentially turn into a rout, given Notre Dame’s strong finish to the season and the presence of one of the nation’s most dynamic players in Hannah Hidalgo, it’s still worth watching. The Fighting Irish have shown flashes of inconsistency during their rebuilding year, and Fairfield coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis has masterfully transformed the Stags into a MAAC powerhouse over her four seasons.
The Stags enter the tournament riding an 11-game winning streak, marking their third consecutive NCAA appearance, and their No. 11 seed is their highest since 1988. Furthermore, Fairfield leads the nation in 3-pointers made, averaging 11.4 per game. Stopping Hidalgo will be a monumental task for the Stags, but if their perimeter shooting heats up, they could certainly keep this game competitive.
5. No. 6 Baylor vs. No. 11 Nebraska
Friday, 2 p.m., ESPN
The No. 11 seeds were shut out in the first round last year, going 0-4 for the first time since 2017, suggesting they are due for an upset win this year. Nebraska is a prime candidate to deliver, having already secured a dominant 75-56 victory over Richmond in Wednesday night’s First Four game. The Huskers quickly overcame early jitters, igniting a 17-0 run and winning the third quarter 27-6. Britt Prince was particularly outstanding, contributing 22 points, five assists, and three rebounds.
With no Husker playing more than 30 minutes on Wednesday, the team should be well-rested for their Friday clash with Baylor. The Bears have stumbled recently, losing four of their last seven games. While those losses were against fellow NCAA Tournament teams, their offensive struggles are concerning, having scored just 53 points in their two most recent outings.
On paper, Baylor’s sensational Taliah Scott should propel them to the second round. However, Nebraska has already demonstrated its determination and capability to make a deep run.
4. No. 5 Ole Miss vs. No. 12 Gonzaga
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ESPN2
This matchup appears lopsided on paper in terms of seeding, but Gonzaga possesses a crucial X-factor that often fuels March upsets: exceptional 3-point shooting. Gonzaga boasts the nation’s second-best 3-point percentage, trailing only UConn, and is spearheaded by Allie Turner, who shoots a scorching 46.7% from beyond the arc.
Ole Miss has proven capable of defeating top-tier teams, having upset No. 2 seed Vanderbilt twice this season and narrowly losing to No. 1 seed Texas by three points. Yet, the Rebels’ inconsistency is a concern, highlighted by losses to non-NCAA Tournament teams like Kansas State, Florida, and Texas A&M.
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After No. 12 seeds went 0-4 for the past two seasons, following 2-2 records in 2022 and 2023, it’s fair to say they’re poised for a breakthrough. Even if an upset doesn’t materialize, tuning in to watch Ole Miss’s Cotie McMahon compete on college basketball’s grandest stage is a reward in itself.
3. No. 8 Iowa State vs. No. 9 Syracuse
Saturday, 5:30 p.m., ESPN2
These teams arrive at the tournament having navigated vastly different paths this season. Iowa State began the year ranked No. 14 and remained in the AP Top 25 for 10 weeks before a five-game losing streak, partly due to forward Addy Brown’s injury, derailed their momentum. Syracuse, conversely, has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence after a 12-18 campaign last year, making it back to the Big Dance thanks largely to the contributions of ACC Freshman of the Year Uche Izoje, a 21-year-old center from Nigeria.
Izoje will face a significant challenge on Saturday in Audi Crooks, the junior center who ranks second nationally in scoring with 25.5 points per game. Crooks famously dropped 40 points in the NCAA Tournament as a freshman, and another high-scoring performance could put her in elite company with Caitlin Clark and Candace Wiggins as the only players with multiple 40-point games in the NCAA Tournament.
2. No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 USC
Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2
While this has been a challenging year for USC with superstar JuJu Watkins sidelined by an ACL tear, the Trojans still earned a tournament bid, largely due to freshman sensation Jazzy Davidson. Davidson has been an all-around force, leading the team in points (17.6), rebounds (5.7), assists (4.2), steals (2.0), and blocks (2.0) per game.
Clemson, meanwhile, stands out as one of college basketball’s most compelling narratives this year. With a top-10 recruiting class set to join the program this summer, coach Shawn Poppie has guided the Tigers back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019 and only the second time since 2002. Clemson secured impressive victories over four of the other eight ACC teams that qualified for the tournament, including conference champions Duke.
Both programs have bright futures ahead, but this game will be a fierce battle as each team strives to prove their current readiness and belonging on the national stage.
1. No. 7 NC State vs. No. 10 Tennessee
Friday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
When the Wolfpack and Lady Vols met in the very first game of the season at the Ro Greensboro Invitational, both teams were ranked in the top 10, harboring dreams of conference championships and deep NCAA Tournament runs. Now, one of these storied programs will face an early exit in March.
NC State claimed that November contest 80-77, yet it would be their only win against a ranked opponent all season. Despite impressive individual performances from Zoe Brooks and Khamil Pierre, both All-ACC first-team selections, this young Wolfpack squad has struggled with chemistry and leadership throughout the season.
Tennessee (16-13) holds the remarkable distinction of appearing in every NCAA Tournament, but they enter this year’s edition on a seven-game losing streak – their longest in the NCAA Tournament era. With just 16 wins, they tie the fewest by any at-large team in the last 40 years (excluding the shortened 2020-21 season). The Lady Vols’ last month has been particularly difficult, leading to considerable speculation about the future of coach Kim Caldwell.
Yes, I know, I’m doing an excellent job of selling this one! However, despite the recent struggles, this game undeniably tops the must-watch list because their Nov. 4 encounter was an absolute thriller, and I anticipate another captivating contest. The matchup between Brooks and Tennessee’s relentless press defense is worth the price of admission alone. Given Tennessee’s recent woes and their legendary legacy in women’s basketball, the stakes feel incredibly high. And let’s not forget, Tennessee still possesses immense talent, with players like Talaysia Cooper and Janiah Barker capable of challenging the nation’s best.