Worry the Fort, as that is the place the UConn Huskies’ journey to guard their NCAA Girls’s Match title begins.
Cue the music, sharpen your pencil, and let it fly … March Insanity is lastly right here. NCAA Girls’s match shall be in full swing beginning Friday morning.
The school basketball season is on tempo for an explosive conclusion, one set to a soundtrack of March maladies, mayhem, and, after all, insanity, because the respective roads to Indianapolis and Phoenix have formally been paved with the 68-team brackets.
Ballislife has you coated at each checkpoint on the bracket with evaluation, ideas, and extra, listed beneath …
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Prime Seed: UConnFirst/Second Spherical Places: Carmichael Enviornment (Chapel Hill, NC), Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, CT), Memorial Gymnasium (Nashville, TN), Worth Metropolis Enviornment (Columbus, OH)Regional Closing Location: Dickies Enviornment (Fort Value, TX)
NCAA Girls’s Match Fort Value 1: Who’s In?
Azzi Fudd vs. Utah:
▫️24 factors▫️Sept. 11 FG▫️4-4 3FG▫️Profession-high 8 rebounds@UConnWBB x @BIGEASTWBB pic.twitter.com/xCijCYFUFi
— FOX School Hoops (@CBBonFOX) November 23, 2025
1. UConn Huskies (34-0)
Head Coach: Geno Auriemma (forty first season, 1,284-165)How They Obtained Right here: Large East championsLast NCAA Match Look: 2025
Auriemma and Co. ended one lengthy streak final season, lastly bringing the nationwide championship again to Storrs after what needed to be an agonizing decade-long look forward to the Structure State. Now, they’re going to look to finish one other: its been 10 excursions for the reason that Huskies had been good, final doing so throughout Breanna Stewart’s remaining hours in 2015-16.
The most recent group of Husky legends is led by the delayed not denied equivalent to Azzi Fudd and Bianca Quinonez, in addition to the homegrown (Sarah Sturdy) and overseas (Serah Williams) alike. Armed with one among their most full rosters, even by UConn requirements, the Huskies dealt with enterprise heartily: solely three of their video games had been determined by 15 factors or fewer and however one (a Thanksgiving week showdown with Michigan at Mohegan Solar) was dealt with by single digits.
ANOTHER MIKAYLA BLAKES MASTERCLASS 🔥
Blakes is the primary SEC participant this century with 10 30-point video games in a season 😳 pic.twitter.com/VWziKkAc2L
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) February 22, 2026
2. Vanderbilt Commodores (27-4)
Head Coach: Shea Ralph (fifth season, 95-62)How They Obtained Right here: At-large (SEC)Final NCAA Match Look: 2025
When she left, she was however a learner. Now, she is the grasp? Time will inform what kind of problem Ralph has for her former pack (with whom she spent 13 years as an assistant below Auriemma), however the newest end result produced a program document in single-season wins and what is going to greater than probably be their first look within the remaining polls since 2009.
In the intervening time, Ralph’s magnum opus is maybe her work with Mikayla Blakes, the nation’s main scorer at 27 a sport, hitting a triple-decade throughout convention play. 4-star recruit Aubrey Galvan likewise lived as much as her hype, assuring that the SEC’s prime freshman honor would stay stationed in Nashville, which had gone over three a long time with out such a title.
Jaloni Cambridge confirmed out within the first half 😮💨#B1GWBBT x @OhioStateWBB pic.twitter.com/OIbZoakafI
— Large Ten Convention (@bigten) March 6, 2026
3. Ohio State Buckeyes (26-7)
Head Coach: Kevin McGuff (250-116)How They Obtained Right here: At-large (Large Ten)Final NCAA Match Look: 2025
The excellent news is that the Buckeyes’ “unhealthy loss” column on their match resume is totally clean, as every of their seven defeats got here in opposition to ranked match competitors. Additional pleasure stems from the truth that the recurring hostesses are holding it within the household as they go house for the ring vacation once more, as their rise to energy was overseen by Jaloni Cambridge’s sophomore breakout.
The All-American was saved effectively fed by her sister Kennedy, who put up an excellent defensive present (3.9 steals to assist make up for the restricted measurement past Elsa Lemmila) upon accepting bigger lineup duties after Taylor Thierry bought the WNBA name.
Lanie Grant – C L U T C H.
📺 | ACC Community | https://t.co/BjvNNhZjTG pic.twitter.com/mNnez6EIYO
— Carolina Girls’s Basketball (@uncwbb) February 20, 2026
4. North Carolina Tar Heels (26-7)
Head Coach: Courtney Banghart (seventh season 142-69)How They Obtained Right here: At-large (ACC)Final NCAA Match Look: 2025
After all, simply when it appeared like Banghart would be capable of break via the Candy 16 ceiling, the massive unhealthy Huskies simply would possibly stand of their method come the latter levels of regional play. Formidable challenges, after all, wait within the interim, however it’s one thing that UNC would possibly be capable of shoot its method out of: 4 totally different gamers reached double figures of their scoring common, paced by sophomore breakout Lanie Grant’s three-point prowess (ACC-best 43.1 p.c). Their protection appears to be like equally re-energized, permitting the second-fewest factors and rebounds on the Atlantic ledgers as effectively.
🔥 She’s at it once more! @oluchi_okananwa #NCAAWBB x 🎥 B1G / @TerpsWBB pic.twitter.com/YqzA0eT9v2
— NCAA March Insanity (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 6, 2026
5. Maryland Terrapins (23-8)
Head Coach: Brenda Frese (twenty fourth season, 322-74)How They Obtained Right here: At-large (Large Ten)Final NCAA Match Look: 2025
One other group on considerably respectable floor regardless of a late swoon, the Terrapins aren’t sneaking up on anybody this 12 months after final 12 months noticed them recuperate from a uncommon misstep within the Frese period. This explicit tour could be one among her finest efforts but: three totally different gamers who figured to be key items of the rotation (Lea Bartelme, Ava McKennie, Kaylene Smikle) all performed lower than 10 video games this 12 months, however the Terps nonetheless managed to position seventeenth within the remaining ballot. It is maybe applicable that second probabilities rule the day, as they ranked twelfth nationally within the division (paced by Oluchi Okananwa at 3.2 a sport).
If @Marcus_Freeman1 says you are a dawg… you are a dawg
Hannah Hidalgo: Full 🔗 https://t.co/IZitsoW5U2#GoIrish // @HannahHidalgo pic.twitter.com/UliwTTfkwA
— Notre Dame Girls’s Basketball (@ndwbb) March 2, 2026
6. Notre Dame Preventing Irish (22-10)
Head Coach: Niele Ivey (sixth season, 137-48)How They Obtained Right here: At-large (ACC)Final NCAA Match Look: 2025
The Irish in all probability aren’t able to formally resume their rivalry with the Huskies simply but (a 38-point loss in January basically proved that), however they little question discovered their footing after a tepid begin caused by a well-earned mass exodus. Two-way menace Hannah Hidalgo crammed up her trophy cupboard in one other season that inched her nearer to WNBA lottery stardom, whereas three years of South Bend work paid off for homegrown challenge Cassandre Prosper.
Hitting an ACC-best 39.9 p.c of their three-pointers ought to preserve the Irish off upset watch in opposition to Fairfield and in addition preserve them lingering as a possible regional finalist entrant.
Berry Wallace set a brand new career-high 2️⃣9️⃣ factors in @IlliniWBB’s 74-71 win over Northwestern 🤩 pic.twitter.com/p9fnFRceH8
— Large Ten Girls’s Basketball (@B1Gwbball) January 18, 2026
7. Illinois Preventing Illini (21-11)
Head Coach: Shauna Greene (4th season, 84-46)How They Obtained Right here: At-large (Large Ten)Final NCAA Match Look: 2025
Towards all odds, the Illini discovered strong match footing. It is in all probability not what they envision they began the New Yr with a 13-1 mark (which included a win over Maryland), however after dropping veteran Gretchen Dolan for the season at the beginning of February and dropping three of their remaining 5 coming into the match (although one of many outliers was a B1G match overcome Michigan State), there are far worse fates. Maybe most significantly, they miss out on a possible second match with UConn, even when Vanderbilt is hardly a pretty different.
AUDI CROOKS 🔥
47 Points19/25 Shooting9/11 Free Throws
pic.twitter.com/4VKXhVQMCA https://t.co/3wtH81P5Cc
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 30, 2025
8. Iowa State Cyclones (22-9)
Head Coach: Invoice Fennelly (thirty first season, 656-334)How They Obtained Right here: At-large (Large 12)Final NCAA Match Look: 2025
Whereas Audi Crooks and Co. had been unable to maintain the momentum of a 14-0 begin rolling for the entire season (the medically-induced absence of fellow inside presence Addy Brown definitely did not assist), there have been a number of hints of the Cyclones’ larger potential, equivalent to wins over Iowa and Texas Tech. Even so, a full-strength ISU group dropped three of 4 to shut out the 12 months, together with their Large 12 match opener. It has put them on a second-round collision course with UConn, which might be a win for the followers … however not a lot for Ames.
Make that one other double-double for Uche Izoje ✅
📺 ACCNX x @CuseWBB pic.twitter.com/tGf8MAt6UF
— ACC Girls’s Basketball (@accwbb) January 25, 2026
9. Syracuse Orange (23-8)
Head Coach: Felisha Legette-Jack (4th season, 79-47)How They Obtained Right here: At-large (ACC)Final NCAA Match Look: 2024
One of the crucial nice surprises within the main school basketball season needed to be the Orange, who almost doubled their win whole after final 12 months’s disappointing dozen. Led by Legette-Jack, the 1985 Large East Freshman of the Yr who preceded Rebecca Lobo, Shea Ralph, Tina Charles, Paige Bueckers, and extra, it is maybe all too applicable that the cost is led by freshman breakout Uche Izoje, who fell simply wanting an averaged double-double at 15.5 factors and 9.4 rebounds.
Colorado has now gained 6 of their final 7 video games and three in a row after beating BYU large 76-46.
Anaëlle Dutat: 19 factors, 10 reboundsDesiree Wooten: 16 factors, 6 rebounds, 7 assistsJade Masogayo: 15 pointsTabitha Betson: 11 factors@CUBuffsWBB @Big12Conference pic.twitter.com/3bEntskhYN
— Rachel Galligan (@RachGall) February 14, 2026
10. Colorado Buffaloes (22-11)
Head Coach: JR Payne (tenth season, 186-127)How They Obtained Right here: At-large (Large 12)Final NCAA Match Look: 2024
Among the many final groups left off of final 12 months’s bracket, the Buffaloes are again at it for the fourth March run of the Payne period. The Buffs actually bullied their method again on, posting one of many higher rebounding margins after the arrival of Rhode Island switch Anaelle Dutat, one among 4 CU reps pulling in no less than 4 a sport. Colorado clinched its ticket with a strong exhibiting within the Large 12 match, which featured an emphatic quarterfinal victory over fellow March maven Baylor.
Choosing up the place she left off 🔥🔥
Jillian Huerter has 8 on the half within the MAAC Championship sport!#MAACHoops x @amiradiology pic.twitter.com/zOTMWaUtxO
— MAAC Hoops (@MAACHoops) March 9, 2026
11. Fairfield Stags (28-4)
Head Coach: Carly Thibault-DuDonis (4th season, 102-26)How They Obtained Right here: MAAC championsLast NCAA Match Look: 2025
Seemingly free from the Marist dynasty, the ultimate days of the MAAC had been positioned below new administration of the Stags, who will rep the convention on the March bracket for the third straight season. Familiarity has been the secret, as the highest trio of scorers (Meghan Andersen, Katey L’Amoreaux, MAAC match MVP, and outdoors specialist Jillian Huerter) all have no less than two years of expertise in this system.
Halli Poock (@HalliPoock) banks it in with 2.9 remaining. Murray State wins 89-88 pic.twitter.com/KNvaLob9aX
— NCAA Buzzer Beaters & Sport Winners (@NCAABuzzerBters) January 25, 2026
12. Murray State Racers (31-3)
Head Coach: Rechelle Turner (ninth season, 167-112)How They Obtained Right here: Missouri Valley championsLast NCAA Match Look: 2025
Underneath the watch of former Racers backcourt staple Turner, the Racers have shaped their first streak of match appearances. Underneath a scoring triumvirate of Sharneece Currie-Jelks, Haven Ford, and newly-crowned convention queen Halli Poock, Murray State ranked fourth in whole factors this season, and Currie-Jelks’s prowess on the glass was sufficient to masks some sizable defensive shortcomings.
For those who’re not aware of Mia Nicastro it is time to be taught.
– Prime-5 scorer within the nation (23.9 PPG)- 12 Double-doubles T-14th in NCAA- Western Illinois 20-4 total & 1st in OVC
Learn @QuentinWiill’s newest interview with the veteran senior right here ⬇️ https://t.co/Z0KzlAgV42 pic.twitter.com/ccMNw1G2ey
— The Portal Report (@ThePortalReport) February 12, 2026
13. Western Illinois Leathernecks (26-5)
Head Coach: J.D. Gravina (fifteenth season, 241-215)How They Obtained Right here: Ohio Valley championsLast NCAA Match Look: 2017
It doesn’t matter what occurs on Chapel Hill, getting up to now might be a win for the Leathernecks: they misplaced offensive standout Raegan McCown to an elbow damage in December however nonetheless managed to submit the second-best offensive tally within the OVC. Mia Nicastro constructed on the momentum she generated from switch season from Saint Louis to steer the convention in scoring at over 24 factors a sport, one 12 months after she was the free-throw success fee queen.
Howard appears to be like to run decide and roll motion with Zoe Stewart and Zennia Thomas. Nice consciousness from Syracuses protection to step in and defend face up. Zennia does a fantastic job of utilizing her skillset to spin off her proper shoulder for the bucket pic.twitter.com/aFK8AQuvzh
— Nick Andre (@NickAndreATR) December 1, 2025
14. Howard Bison (26-7)
Head Coach: Ty Grace (eleventh season, 184-146)How They Obtained Right here: MEAC championsLast NCAA Match Look: 2022
The digits could not assist a lot in Columbus, however few groups on the bracket enter the match with extra momentum than the charging Bison: not solely did they earn revenge in opposition to Norfolk State for 3 consecutive MEAC title sport defeats, however they gained every of their remaining 14 video games. Zennia Thomas took house convention participant of the 12 months honors, posting 15.2 factors and eight.0 rebounds in her second season from Kentucky.
Howard appears to be like to run decide and roll motion with Zoe Stewart and Zennia Thomas. Nice consciousness from Syracuses protection to step in and defend face up. Zennia does a fantastic job of utilizing her skillset to spin off her proper shoulder for the bucket pic.twitter.com/aFK8AQuvzh
— Nick Andre (@NickAndreATR) December 1, 2025
15. Excessive Level Panthers (27-5)
Head Coach: Chelsea Banbury (seventh season, 140-78)How They Obtained Right here: Large South championsLast NCAA Match Look: 2025
Whereas will probably be asking so much to take down second-ranked Vanderbilt, Excessive Level is used to some spring surprises, beforehand reaching the Division II Candy 16 shortly earlier than their ascension on the flip of the century. They’ve now shaped their first streak of Division I match showings because of the arrival of UNLV junior switch Macy Spencer, the newly-minted Large South Participant of the Yr.
Cheyenne Rowe with the midrange jumper🎯
📺| ESPN+#BuiltToRise x @UTSAWBB pic.twitter.com/duejW6vjHZ
— The American (@American_Conf) March 12, 2026
16. Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners (18-15)
Head Coach: Karen Aston (fifth season, 82-77)How They Obtained Right here: American championsLast NCAA Match Look: 2009
Deja vu hit the appropriate method for the Roadrunners this time: after final 12 months’s 17-1 effort resulted in American heartbreak in opposition to a Rice group that did not have a profitable document, UTSA flipped the script to make it again on the bracket for the primary time in 17 years. The reward for the Roadrunners, led by senior ahead Cheyenne Rowe (14.0 factors, 8.8 rebounds), is dealing with the mighty Huskies, who beforehand confronted Aston when she was on the helm of Texas.
All Area Group (Fort Value 1)
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Audi Crooks, Iowa State
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Azzi Fudd, UConn
Sarah Sturdy, UConn
Fort Value 1 Area Outlook
The Favourite: UConn
What did you anticipate?
The Cautious: Iowa State
It feels silly to depend out a group that boasts a wholesome Crooks, Brown, Arianna Jackson, and extra. That, nonetheless, did not bode effectively within the late levels of the season, the place the endurance of Ames was not rewarded. Issues are unhealthy sufficient with UConn probably looming within the Spherical of 32, however ninth-placed Syracuse, particularly with Izoje able to countering the Cylones’ inside forces, is intimidating sufficient.
The Cinderella: Fairfield
The Stags have the proper substances for a doubtlessly sizable run in March Insanity: good, sharpshooting, lineup familiarity, and never an opportunity of dealing with UConn till the Elite Eight.
NCAA Girls’s Match Fort Value 1 Regional Schedule
Spherical
Date
Sport/Rating
Location
Time (ET)
TV
1st Spherical
Friday, Mar. 20
(5) Maryland vs. (12) Murray State
Chapel Hill, NC
3 p.m.
ESPNU
1st Spherical
Friday, Mar. 20
(4) North Carolina vs. (13) Jap Illinois
Chapel Hill, NC
5:30 p.m.
ESPNEWS
1st Spherical
Saturday, Mar. 21
(3) Ohio State vs. (14) Howard
Columbus, OH
11:30 a.m.
ESPN2
1st Spherical
Saturday, Mar. 21
(6) Notre Dame vs. (11) Fairfield
Columbus, OH
2 p.m.
ESPN
1st Spherical
Saturday, Mar. 21
(1) UConn vs. (16) UTSA
Storrs, CT
3 p.m.
ABC
1st Spherical
Saturday, Mar. 21
(8) Iowa State vs. (9) Clemson
Storrs, CT
5:30 p.m.
ESPN2
1st Spherical
Saturday, Mar. 21
(2) Vanderbilt vs. (15) Excessive Level
Nashville, TN
7 p.m.
ESPNEWS
1st Spherical
Saturday, Mar. 21
(7) Illinois vs. (10) Colorado
Nashville, TN
9:30 p.m.
ESPN2
Workers Regional Closing Predictions
Geoff Magliocchetti: UConn over Ohio State
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
