UConn, UCLA Headline Early 16 Seeds for NCAA Women's Basketball Bracket

The list of teams in line for the top 16 seeds in the 2026 women's NCAA Tournament was released on Saturday.

UConn was projected as the No. 1 overall seed, while UCLA was listed at No. 2. The Huskies and Bruins were also projected as the top-seeded schools in the Fort Worth and Sacramento regions, respectively.

The next early reveal will take place on March 1 before the top 16 teams in the field will be announced on March 14, according to ESPN's Alexa Philippou. The full bracket will then be released on March 15 at 8 p.m. ET.

UConn's placement doesn't come as a large surprise, as head coach Geno Auriemma's squad owns a perfect 27-0 record this season and was ranked No. 1 in the latest AP Top 25 poll.

The Huskies have remained dominant on both ends of the floor as they attempt to capture their second consecutive national title. They owned the best scoring margin in the country heading into Saturday's action, outscoring their opponents by an average of 39.7 points per game.

UConn is led by sophomore forward Sarah Strong, who has continued to showcase her all-around impact. Strong is averaging 19.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 3.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game on 60.0/40.2/91.5 shooting splits this season.

Senior guard Azzi Fudd has also been a key contributor for the Huskies, recording 17.5 points and 3.1 assists on a nightly basis. Fudd has connected on 45.5 percent of her triples this year.

Meanwhile, UCLA has opened its 2025-26 campaign with a 24-1 record as the school looks to build upon its Final Four appearance last season. The Bruins are currently in the midst of an 18-game win streak as well.

UCLA has been successful largely due to its balanced offensive approach, as four different players are averaging at least 13 points per game.

Senior center Lauren Betts has served as the Bruins' leading scorer for the third consecutive season, amassing 16.4 points and 8.2 rebounds to go along with 2.1 blocks per game.

The first round of the 2026 women's NCAA Tournament will begin on March 20.