NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament 2026 Odds, Picks for Sweet 16 Bracket

The Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament begins Friday, with Notre Dame and Vanderbilt kicking off the action in a star-studded, marquee match-up.

The contest, featuring two elite scorers, headlines a crop of match-ups that include the No. 1 team in the country, the unstoppable UConn.

When can fans check out the games and who are the current favorites in each? Find out in this preview.

Sweet 16 Schedule and Odds

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Friday, March 27

Notre Dame (+184; bet $100, win $184) at Vanderbilt (-230; bet $100, win $43.48) (2:30 p.m., ESPN)

North Carolina at Connecticut (5:00 p.m., ESPN) (Odds unavailable)

Minnesota at UCLA (7:30 p.m., ESPN) (Odds unavailable)

Duke (+350) at LSU (-500) (10:00 p.m., ESPN)

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Saturday, March 28

Louisville (+160) at Michigan (-200) (12:30 p.m., ABC)

Kentucky (+820) at Texas (-1600) (3:00 p.m., ABC)

Oklahoma (+1120) at South Carolina (-2500) (5:00 p.m., ESPN)

Virginia (+360) at TCU (-500) (7:30 p.m., ESPN)

Odds via Fanduel Sportsbook

Star-Studded Match-Up

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The eyes of the women's basketball world will be on the showdown between Notre Dame and Vanderbilt Friday as two of the biggest stars in women's college basketball take the court.

Hannah Hidalgo is a superstar, averaging 25.2 points per game, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists for the Fighting Irish while shooting 47.5 from the field. She likely has another season of eligibility at Notre Dame and will be a top pick in the WNBA Draft, likely in 2027.

Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes, like Hidalgo, is a high-scoring phenom who scored 27 points per game, averaged four rebounds, and 4.6 assists, and led her team back to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in 17 years.

The difference may come down to Hidalgo's elite defensive play. Not only is she a prolific scorer and one of the nation's best offensive players, but she is also a magnificent defender with a propensity for steals, leading the country in them with 5.6 per game.

It is her play on that side of the ball that may prove to be difference, as will that of those around her and Blakes. While the focus will be on the superstars, how their teammates rise to the occasion and take the pressure off of the faces of the two squads will be equally as important.

Can Connecticut Continue Their Dominance?

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The Connecticut Huskies currently sit at 36-0, in the midst of a perfect season, and have dominated the competition thus far in the tournament. The team defeated UTSA and Syracuse by an average of 47.5 points and look unstoppable as they pursue their 13th NCAA Division I title.

Awaiting them in the Sweet Sixteen is an underdog North Carolina squad that has young, budding stars but is lacking in every measurable category when compared to their competition.

The Huskies have played superb defense to this point in the tournament and now face a Tar Heels group that turns the ball over 14.1 times per game. That does not bode well for UNC.

Senior guard and potential WNBA No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd is averaging 17.8 points per game, 2.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and is shooting 49.5 percent from beyond the arc, not to mention the play of her teammates.

If the Tar Heels do not protect the ball and get near-perfect play from their offense, this one could turn ugly quick and lead to another 40-plus-point shellacking for the Huskies.