With the NCAA Women’s March Madness Tournament almost underway, we want to make sure you are as prepared as possible. Here are some top picks and some underdogs to look out for.

UConn - The Tournament Favorite

The 2025-26 season was another one for the history books for the UConn Huskies. They completed their 11th undefeated season with 34 wins, dominated the BIG EAST conference to earn the tournament title, and were unanimously selected as a No. 1 seed for this year’s NCAA tournament. Their best players, Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, and their unsung hero KK Arnold are more than likely to usher this team into a deep run. For UConn and their fans, anything less than an NCAA Tournament win will feel like a disappointment. The team’s -270 odds also demonstrate just how heavy of a favorite this team is.

UCLA - The Most Likely Challenger

The UCLA Bruins may not be undefeated like the UConn Huskies, but they have won 25 straight games leading up to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. And there was no clearer demonstration of this team’s strength than when they beat the Iowa Hawkeyes by 51 points to win the Big Ten Championship. Their best player, Lauren Betts, is hard for any opponent to handle at her 6’7 stature. UCLA’s +550 odds make them less of a favorite than UConn, but they’re a fellow No. 1 seed and should be considered a title contender. Plus, a rematch between the two teams is a good storyline, as UConn already defeated UCLA this year.

Texas - Best Dark Horse

Although they also came in as a No. 1 seed, the Texas Longhorns are not expected to win the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Their weakness is the three-pointer, because they don’t go for it; in fact, the team is ranked last in the country in three pointers. But they are a very strong defensive team and they’re coming off of their first SEC Tournament win. Even with their +700 odds, they should not be overlooked.

LSU - A Sleeper Pick

LSU, a No. 2 seed, is always in the conversation when it comes to making deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. Their guards Flau’Jae Johnson, MiLaysia Fulwiley and Makayla Williams are some of the strongest players in the college game. But the Tigers have lost five games this season, which is more than UConn, UCLA and Texas combined.

Three Strong Underdogs:

1. The Vanderbilt Commodores are having a great year. They came in as a No. 2 seed for the Tournament, their highest seeding since 2007, and guard Mikayla Blakes leads the entire nation in scoring (27 points per game). There’s a good chance Vanderbilt makes it all the way to the Elite Eight, in which case they’d have to face off against UConn. And as if that wouldn’t be a dramatic-enough game already, Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph is a former player of and assistant coach to UConn head coach Geno Auriemma. But in order for Vanderbilt to make it that far, they’d have to beat Notre Dame and Hannah Hidalgo in the Sweet 16
2. The Ole Miss Rebels may be a No. 5 seed, but they are a dangerous team that may be being overlooked. Ole Miss beat Vanderbilt twice this season, and they beat Oklahoma and Notre Dame, two other strong programs. They also nearly beat Texas on the road, losing ultimately by just three points. This isn’t a fluke - Ole Miss has made the Sweet 16 in two of the past three years. They’re likely to face LSU in the Sweet Sixteen, and if they get past that game, they could be a potential speed bump for UCLA in the Elite Eight.
3. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are a No. 6 seed, but they also have Hannah Hidalgo, one of the best and most intimidating players in the country. A big game to watch will be when Notre Dame likely takes on No. 3 Ohio State in the second round, and Hidalgo will have to go up against Buckeyes star Jaloni Cambridge. If Notre Dame prevails, they’ll probably face Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16. The path forward for them is tough after that - especially because they are in the Fort Worth 1 region, which is home to all the top individual scorers this year - but with Hidalgo, they can’t be counted out.

Fans can choose their favorites and in 5wins Brackets, along with your pick for the champion!