You’re just recovering from the madness of Selection Sunday and the reveal of the 68 teams in the NCAA women’s tournament bracket. Now comes the hard part: Trying to make your picks on which teams will advance, which teams will be upset and which teams will reach the Women’s Final Four in Phoenix.
Here are some tips on who got the best path in the women’s bracket and what surprises might be ahead.
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And do you want some expert brackets to help guide you? Here are our best from the USA TODAY Sports staff as they predict every game through the Final Four and national championship.
Nancy Armor
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Final Four: UConn, South Carolina, UCLA, Texas
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Meghan L. Hall
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Final Four: UConn, South Carolina, UCLA, Texas
Cydney Henderson
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Final Four: UConn, South Carolina, UCLA, Texas
Mitchell Northam
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Final Four: UConn, UCLA, South Carolina, Kentucky
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Final: South Carolina, UCLA
Full Women’s March Madness schedule 2026
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Start date: Wednesday, March 18 (First Four)
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End date: Sunday, April 5 (national championship)
The women’s tournament begins with the First Four, with games beginning on Wednesday, March 18.
The Final Four is scheduled to begin on Friday, April 3, in Phoenix at the Mortgage Matchup Center, with the national championship game two days later on Sunday, April 5.
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Here is the full schedule breakdown for the 2026 women’s NCAA Tournament:
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First Four: Wednesday, March 18 andThursday, March 19
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Round of 64: Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21
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Round of 32: Sunday, March 22 and Monday, March 23
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Sweet 16: Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28
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Elite Eight: Sunday, March 29 and Monday, March 30
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Final Four: Friday, April 4
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National championship game: Sunday, April 6
Bracket Challenge 2026: How to enter USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge with a chance to win $1 million
The USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge is back, with a $1 million grand prize for a perfect bracket. The Challenge is free to enter for those age 21 and over. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See official rules and get in the game.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Women’s NCAA Tournament bracket predictions: March Madness expert picks
