The debate over which team deserved to be the overall No. 1 seed in the women’s NCAA Tournament, UConn or UCLA, dominated the discussion going into Selection Sunday.
While the Huskies were 34-0, snatching a 31st the Big East title, the Bruins went undefeated in the Big Ten, a stronger Power 4 conference with 12 teams that made the tournament. The only blemish on UCLA’s resume was a 76-65 loss to Texas, the SEC champions, in November.
After a week of arguments, UConn was officially named the tournament’s No. 1-ranked team. UCLA, Texas and South Carolina slotted into the other No. 1 seeds.
UConn guard Azzi Fudd drives against Ohio State guard Jaloni Cambridge at Peoples Bank Arena.
This could get settled on the court, of course, with a UConn-UCLA tournament final.
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Is that how the tournament will play out? Here’s one best guess.
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March Madness Sweet 16 predictions
A majority of the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds are likely to advance to the Elite 8, though the Sacramento 4 region could see the No. 6 seed Washington defeat No. 2 seed Iowa in the Sweet 16.
The Huskies have challenged some of the highest-ranked teams in the Big Ten, with victories over Michigan (a No. 3 seed) and Maryland (a No. 5 seed), while the Hawkeyes looked very beatable in their 96-45 loss to UCLA in the Big Ten Championship.
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If Iowa center Hannah Stuelke is still dealing with a right elbow injury, Washington has a good chance of pulling off the upset.
Iowa forward Hannah Stuelke shoots during a Jan. 25 game against Ohio State at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Another close matchup to keep an eye on in the Sweet 16 is the Wolverines facing No. 3 seed Louisville, which just lost out on the ACC championship in overtime against Duke.
March Madness Elite 8 predictions
Each of the No. 1 seeds has been given an ideal path to reach the Final Four, but the team that might face the most difficulty in the Elite 8 is UConn.
If No. 2 seed Vanderbilt holds off the Buckeyes in the Sweet 16, the Elite 8 will likely be a matchup between the top two National Player of the Year contenders in Huskies forward Sarah Strong and Commodores guard Mikayla Blakes.
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In two seasons with Blakes, Vanderbilt has become a top-19 team. Blakes leads the nation in scoring average (27 points), and she is shooting 45.8% from the field. Strong records around 18.5 points per game, though at 6-foot-2, she has the advantage on the boards, grabbing 7.6 per game.
UConn forward Sarah Strong shoots over Ohio State guard Jaloni Cambridge.
Strong has a stronger supporting staff, including senior guard Azzi Fudd, another first-team All-American contender.
March Madness Final Four predictions
The Final Four is expected to feature two highly anticipated rematches: UConn against South Carolina and UCLA against Texas.
While the Bruins should be able to redeem themselves from their regular-season loss with a win over the Longhorns, the Huskies will repeat their defeat of the Gamecocks in the 2025 NCAA title game.
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Despite UConn losing one of its best players in Paige Bueckers, Strong and Fudd have easily handled the load. On the other hand, South Carolina has had a challenging time of late and is entering the tournament after falling to Texas 78-61 in the SEC Championship.
National champion predictions
The Huskies vs. the Bruins is the most highly anticipated matchup of the tournament, and it is fitting it can only occur in the title game.
The Bruins, led by center Lauren Betts, will have to lean into their ability to rebound. UCLA averages 42.3 boards, compared to UConn’s 37.4.
But to get rebounds, UCLA has to get UConn to miss its shots, a tough ask due to the Huskies’ nation-leading 52.5% shooting average from the field. If the Huskies get hot and go on a run, while also forcing the Bruins into turnovers, UConn will be in a solid position to bring home another national title.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Women’s March Madness bracket predictions: Our 2026 NCAA Tournament picks
