UConn, UCLA lead early reveal of NCAA women’s top 16 seeds

NCAA estimated Yukon, UCLA, South Carolina And Vanderbilt As the No. 1 seed in the women’s tournament on Saturday, she made her first preliminary appearance of the top 16 seeds.

As part of the announcement, the NCAA also revealed the projected fields of the top 16 seeds. This year’s regionals are in Fort Worth, Texas and Sacramento, California. The women’s tournament changed to a two-region system in 2023, with two champions crowned at each site.

Reigning national champion UConn, the No. 1 overall seed, was drawn into the Fort Worth 1 Regional, along with LSU (No. 8 overall seed), Ohio State (number 9) and oklahoma (No. 16). The Huskies are 26-0 and are the only undefeated team in Division I women’s hoops. They are looking for the program’s seventh perfect season and 13th national championship.

UCLA (No. 2 overall), texas (number five), ruler (number 10) and ole miss (No. 15) Sacramento are in Regional 2.

Fort Worth leads the 3rd Regional with No. 3 overall seed South Carolina louisville (number 7), iowa (number 11) and michigan state (No. 14).

The Sacramento 4 Regional includes Vanderbilt, which is earning the No. 4 overall seed after a big win over Texas on Thursday. Commodores have joined michigan (number 6), TCU (number 12) and maryland (No. 13).

Before Vanderbilt’s victory over the Longhorns, Texas was projected as one of the top four seeds.

Even though Texas is the No. 5 seed overall, the Longhorns can’t be in the Sacramento 4 or Fort Worth 3 regionals because the two other SEC teams are top seeds there.

Overall, six teams each from the SEC and Big Ten are in this Top 16. Two are from the ACC, one from the Big 12 and one from the Big East. UConn, UCLA, South Carolina and Texas made the Final Four last season.

The second reveal for the women’s Top 16 will take place March 1 at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN.

Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament is scheduled for March 15, with First Four games taking place March 18-19. The first and second round games are March 20-23 and will be played at the home grounds of the top 16 seeds.

Sweet 16 games are March 27–28, and Elite Eight games are March 29–30. The women’s Final Four will be held at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, with the semifinal games on April 3 and the national championship game on April 5.

All NCAA Women’s Tournament games are on ABC/ESPN Networks.