March Madness First Round Predictions: NCAA Bracket Picks For Every Women’s Game

The stage is set for 72 women's basketball teams to start their quest for the 2026 NCAA Tournament title.

Once the four play-in games are done, the first round will begin with No. 3 seed Duke tipping off against No. 14 seed Charleston on March 20. Ohio State, another No. 3 seed, starts its tournament run against No. 14 seed Howard the following day at The Schottenstein Center.

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge (3) reacts in the first half of the NCAA basketball game at Value City Arena on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.

Here are first-round predictions for the women's NCAA Tournament:

Women's March Madness bracket predictions

First Four games

No. 11 Nebraska over Richmond (Sacramento 2)
No. 16 Stephen F. Austin over Missouri State (Fort Worth 3)
No. 10 Virginia over Arizona State (Sacramento 4)
No. 16 Southern over Samford (Sacramento 4)

Fort Worth 1 Region

No. 1 UConn over No. 16 UTSA
No. 8 Iowa State over No. 9 Syracuse
No. 5 Maryland over No. 12 Murray State
No. 4 North Carolina over No. 13 Western Illinois
No. 6 Notre Dame over No. 11 Fairfield
No. 3 Ohio State over No. 14 Howard
No. 10 Colorado over No. 7 Illinois
No. 2 Vanderbilt over No. 15 High Point

Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) shoots the ball in the second half of the NCAA basketball game at Value City Arena on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.

Sacramento 2 Region

No. 1 UCLA over No. 16 Cal Baptist
No. 9 Princeton over No. 8 Oklahoma State
No. 5 Ole Miss over No. 12 Gonzaga
No. 4 Minnesota over No. 13 Green Bay
No. 6 Baylor over No. 11 Nebraska
No. 3 Duke over No. 14 Charleston
No. 10 Villanova over No. 7 Texas Tech
No. 2 LSU over No. 15 Jacksonville

Fort Worth 3 Region

No. 1 Texas over No. 16 Stephen F. Austin
No. 8 Oregon over No. 9 Virginia Tech
No. 5 Kentucky over No. 12 James Madison
No. 4 West Virginia over No. 13 Miami (OH)
No. 6 Alabama over No. 11 Rhode Island
No. 3 Louisville over No. 14 Vermont
No. 7 North Carolina State over No. 7 Tennessee
No. 2 Michigan over No. 15 Holy Cross

Sacramento 4 Region

No. 1 South Carolina over No. 16 Southern
No. 8 Clemson over No. 9 USC
No. 5 Michigan State over No. 12 Colorado State
No. 4 Oklahoma over No. 13 Idaho
No. 6 Washington over No. 11 South Dakota State
No. 3 TCU over No. 14 UC San Diego
No. 7 Georgia over No. 10 Virginia
No. 2 Iowa over No. 15 Fairleigh Dickinson

bmackay@dispatch.com

@brimackay15

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: March Madness predictions: First round picks for women’s NCAA bracket

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