It’s about that time again! March Madness is right around the corner, and the stakes for the Women’s tournament are sky high. The 2025-26 regular season had fans like I, in for an interesting ride. The AP Poll seemed to fluctuate every week, and upsets were never unprecedented. As of the final Poll, the top 5 teams (in order) are: UConn, UCLA, Texas, South Carolina, LSU. I must add, each of these 5 teams has separated themselevs from the rest of the NCAA, with the top 4 teams being the same ones who made the Final Four last year. With the 68-team bracket being unveiled this upcoming Sunday, I decided to take a deep dive into some of the lingering questions heading into Selection Sunday and the March Madness Tournament. 

• Will the Power 4 Conference Results Have An Impact on Seeding?: 

Short answer: yes. Long answer: There’s a lot of layers as to why I’m saying yes. The winners of the 4 major conference titles were Duke (ACC), Texas (SEC), UCLA (Big10) and West Virginia (Big 12). While the title games in the SEC and Big12 in particular will likely affect the seeding of the losers (South Carolina being the 3rd #1 seed and TCU moving down from a 2 to a 3 seed), those weren’t the only tournament games that revealed vulnerability. The Vanderbilt Commodores of the SEC came into the tournament 27-3, but an upset loss in the SEC Quarterfinals to Ole Miss eradicated any chances of them getting a #1 seed; Texas winning the SEC also didn’t help, although Vanderbilt beat Texas in the regular season. 

• Who WIll be The #1 Overall Seed? UConn or UCLA: 

For some context, UConn and UCLA met in the Final Four last year where Connecticut completely dismantled the #1 overall seed in UCLA. To say that game was a blowout is an understatement. UCLA brings back most of their roster, notably led by seniors Lauren Betts , Kiki Rice, and Gabriela Jaquez. UConn lost the #1 WNBA Draft pick in Paige Bueckers, but returns Sophomore powerhouse Sarah Strong and two-way Senior guard Azzi Fudd. UCLA has more ranked wins, more Quad 1 wins, and played a tougher schedule. UConn has been ranked #1 all season long and is currently undefeated. Some feel as though UConn is being penalized for the conference they play in (the BigEast), although the lack of competition isn’t necessarily their fault. On the flip side, UCLA plays in a very competitive Big10 Conference, facing off against quality opponents on a nightly basis. The Bruins and Huskies  have beat common opponents like Ohio State, Tennessee, and Michigan by considerable margains.  Both teams are dominant in their own rights, but who truly deserves the #1 overall seed? Is this championship UConn or UCLA’s to lose? It’s difficult to narrow down who truly deserves it, but UCLA has a very strong case for getting it. 

• Underhyped/Overhyped Teams Going Into The Tournament: 

Ohio State, led by arguably the most underrated player in the Power 4 Jaloni Cambridge is my pick for a sleeper team in the NCAA Tournament. OSU has been very impressive this season, and it’s been overlooked by the sheer amount of talent (and a lack of consistent media coverage) this season.  They’ve won against AP Top 25 teams like Minnesota, Michigan State, and TCU, and their iconic full-court press reminds everyone why they’re not to be messed with. TCU is a team that has the potential to make it far, but I am unsure if they’ll be able to capitalize on their talent. Their defense has improved from last season, but they have struggled to win in close games this year. A vast majority of their losses were by small margins, ones that they cannot afford this March. Olivia Miles and Marta Suarez are great leaders, but can they bring TCU far, or will they fall short like they did in the Big 12 Final? 

• Who Are Some Players to Watch? Upset Central: 

While her team may not be as dynamic as in previous years, Hannah Hidalgo is doing special things at Notre Dame. An electric 2-way force, she is 3rd in the nation in points per game (25.2) and leading the nation in steals per game (5.4). Notre Dame made it to the semifinals of the ACC tournament under the leadership of Hidalgo. She is certainly ready for March, but can her teammates follow suit? Oluchi Okananwa of Maryland has blossomed after her transfer from Duke. While the Terripans have been riddled with injuries this season, the Boston native has led the way averaging 18 points on 52% shooting from the field. When on a roll, she is nearly unstoppable and will be a force come NCAA Tournament time. The last player I want to shout out is Ava Heiden at Iowa. The Hawkeyes have been quietly making their way up the polls, under the efficient and dynamic play of Sophomore Ava Heiden. She is a force in the paint, her quickness and soft touch at the rim nearly unstoppable. She is the key to Iowa’s engine, and if she continues to play at an elite level, Iowa is a team no one will want to have in their bracket. 

March Madness gets crazy, for good reason. There is a lot to be excited about in this year’s NCAAW tournament and it’s definitely something to watch out for. Be sure to fill out your brackets before the tournament starts; Happy Basketball!