University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Photo by: Caren Nicdao
UCLA Earns No. 1 Seed in Second-Consecutive March Madness Tournament
March 16, 2026 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES โ Big Ten champions UCLA Women's Basketball is headed back to the NCAA tournament as a No. 1 seed, as announced on ESPN Sunday evening.
ย
The Bruins (31-1) will host No. 8-seed Oklahoma State, No. 9-seed Princeton and No. 16-seed Cal Baptist this coming weekend inside Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial. The Cowgirls and Tigers face off at 4:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, March 21, in a game that will be broadcast to ESPN2.
ย
UCLA and Cal Baptist tip off at approximately 7 p.m. PT on Saturday; the No. 1/No. 16 match will be broadcast to ESPN to wrap up First Round games.
ย
Tickets go on sale Monday at 8 a.m. PT; fans can purchase tickets here.
ย
The Bruins return to the NCAA tournament for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons, excluding the canceled 2020 tournament. UCLA has finished its season with two Sweet 16 and a Final Four appearance over the last three years. The Bruins took down LSU in the 2025 Elite Eight to reach their first-ever NCAA Final Four in Tampa last April.
ย
UCLA's bracket includes LSU as the No. 2 seed, Duke as the No. 3, and Big Ten foe Minnesota rounding out the top four seeds. It will be UCLA's 21st appearance in the NCAA tournament and the 10th under head coach Cori Close.
ย
The Bruins are one of a record-tying 12 Big Ten Conference teams entering the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. UCLA boasts a 31-1 record going into the postseason, including an 18-0 record in conference play. The Bruins were just the fourth program in Big Ten history to go undefeated during conference play; UCLA earned an automatic qualifier by remaining undefeated in Indianapolis to capture it's second-straight Big Ten tournament title. The Bruins took down No. 2-seed Iowa in the final, 96-45, marking the largest margin of victory over an AP top 10-ranked team in NCAA history (No. 9 Iowa).
ย
LOS ANGELES HOSTING SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 21
No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 9 Princeton | 4:30 p.m. PT | ESPN2
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 16 Cal Baptist | 7 p.m. PT | ESPN
ย
Tickets here.
ย
ย
The Bruins (31-1) will host No. 8-seed Oklahoma State, No. 9-seed Princeton and No. 16-seed Cal Baptist this coming weekend inside Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial. The Cowgirls and Tigers face off at 4:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, March 21, in a game that will be broadcast to ESPN2.
ย
UCLA and Cal Baptist tip off at approximately 7 p.m. PT on Saturday; the No. 1/No. 16 match will be broadcast to ESPN to wrap up First Round games.
ย
Tickets go on sale Monday at 8 a.m. PT; fans can purchase tickets here.
ย
The Bruins return to the NCAA tournament for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons, excluding the canceled 2020 tournament. UCLA has finished its season with two Sweet 16 and a Final Four appearance over the last three years. The Bruins took down LSU in the 2025 Elite Eight to reach their first-ever NCAA Final Four in Tampa last April.
ย
UCLA's bracket includes LSU as the No. 2 seed, Duke as the No. 3, and Big Ten foe Minnesota rounding out the top four seeds. It will be UCLA's 21st appearance in the NCAA tournament and the 10th under head coach Cori Close.
ย
The Bruins are one of a record-tying 12 Big Ten Conference teams entering the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. UCLA boasts a 31-1 record going into the postseason, including an 18-0 record in conference play. The Bruins were just the fourth program in Big Ten history to go undefeated during conference play; UCLA earned an automatic qualifier by remaining undefeated in Indianapolis to capture it's second-straight Big Ten tournament title. The Bruins took down No. 2-seed Iowa in the final, 96-45, marking the largest margin of victory over an AP top 10-ranked team in NCAA history (No. 9 Iowa).
ย
LOS ANGELES HOSTING SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 21
No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 9 Princeton | 4:30 p.m. PT | ESPN2
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 16 Cal Baptist | 7 p.m. PT | ESPN
ย
Tickets here.
ย
UCLA W. Basketball Media Availability - Selection Sunday (March 15, 2026)
Sunday, March 15
Cinematic Recap - UCLA W. Basketball at 2026 Big Ten Tournament
Wednesday, March 11
Highlights - W. Basketball vs. Iowa (March 8, 2026)
Sunday, March 08
UCLA W. Basketball Postgame - Big Ten Tournament Championship (March 8, 2026)
Sunday, March 08