5 women's basketball teams under most pressure in 2026 NCAA Tournament
Which teams face the most pressure entering the 2026 women's NCAA Tournament? Here's a look at five teams with a lot of prove:
For college basketball fans, March Madness is the most exciting time of the season. However, for the players and programs, the time can be stressful: All the hard work they have put into the 2025-26 college basketball season could be over with just one bad game in the women's NCAA tournament . Every game requires a "win-or-go-home" mentality.
REQUIRED READING: Women's NCAA Tournament bracket: Who's in, out and on March Madness bubble Likely No. 1 overall seed UConn enters the tournament looking to defend its national championship, while No. 2 UCLA is looking to cash in on its best opportunity to win a national title in Lauren Betts' final collegiate season.
Meanwhile, some coaches will enter the tournament seeking to win to continue to build momentum and foundation for a successful 2026-27 season. Here's a look at five teams under the most pressure heading into the 2026 women's NCAA Tournament: Tennessee After reaching the Sweet 16 in Year 1 under coach Kim Caldwell, the Lady Vols have taken a step back this season. Tennessee heads to the women's NCAA tournament with a 16-13 record, currently the lowest win total in program history.
Tennessee was 14-3 on Jan. 22, but ended the season with just two wins in the final 12 games. The Vols were knocked out of the women's SEC Tournament by 11-seed Alabama.