March Madness 2026 women’s predictions: can anyone thwart a UConn repeat?

Lauren Betts (UCLA); Joyce Edwards (South Carolina); Madison Booker (Texas). Composite: Guardian Pictures (via Getty) What are you most looking forward to, on or off the court? There have been just four women’s Final Fours featuring all No 1 seeds.

This year feels like it could give us the fifth. UConn v South Carolina would be a tantalizing rematch of last year’s national championship game – made even more interesting by the fact they didn’t meet in the regular season for the first time since 2014-15. Texas held off a late UCLA comeback when they played in November, but the Bruins have rolled off 25 straight wins since.

EB Circle the date for UConn v South Carolina in the national semi-finals on Friday 3 April. Another titanic showdown between the two dominant programs of the current era – they have accounted for eight of the last 12 national championships – with the Gamecocks out for revenge after last year’s embarrassment and practically assured to go off as firm underdogs. It’s a fixture that’s become appointment viewing even if you’re not a huge basketball fan the same way UConn v Tennessee did in the 90s and 00s.

BAG I am really hoping we get to see Shea Ralph’s Vanderbilt v Geno Auriemma’s UConn in the Elite Eight . I’m also already seated for a potential UCLA v LSU rematch (assuming the latter get through Duke in the Sweet 16). More broadly, I can’t wait to see fans at the games.