Big Ten women's basketball tournament 2026: Bracket, schedule and odds
CBS Sports
by
Isabel Gonzalez
March 2, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The Big Ten women's basketball tournament is set to begin in Indianapolis at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with UCLA as the top seed after an historic unbeaten regular season—marking the first time a team has achieved this feat in over a decade. The Bruins are not only aiming for the conference title but are also likely secured a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Joining them on stage are Iowa, who earned the No. 2 seed despite navigating changes in coaching and roster turnover under Jan Jensen. USC, despite struggles without star player JuJu Watkins, remains competitive with standout freshman Jazzy Davidson leading the charge and a notable victory over Iowa earlier this season.
This year's tournament features a deep field of teams, including Minnesota, who have emerged as one of the biggest surprises. The Gophers are projected to make their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2018 and could host as a top-four seed. Michigan State, Maryland, and Ohio State also bring strong rosters into the competition. The bracket structure includes double-byes for higher-seeded teams, with No. 4 Minnesota avoiding early matches against lower seeds.
The tournament schedule kicks off on March 4 with first-round games on Peacock, followed by second-round action on March 5. Key matchups include USC facing Washington and Michigan State taking on Ohio State. The quarterfinals on March 6 feature the top four seeds—UCLA, Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan—on a collision course for the semifinals. The championship game will air on CBS on March 8 at 2:15 p.m.
With UCLA heavily favored at -295 odds, they are the clear favorites to win the title. However, Iowa (+1100) and Minnesota (+1400) present strong contenders, with Michigan (+3000) also in the mix. This tournament promises excitement for fans of women's basketball, offering a showcase of top-tier talent, potential upsets, and teams fighting for their NCAA Tournament positioning
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Originally published on CBS Sports on 3/2/2026