UConn, UCLA lead early reveal of NCAA women’s top 16 seeds

The NCAA projected UConn, UCLA, South Carolina and Vanderbilt as No. 1 seeds in the women’s tournament Saturday, when it released its first early reveal of the top 16 seeds.

As part of the announcement, the NCAA also revealed the top 16 seeds’ projected regions. The regionals this year are in Fort Worth, Texas, and Sacramento, California. The women’s tournament moved to a two-regional system in 2023, with two champions crowned at each site.

Defending national champion UConn, the overall No. 1 seed, is projected into the Fort Worth 1 regional, along with LSU (No. 8 overall seed), Ohio State (No. 9) and Oklahoma (No. 16). The Huskies are 26-0 and the only unbeaten team in Division I women’s hoops. They are seeking the program’s seventh perfect season and 13th national championship.

Texas (No. 5), Duke (No. 10) and Ole Miss (No. 15) are in the Sacramento 2 regional.

The Fort Worth 3 regional is led by No. 3 overall seed South Carolina, along with Louisville (No. 7), Iowa (No. 11) and Michigan State (No. 14).

The Sacramento 4 regional features Vanderbilt, which is coming off a big victory over Texas on Thursday, as the No. 4 overall seed. The Commodores are joined by Michigan (No. 6), TCU (No. 12) and Maryland (No. 13).

Before Vanderbilt’s win over the Longhorns, Texas was projected as one of the top-four seeds.

Even though Texas is the No. 5 overall seed, the Longhorns couldn’t be in the Sacramento 4 or Fort Worth 3 regionals because two other SEC teams are the top seeds there.

Overall, six teams each from the SEC and Big Ten are in this top 16. Two are from the ACC, one from the Big 12 and one from the Big East. UConn, UCLA, South Carolina and Texas made the Final Four last season.

The second reveal for the women’s top 16 will be March 1 at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN.

Selection Sunday for the NCAA tournament is set for March 15, with First Four games on March 18-19. The first- and second-round games are March 20-23 and will be played at the home sites of the top 16 seeds.

Sweet 16 games are March 27-28, and the Elite Eight games are March 29-30. The women’s Final Four will be held at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, with semifinal games April 3 and the national championship game April 5.

All NCAA women’s tournament games are on the ABC/ESPN networks.