Convention match rankings: 5 most intriguing girls’s hoops tourneys to observe this week

Convention tournaments are upon us in girls’s faculty basketball, and there will likely be an abundance of video games to observe within the coming week. Many tournaments overlap, so it is price determining how one can prioritize the place to tune in. That will help you try this, we took a more in-depth have a look at the highest 5 most intriguing convention tournaments primarily based on how aggressive they might be and in addition what NCAA Event implications are on the road.

Regardless of UConn being projected because the No. 1 total seed in for March Insanity, the Massive East didn’t make the reduce for these rankings. Let’s get to the rankings:

5. West Coast (March 5 -10 in Las Vegas)

We’ve not talked so much concerning the West Coast convention this season, however we may see some aggressive video games within the WCC Event. The regular-season champ was not determined till this previous Sunday with Loyola Marymount, Gonzaga and Oregon State because the contenders. LMU bought its second WCC title in program historical past because of an time beyond regulation victory over Oregon State of their regular-season finale, in addition to a one-point Gonzaga loss to Portland in time beyond regulation that very same day.

The West Coast is simply going to ship one crew within the NCAA Event. Loyola Marymount is projected as a No. 15 seed in CBS Sports activities’ newest Bracketology. The stakes will likely be excessive for the convention match, which makes Las Vegas the right location.

The West Coast may not be getting loads of nationwide recognition for the time being, however Gonzaga’s Lauren Whittaker is definitely price watching. She is averaging 19.3 factors and 10.2 rebounds per sport whereas registering 17 double-doubles this season, essentially the most for any freshman within the nation.

4. Massive 12 (March 4-8 in Kansas Metropolis)

TCU would be the No. 1 seed in Kansas Metropolis after successful its second consecutive regular-season title, however the Horned Frogs cannot get too snug. The crew wanted a buzzer-beater by Martha Suarez to beat No. 2 seed West Virginia in January.

Iowa State is the No. 7 seed within the match, however the Cyclones have had a roller-coaster of a season. Iowa State grew to become the primary crew in Massive 12 Convention historical past to lose 5 consecutive video games and bounce again with 5 consecutive wins. The Cyclones started their 2025-26 marketing campaign 14-0, which tied the perfect begin in program historical past. Issues bought shaky when accidents hit, notably a decrease physique damage that sidelined starter Addy Brown for 11 video games. Brown is again and prepared for the postseason. The crew additionally counts with one of many prime scorers within the nation, Audi Crooks, who simply registered the fifth 40-point sport of her profession.

One other fascinating crew has been fifth-seeded Texas Tech. The Purple Raiders began 19-0 earlier than cooling off to complete the season with a 25-6 report.

This convention match may give us extra solutions concerning bubble groups. BYU and Utah are “Subsequent 4 Out” groups, however CBS Sports activities bracketologist Connor Groel mentioned they’re nonetheless “in reliable competition.” Colorado went 0-2 final week, however the Buffaloes are nonetheless within the “Final 4 In” class with a résumé that features a win over TCU in February.

3. ACC (March 4-8 in Duluth, Ga.)

A clutch steal by Hannah Hidalgo helped unranked Notre Dame upset then-No. 10 Louisville a couple of days in the past, and that is the type of pleasure we are able to anticipate within the ACC Event.

Regardless of going by means of a tough stretch early within the season whereas dealing with some robust nonconference competitors, Duke bounced again with 17 consecutive wins and accomplished the comeback by incomes the ACC Event’s No. 1 seed. However right here is the place issues get fascinating, that successful streak was snapped every week earlier than the tip of the common season by Clemson — the No. 9 seed within the convention match and a bubble crew for the Massive Dance. 

North Carolina has so much to realize in Georgia as a result of the Tar Heels are nonetheless combating for an opportunity to host within the NCAA Event. They completed the common season with 12 wins of their closing 13 video games. That lone loss got here to Duke, and North Carolina then flipped the script and ended the common season with a win over the Blue Devils final weekend.

Final 12 months, Stanford missed the NCAA Event for the primary time since 1987 and is at risk of lacking out once more. That being mentioned, the Cardinal have proven some battle, together with a highway time beyond regulation victory over North Carolina in January. They’re presently projected as one of many “First 4 Out” groups, which suggests they may want that type of grit within the ACC Event.

2. Massive Ten (March 4–8 in Indianapolis)

UCLA accomplished the primary good Massive Ten season in additional than a decade, and the Bruins are already locked in for a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Event. They would be the favourite this week, however the remainder of the sphere might be unpredictable. 

Iowa was the crew to beat in the course of the Lisa Bluder/Caitlin Clark period ,and the Hawkeyes are nonetheless very a lot a harmful crew underneath Jan Jensen’s management. In January, the Hawkeyes bought three consecutive wins over top-15 opponents for the primary time in program historical past. 

Massive Ten girls’s basketball match 2026: Bracket, schedule and odds

Isabel Gonzalez

Michigan is aware of how one can step as much as massive competitors because the Wolverines gave UConn and UCLA upset scares this season. And though USC is struggling with out star JuJu Watkins this season, the Trojans nonetheless managed to choose up a win in opposition to Iowa in January and had an actual probability to beat Ohio State on the highway every week in the past. 

1. SEC (March 4-8 in Greenville, S.C.)

“Unforgiving,” “nightmare” and “pure hell” are just some methods coaches have described the SEC. It is extraordinarily aggressive, and that is why there have been no unbeaten groups in convention play. 

Common-season champion South Carolina misplaced to Oklahoma as a result of a stellar efficiency by nationwide Freshman of the 12 months candidate Aaliyah Chavez. The Gamecocks’ solely different loss was to Texas in a impartial web site sport that did not rely towards the SEC report. South Carolina could have some homecourt benefit because the match is in Greenville, however there are a number of groups with one thing to show.

SEC girls’s basketball match 2026: Bracket, schedule and odds

Isabel Gonzalez

Vanderbilt and Texas are nonetheless in competitors for the final No. 1 total seed within the NCAA Event, they usually may meet within the semifinals in Greenville. LSU is on monitor for a No. 2 seed, the perfect within the Kim Mulkey period and highest for this system since 2008. The Tigers beat Texas this season and had an actual probability at upsetting South Carolina. 

Do not be fooled by decrease seeds, both. Kentucky additionally gave the Gamecocks an upset scare in the course of the regular-season finale, whereas Georgia beat Vanderbilt two weeks in the past. Ole Miss ended the common season on a low observe, however the Rebels cannot be ignored as they upset Vanderbilt in January regardless of being displaced by a winter storm. Even the convention’s No. 10 seed, Texas A&M, is a crew to observe as a result of the Aggies have picked up momentum late within the season and are one of many hottest bubble groups.