Texas Women’s Basketball Earns No. 1 Seed, Will Host First Two NCAA Rounds at Moody Center

March 16, 2026

The Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team drew a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and sits as the No. 3 team overall in the bracket. The program will host its first- and second-round games at the Moody Center in Austin this Friday and Sunday, with the opening contest set for March 20, time to be announced.

Texas will open against the winner of the First Four matchup between Missouri State and Stephen F. Austin State. If the Longhorns advance, they would meet the winner of the No. 8 Oregon versus No. 9 Virginia Tech game in the second round, which is scheduled for Sunday in Austin.

The Longhorns landed in Region 3, which sends its Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games to Fort Worth from March 27 to March 30. That alignment means Texas could remain in-state through the regional rounds, with possible Round of 16 opponents listed as No. 4 West Virginia or No. 5 Kentucky.

Should Texas progress to the regional final, projected adversaries on that side of the bracket include No. 2 Michigan or No. 3 Louisville, depending on how other matchups play out. The bracket also pairs Texas and UCLA as the two No. 1 seeds on the same half, creating a potential Final Four rematch in Phoenix if both programs advance.

This marks the third straight season Texas has been seeded No. 1 in the tournament, a streak head coach Vic Schaefer credited to his players’ effort and consistency. Schaefer said the team deserves recognition for its work, and he believes if they reproduce the level of play shown in the SEC tournament final, they have the makeup to keep advancing.

Texas beat UCLA earlier this season in November, a result that could loom large if they meet again late in the postseason. With the first-round time still pending, fans and the program now shift focus to preparation for the weekend games at the Moody Center and the potential run that could extend across Texas and beyond.