Wait until you see the crowds in Phoenix this year. Honestly, if you haven't been paying attention to the trajectory of women's college hoops lately, you’re missing out on the biggest vibe shift in sports. We aren't just talking about a "growing" game anymore. It’s here. It's massive. And it's loud.
If you are trying to figure out when does the women's ncaa tournament start, mark your calendar for March 18, 2026. That is when the First Four kicks off. But let’s be real, the madness actually starts a few days earlier when the committee reveals the bracket.
Every year, people scramble to find the dates because they want to request those Thursday and Friday vacation days. I get it. Missing the opening weekend of March Madness is basically a sports sin at this point.
The 2026 March Madness Calendar
Selection Sunday is the official starting gun. For 2026, that falls on March 15. This is that high-anxiety night where teams like South Carolina or USC find out if they’re a lock for a number one seed, and mid-majors pray they didn't get snubbed after a tough conference tournament loss.
After the bracket is set, the actual play begins.
The First Four games take place on Wednesday, March 18, and Thursday, March 19. These games are usually hosted at campus sites or specific neutral venues, and they’re the "play-in" games that whittle the field down to the final 64.
Then comes the real chaos.
The First Round begins on Friday, March 20, 2026. This and Saturday, March 21, are the two best days of the year. You have games running almost constantly. The Second Round follows immediately on Sunday and Monday (March 22–23).
Here is the quick-glance timeline:
- Selection Sunday: March 15
- First Four: March 18–19
- First & Second Rounds: March 20–23
- Sweet 16 & Elite Eight: March 27–30
- Final Four: April 3
- National Championship: April 5
Where the Road Ends: Phoenix 2026
This year is a big deal for the desert. Phoenix is hosting the Women’s Final Four for the first time ever. The games will be at the Mortgage Matchup Center (which many still call the Footprint Center or the Suns' arena). Arizona State is the host school, and they’re going all out.
Usually, the regionals—the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight—are split up to make travel easier. For 2026, those big regional hubs are:
- Fort Worth, Texas (Dickies Arena)
- Sacramento, California (Golden 1 Center)
The NCAA moved to a two-site regional format a couple of years ago. It’s a bit different than the old four-site way, but it basically creates two "mini-Final Fours" before the actual Final Four. It’s intense. If you’re in Texas or Cali, those are the dates you want to watch.
📖 Related: What Channel Is the Penn State Game On? Here is How to Find the Nittany Lions Today
Why the Start Date Matters So Much Now
There was a time when the women’s tournament felt like an afterthought to the men’s. That time is dead. Last year’s ratings proved that.
When people ask "when does the women's ncaa tournament start," they aren't just looking for a score anymore. They're looking for stars. We’re seeing names like Hannah Hidalgo at Notre Dame and JuJu Watkins at USC become household names before they even hit the WNBA.
The tournament start is also the start of a massive gambling and bracket challenge window.
Bracket pools for the women’s side have seen a 400% increase in participation over the last three years. Honestly, the parity is better now than it has ever been. You can’t just pencil in UConn or South Carolina for the title and call it a day. Teams like LSU, Texas, and even Iowa (post-Caitlin Clark) are still lethal.
Dealing With the "Monday Finish" Confusion
One thing that trips people up every single year is the Monday finish for the second round.
Unlike the men’s tournament, which usually wraps its first weekend on a Sunday, the women’s tournament frequently plays second-round games on Monday night. If you’re planning a watch party, keep that in mind.
The Sweet 16 also has a slightly shifted schedule. Usually, you’ll see games on Friday and Saturday, then the Elite Eight on Sunday and Monday. It’s a grind for the players, but for us fans on the couch? It’s a four-day weekend of pure bliss.
The Impact of Neutral Sites
In the first and second rounds, the top 16 seeds actually get to host on their home courts. This is a huge advantage and part of why the "start" of the tournament feels so electric.
Imagine 15,000 screaming fans in Columbia, South Carolina, or at Pauley Pavilion in LA. The atmosphere is different than a neutral pro arena. It feels like college. It feels raw.
But once you hit the regionals on March 27, everything moves to those neutral sites in Fort Worth and Sacramento. That’s where the pressure really cranks up because the home-court safety net is gone.
Getting Your Plans Together
If you’re planning to head to Phoenix for the Final Four on April 3 and April 5, you basically need to book now. Hotel prices in the Valley of the Sun during April are already brutal because of Spring Training and golf, but add the Final Four? It’s going to be a madhouse.
For most of us, "when does the women's ncaa tournament start" is the signal to check our streaming subscriptions. ESPN still holds the keys here. They usually broadcast games across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU.
Actionable Steps for the 2026 Tournament:
- Sync your calendar: Set a reminder for March 15 (Selection Sunday) so you don't miss the bracket reveal at 8:00 PM ET.
- Request Leave Early: If you want to see the opening weekend, you need March 20 and March 23 off.
- Download the App: The NCAA March Madness Live app is the only way to keep track of four games happening at once.
- Check Local Sites: If you live near a top-25 team, check their ticket office in February. They might be hosting the first round!
The countdown is on. March 18 will be here before you know it.
Next Steps for You: You should verify which streaming services you currently have. Since the games are split across the ESPN family of networks and ABC, having a service like YouTube TV, Fubo, or a standard cable login is essential. You might also want to look into the NCAA Fan Experience packages if you're serious about traveling to Phoenix, as those often include hotel blocks that aren't available to the general public.