South Carolina Earns No.1 Seed, Hosts March21 Opener
Read, Watch or Listen
COLUMBIA, S.C. South Carolina enters the 2026 NCAA women's tournament as a No. 1 seed in the Sacramento 4 Regional, and will host the winner of the No. 16 play-in between Samford and Southern on March 21 at 1 p.m. ET on ABC. The selection show aired Sunday, March 15, after the NCAA released top 16 seeds a day earlier. UConn earned the No. 1 overall seed; UCLA, Texas and South Carolina comprise the four No. 1s. Samford secured its tournament spot by winning the SoCon tournament, with local fan events announced. Based on 7 articles reviewed and supporting research.
Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.
Timeline of Events
- Samford wins SoCon tournament to earn a play-in berth.
- NCAA releases top 16 seeds on March 14, 2026.
- Selection Sunday announces full bracket and regional seeds on March 15, 2026.
- First Four/play-in games scheduled for March 18–19, 2026.
- South Carolina's first-round game set for March 21, 2026 at 1 p.m. ET.
Why This Matters to You
This is a big moment for South Carolina and Samford fans. If you love college basketball, it's a must-watch game. Check your local ABC channel for the 1 p.m. ET game on March 21. Plan your day around it. It's a chance to see top-seeded talent in action.
The Bottom Line
South Carolina has earned a coveted No. 1 seed. They're hosting the opener against the Samford-Southern winner. It's a thrilling time for women's college basketball. Worth forwarding if you know someone who loves a good underdog story.
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Host institutions, broadcasters, the University of South Carolina, local vendors and event organizers benefited financially and reputationally from hosting first-round games, ticket sales, fan events, and media coverage associated with the NCAA selection and early tournament rounds.
Teams that received lower seeds or missed the tournament lost postseason opportunities, while some bubble teams and their fans experienced disappointment and missed revenue tied to advance play and hosting possibilities.
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South Carolina Earns No.1 Seed, Hosts March21 Opener
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