The Big 12 women’s basketball tournament is set to begin Wednesday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City as the lowest eight seeds will play their first-round games.
Here is a preview of those four games, along with the complete schedule of the tournament. All games on Wednesday can be found on ESPN+.
Game 1: No. 12 Kansas State vs. No. 13 Cincinnati, 11 a.m., ESPN+
The Matchup: Kansas State (15-16) is a win away from getting back to .500 and putting itself in position to qualify for one of the non-NCAA Tournament postseason events, including the WBIT or the WNIT. The Wildcats have lost their last three games. Taryn Sides (12.2 ppg), Nastja Claessens (11.5 ppg) and Tess Heal (11.2 ppg) lead the way. Heal is worth watching. She averaged more than 15 ppg in Big 12 play.
Cincinnati (11-19) was behind the eight-ball from the start with the injury to top recruit Dee Alexander. The Bearcats’ biggest win of the season was in January over a ranked Iowa State. Cincinnati is .500 in its last six games. Mya Perry (17.7 ppg) and Caliyah DeVillasee (14.7 ppg) are a tough one-two punch to deal with.
Prediction: Kansas State 67, Cincinnati 64
Game 2: No. 9 BYU vs. No. 16 Houston, 1:30 p.m., ESPN+
The Matchup: Houston (7-22) would love nothing more than to screw up BYU’s faint NCAA Tournament hopes. But it would take a huge effort from the Cougars, who won just one league game and lost to BYU by 15 points earlier this season. Kyndall Hunter (9.5 ppg) and TK Pitts (9.3 ppg) are the leading scorers for a team that only averaged 61 ppg per game.
BYU (20-10) may need to find a win or two in Kansas City to get in the field. ESPN has the Cougars in the Next Four Out and seven spots away from a bid. Delaney Gibb (17.9 ppg) has been a bucket all season, but freshman Olivia Hamlin (12.5 ppg) accelerated her development when Gibb was injured in non-conference.
Prediction: BYU 78, Houston 62
Game 3: No. 10 Arizona State vs. No. 15 Arizona, 5:30 p.m., ESPN+
The Matchup: It’s the third Territorial Cup showdown of the season and Arizona State (22-9) won both. The Sun Devils are on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament so any win in Kansas City is useful. ASU has lost three of its last four games. Gabby Elliott (16.4 ppg) and McKinnna Brackens (15.1 ppg) pack the scoring punch.
Arizona (12-17) had a rough season under first-year coach Becky Burke but the Wildcats played ASU tough both times. Arizona has lost six of its last seven. Noelani Cornfield (14.4 ppg) is going to push the Wildcats if they pull off the upset.
Prediction: Arizona State 74, Arizona 69
Game 4: No. 11 Kansas vs. No. 14 UCF, 8 p.m., ESPN+
The Matchup: Kansas (18-12) has a NCAA Tournament bubble record but finished 8-10 in league action, which could be hard to overcome. The Jayhawks are on the Next Four Out line. Big 12 Freshman of the Year Jaliya Davis (21.0 ppg) and All-Big 12 First Team selection S’Mya Nichols (17.8 ppg) drive Kansas.
UCF (11-18) only won three league games but did win its final conference game of the season. It will be curious to see what the Knights do at head coach, as fourth-year coach Sytia Messer has not won more than 14 games in any season in Orlando. Leah Harmon (15.7 ppg) will need a big game for the Knights to pull off the upset.
Prediction: Kansas 77, UCF 65
Big 12 2026 Women’s Basketball Tournament
At T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Mo.
All times central
First Round (Wednesday, March 4)
Game 1: No. 12 Kansas State vs. No. 13 Cincinnati, 11 a.m., ESPN+
Game 2: No. 9 BYU vs. No. 16 Houston, 1:30 p.m., ESPN+
Game 3: No. 10 Arizona State vs. No. 15 Arizona, 5:30 p.m., ESPN+
Game 4: No. 11 Kansas vs. No. 14 UCF, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Second Round (Thursday, March 5)
Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. No. 5 Texas Tech, 11 a.m., ESPN+
Game 6: Game 2 winner vs. No. 8 Utah, 1:30 p.m., ESPN+
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. No. 7 Iowa State, 5:30 p.m., ESPN+
Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. No. 6 Colorado, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Quarterfinals (Friday, March 6)
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. No. 4 Oklahoma State, 11 a.m., ESPN+
Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. No. 1 TCU, 1:30 p.m., ESPN+
Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. No. 2 West Virginia, 5:30 p.m., ESPN+
Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. No. 3 Baylor, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Semifinals (Saturday, March 7)
Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 3 p.m., ESPN+
Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 5:30 p.m., ESPN+
Championship (Sunday, March 8)
Game 15: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner, 4 p.m., ESPN
Note: if BYU advances to Game 15 title game will be played on Monday, March 9, at 3 p.m.
