The Big 12 Conference have eight teams representing the league in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, which starts at sites around the country on Friday. The field includes two Big 12 teams that will host sub-regionals and the chance of some Big 12 teams playing Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
Big 12 Teams Hosting Sub Regionals
TCU (29-5) will be the No. 3 seed in the Region 4 Sacramento and will host a sub-regional at Schollmaier Arena beginning on Friday. The Horned Frogs will face No. 14 UC San Diego in the first round. If they win, they will face either No. 6 Washington or No. 11 South Dakota State in the second round on Sunday.
TCU reached the Elite Eight for the first time in school history last season.
West Virginia (27-6), which won the Big 12 Tournament title over TCU, is the other Big 12 team that will host a sub-regional. The Mountaineers are a No. 4 seed in Region 3 Fort Worth and will face No. 13 seed Miami (OH) on Saturday at Hope Coliseum in Morgantown, WV. If the Mountaineers win, they will face either No. 5 Kentucky or No. 12 James Madison in the second round on Monday.
WVU is shooting for its first trip to the Sweet 16 since 1992.
Other Big 12 Teams in NCAA Tournament
Baylor (24-8) is a No. 6 seed in Sacramento Region 2 and will travel to Durham, NC, to face either No. 11 Richmond or No. 11 Nebraska in the first round on Friday. If the Bears win, they will play either No. 3 Duke or No. 14 Charleston in the second round on Sunday. Duke will host the sub-regional. The Bears reached the Sweet 16 in 2024. If Baylor and Duke play each other it will be a rematch of their season opener in Paris.
Texas Tech (25-7) is a No. 7 seed in Sacramento Region 2 and will travel to Baton Rogue, La., to face No. 10 seed Villanova in the first round on Friday. If the Lady Raiders win, they will play either No. 2 LSU or No. 15 Jackonville in the second round on Sunday. LSU will host the sub-regional. Texas Tech is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Krista Gerlich and the program’s first appearance since 2013.
Colorado (22-11) is a No. 10 seed in Region 1 Fort Worth and will travel to Nashville, Tenn., to face No. 7 seed Illinois in the first round on Saturday. If the Buffs win, they will play either No. 2 Vanderbilt or No. 15 High Point in the second round on Monday. Vanderbilt will host the sub-regional. Colorado is making its third NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four seasons under coach JR Payne. The Buffs reached the Sweet 16 in both previous appearances.
Oklahoma State (23-9) is a No. 8 seed in Region 2 Sacramento and will travel to Los Angeles, Calif., to face No. 9 seed Princeton in the first round on Saturday. If the Cowgirls win, they will play either No. 1 UCLA or No. 16 CBU in the second round on Monday. UCLA will host the sub-regional. OSU is making its third trip to the NCAA Tournament in four years under head coach Jacie Hoyt.
Iowa State (22-9) is a No. 8 seed in the Region 1 Fort Worth and will travel to Storrs, Conn., to face No. 9 seed Syraucse in the first round on Saturday. If the Cyclones win, they will play either No. 1 Uconn or No. 16 UTSA in the second round on Monday. UConn will host the sub-regional. Iowa State is making its seventh straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, not including the 2020 Tournament, which was canceled due to COVID-19.
Arizona State (24-10) is a No. 10 seed in Region 4 Sacramento and will travel to Iowa City, Iowa, to face No. 10 seed Virginia in a First Four game on Thursday. If the Sun Devils win, they will play No. 7 seed Georgia on Saturday. If ASU wins that game, they will play either No. 2 Iowa or No. 15 FDU in the second round on Monday. Arizona State is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance under coach Molly Miller and the program’s first since 2019.
Both BYU (22-11) and Utah (19-12) were on the bubble for selection but did not get in. The two teams will likely be invited to either the WBIT or the WNIT in the coming days. Both teams were among the first four teams out per ESPN’s Bracketology.
