The women’s NCAA Tournament is underway, and the UConn Huskies have controlled the spotlight from start to finish, remaining unbeaten and looking every bit like a powerhouse.
But as March heats up, the race at the top is getting even more intriguing.
With the Big Dance in full swing, Texas and LSU have wasted no time making statements with dominant opening-round wins to move on.
Saturday’s slate promises plenty of excitement, with UConn, South Carolina, UCLA, and other heavy hitters set to take the floor.
Here’s a look at where the latest 2025–26 title odds stand across the field.
Odds to win Women's March Madness 2026
| Team |  |
My Take |
|---|---|---|
 UConn |
-290 | 38.4-point average margin of victory. |
 UCLA |
+500 | Led the nation in a 1.73 assist/turnover ratio. |
 Texas |
+750 | Averaging about 85 points per game (top-10 nationally). |
 South Carolina |
+850 | Led the nation in field goal percentage defense (35.0%). |
 LSU |
+2000 | The No. 1 scoring offense in the nation. |
 Vanderbilt |
+6500 | Achieved 27 regular-season wins, the most in school history. |
 Duke |
+7500 | Allows just 59.0 points per game. |
 Michigan |
+8000 | Averaging 85.2 points per game (8th nationally). |
 Iowa |
+10000 | Ranked 5th in the Big Ten with 20.9 assists per game. |
 Louisville |
+10000 | Averaging 36.3 points from reserves. |
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March Madness Favorites
UConn Huskies (-290)
The UConn Huskies are rolling into the women's NCAA Tournament after capturing both the regular-season and Big East Conference tournament titles with a perfect 34-0 record, once again proving they’re the team to beat in March.
With momentum firmly on their side and a roster clicking on both ends of the floor, the Huskies are well-positioned to defend their national title and chase back-to-back championships.
There’s little doubt UConn is carrying serious championship momentum into the tournament.
Next up: UTSA on Saturday, March 21 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC
UCLA Bruins (+500)
The UCLA Bruins have surged from +1200 preseason odds to +550, now sitting just behind the UConn Huskies women's basketball among the favorites.
Taking advantage of a Big Ten Conference landscape without JuJu Watkins, UCLA controlled both the rivalry and the league, finishing the regular season 28-1 and cruising to the conference title. Their only loss of the year came against the Texas Longhorns.
That dominant run has firmly established the Bruins as one of the top contenders for the national championship.
Next up: California Baptist on Saturday, March 21 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN
Texas Longhorns (+750)
The Texas Longhorns have made a loud statement this season with signature wins over South Carolina and UCLA Bruins, proving it can go toe-to-toe with the nation’s elite.
The Longhorns reinforced that point by defeating South Carolina again to capture the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament title.
Those marquee victories have boosted Texas’ national profile and pushed its championship odds sharply upward.
Next up: Oregon on Sunday, March 22 at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN
South Carolina (+850)
After gritty losses to Texas and Oklahoma, the Gamecocks have shown rare cracks and were leapfrogged by the surging UCLA Bruins.
Still, Dawn Staley’s group traditionally peaks in March.
Finishing the regular season at 29-2, the South Carolina Gamecocks are looking to carry their momentum into the Big Dance, where a showdown with UConn Huskies gives them a chance for sweet revenge.
Next up: Southern U on Saturday, March 21 at 1 p.m. ET on ABC
LSU Tigers (+2000)
Kim Mulkey's squad has suffered a few losses by some heavyweight names such as South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Texas & Kentucky, but LSU has some making up to do and expect the Tigers to roar in Flau'jae Johnson's last season in the purple & gold.
With Johnson leading the charge and support from MiLaysia Fulwiley, Mikaylah Williams, and standout freshman Zakiyah Johnson, LSU looks ready to make their March run unforgettable.
Next up: Texas Tech on Sunday, March 22 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC
Women's March Madness opening odds
- South Carolina: +145
- UConn: +400
- Texas: +400
- Notre Dame: +700
- USC: +950
- UCLA: +1200
- NC State: +2000
- LSU: +3000
- Stanford: +3000
- Duke: +5000
It should come as no surprise that oddsmakers were high on South Carolina after the Gamecocks became just the 10th team ever to cap off an undefeated season with a national championship.
But it's the UCLA Bruins who shook up the scene this season after going 30-2 and putting all of women's college basketball on notice after being the No. 1 ranked team in the country for most of this season. Led by Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice, the Bruins are out for blood and appear to be a shoe-in to win the Big Ten tournament ahead of March Madness.
Women's March Madness 2026 schedule
| Event | Date | Location(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Selection Sunday | March 15 | -- |
| First Four | March 18–19 | UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio) |
| First Round | March 20–23 | Top 16 seeds host. |
| Second Round | March 20–23 | Top 16 seeds host. |
| Sweet 16 | March 27–30 | Sacramento, CA; Fort Worth, TX |
| Elite Eight | March 27–30 | Sacramento, CA; Fort Worth, TX |
| Final Four | April 3 | Mortgage Matchup Center (Phoenix, AZ) |
| National Championship Game | April 5 | Mortgage Matchup Center (Phoenix, AZ) |
March Madness betting splits
Highest ticket percentage:
• UConn 17.3%
• South Carolina 14.8%
• UCLA 11.1%
Highest handle percentage:
• UConn 30.3%
• South Carolina 23.9%
• UCLA 12.4%
Biggest liabilities:
• UConn
• USC
• South Carolina
All data courtesy of BetMGM.
March Madness 2026 predictions
| Bet | Odds | Bet Date | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Title: UConn | -300 | February 12 | 0.5 |
| Final Four: Vanderbilt | +4000 | February 12 | 0.5 |
| To Make NCAA Tournament Field of 68: USC | +15000 | February 12 | 0.5 |
What makes this UConn group especially dangerous in a tournament setting is lineup flexibility. The Huskies can play small to maximize spacing or lean into length and rebounding without sacrificing offensive flow. Geno Auriemma’s teams historically peak in March by tightening rotations and sharpening execution, and this roster already looks comfortable in high-pressure moments.
With experience, depth, and star power aligned, the Huskies enter the Final Four conversation as the most complete team in the country and the safest pick to cut down the nets again.
Vanderbilt's defensive structure forces opponents into uncomfortable possessions, and they’ve shown the ability to control pace against both fast and methodical teams. That adaptability is key in navigating the bracket. Vanderbilt also benefits from continuity, plus experienced contributors who understand roles and rarely beat themselves with turnovers or poor shot decisions.
If their defense dictates games early in the bracket, a Final Four appearance becomes a realistic outcome rather than a surprise.
Losing a dominant offensive centerpiece like JuJu Watkins changes the ceiling, but it doesn’t eliminate USC’s foundation. The Trojans still possess athleticism, length on the perimeter, and a defensive identity capable of keeping them competitive against top-tier opponents.
From a résumé standpoint, USC’s schedule strength and defensive efficiency should keep them firmly within the at-large conversation. They may win differently with fewer offensive explosions & more grind-it-out results, but consistency and competitiveness across conference play are enough to secure a spot in the Field of 68.
Understanding March Madness futures odds
Sportsbooks will post odds for the NCAA women's basketball championship as early as the summer before the season starts. These odds are constantly adjusted throughout the offseason as players get hurt, suspended or are traded. Once the season begins in November, title odds will change as often as daily as teams win and lose games and as players get hurt or suspended. Sportsbooks will also adjust the March Madness futures odds based on handle and liability to certain teams.
March Madness futures odds will usually look like this:
- Indiana Hoosiers +800
This means that on a $100 bet, you'll stand to win $800 if the Hoosiers win the NCAA women's basketball title. If it's close to the end of the regular season or even during the tournament and college basketball has a very dominant team, you might see that a team is has a minus sign (-) ahead of its odds.
- South Carolina Gamecocks -165
This means that you would need to bet $165 to win $100 on a South Carolina championship.
Above we have posted the American odds for March Madness futures. However, these are easy to convert to decimal odds or fractional odds with our odds converter tool.
How to bet college basketball futures
Learning how to successfully bet on March Madness is one of the hardest things to do in sports betting. The lose-and-go-home format and the fact that a school needs to win six straight games against quality opponents means that the favorites don't always take home the title.
Another factor that comes into play is that the tournament bracket isn't set until Selection Sunday. As the college basketball season winds down, you can be pretty sure that the big favorites will slide into the bracket as top seeds. But for teams in the middle of the pack, nothing is certain.
As always when betting futures odds, be sure to look into injuries and suspensions. You might find some current value in a team that is expecting to get a key player back before March Madness begins.
Where to bet on Women's March Madness
If you're in a state that allows mobile, or online betting, make sure you know which sites are the best March Madness betting sites. Great betting sites offer sharp odds, quick payouts and are safe and secure when it comes to depositing and withdrawing your money.
Past Women's March Madness champions
| Year | Champion | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | UConn |
 South Carolina |
| 2024 | South Carolina |
 Iowa |
| 2023 | LSU |
Iowa |
| 2022 | South Carolina |
UConn |
| 2021 |  Stanford |
 Arizona |
| 2020 | COVID-19 | COVID-19 |
| 2019 |  Baylor |
 Duke |
| 2018 |  Notre Dame |
 Mississippi State |
| 2017 | South Carolina |
Mississippi State |
| 2016 | UConn |
 Syracuse |
| 2015 | UConn |
Notre Dame |
| 2014 | UConn |
Notre Dame |
| 2013 | UConn |
 Louisville |
| 2012 | Baylor |
Notre Dame |
Women's March Madness trends
• The last four winners of the tournament all entered the season as the No. 1 seed.
• Since 1982, a No. 1 seed has made the Final Four every year.
• UConn has the most women's NCAA titles of all-time (11), including four straight years of successfully defending the championship from 2013-2016.
march
Women's March Madness Odds
The UConn Huskies are -300 favorites to win Women's March Madness.
The Women's March Madness title game will take place on Sunday, April 6 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Oddsmakers at sportsbooks create odds to win the Women's NCAA Tournament based on the team's implied probability to win the title. The team with the lowest odds has the best chance to win the tournament.
Betting on game outcomes for all college teams is allowed as well as individual players, but may not be widely available across sportsbooks.
Sportsbooks adjust odds in real time based on betting action, team performance, injuries, and other developments.
Betting on individual players during Women’s March Madness is possible, but it’s not as widely available as betting on teams or game outcomes. Most sportsbooks focus primarily on team-based bets for the Women’s NCAA Tournament, especially in the early rounds.
