4 March Madness upset predictions for 2026 NCAA women’s tournament
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4 March Madness upset predictions for 2026 NCAA women’s tournament
Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch·The Columbus Dispatch
·
2 min read
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Michigan Wolverines head coach Kim Barnes Arico yells as guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) saves the ball in front of Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) drives around Michigan Wolverines guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Michigan Wolverines forward Ashley Sofilkanich (15) and Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge (3) react during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) fights for a rebound with Michigan Wolverines guard Te'yala Delfosse (33) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) fights for a rebound with Michigan Wolverines guard Te'yala Delfosse (33) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) shoots over Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Michigan Wolverines guard Mila Holloway (3) fouls Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes forward Kylee Kitts (1) sghoots over Michigan Wolverines guard Syla Swords (12) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) passes around Michigan Wolverines forward Ashley Sofilkanich (15) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) shoots a three pointer over Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) celebrates a three pointer during the NCAA women's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) dribbles around Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) dribbles around Michigan Wolverines guard Mila Holloway (3) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) drives past Michigan Wolverines guard Syla Swords (12) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) looks to pass in front of Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge (3) shots during the NCAA women's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) reacts to a shot at the end of the first half during the NCAA women's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
1/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Michigan Wolverines head coach Kim Barnes Arico yells as guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) saves the ball in front of Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
1/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Michigan Wolverines head coach Kim Barnes Arico yells as guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) saves the ball in front of Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
2/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) drives around Michigan Wolverines guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
3/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Michigan Wolverines forward Ashley Sofilkanich (15) and Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge (3) react during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
4/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) fights for a rebound with Michigan Wolverines guard Te'yala Delfosse (33) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
5/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) fights for a rebound with Michigan Wolverines guard Te'yala Delfosse (33) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
6/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) shoots over Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
7/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Michigan Wolverines guard Mila Holloway (3) fouls Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
8/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes forward Kylee Kitts (1) sghoots over Michigan Wolverines guard Syla Swords (12) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
9/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) passes around Michigan Wolverines forward Ashley Sofilkanich (15) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
10/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) shoots a three pointer over Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
11/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) celebrates a three pointer during the NCAA women's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
12/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) dribbles around Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
13/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) dribbles around Michigan Wolverines guard Mila Holloway (3) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
14/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) drives past Michigan Wolverines guard Syla Swords (12) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
15/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) looks to pass in front of Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
16/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge (3) shots during the NCAA women's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
17/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) reacts to a shot at the end of the first half during the NCAA women's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
Top-seeded teams in Sacramento 4 region could find trouble vs Washington
Led byAll-Big Tenguard Avery Howell and Sayvia Sellers, No. 6 seedWashingtoncould make some noise in the Sacramento 4 region, which also features No. 3 seedTCUand No. 2 seedIowa.
The Huskies challenged every ranked opponent they faced this season, recording upsets overMichigan(a No. 3 seed) andMaryland(a No. 5 seed). Washington's biggest loss (by 18 points) came against the second-ranked team in the nation,UCLA, during the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, and the Huskies were down just eight points going into the fourth quarter.
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - JANUARY 28: Sayvia Sellers #0 of the Washington Huskies celebrates with Elle Ladine #24 after scoring during OT against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on January 28, 2026 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
TCU proved to be beatable this season, falling to unranked Colorado and Utah, while Iowa center Hannah Stuelke may still be dealing with a right elbow injury. Those factors can line up in favor of Washington pulling off multiple upsets to reach the Elite 8.
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Colorado can carry hot streak from Big 12 Tournament into first-round matchup vs Illinois
Both No. 10 seed Colorado and No. 7 seedIllinoisearned their spots inthe Fort Worth 1 regionwith strong showings in their respective conference tournaments.
Colorado reached the Big 12 semifinals as the No. 6 seed before losing by just one point to West Virginia.
In the Big Ten Tournament, Illinois upset Michigan State in the second round and almost made a comeback against Iowa during the quarterfinals, outscoring the Hawkeyes 27-11 in the fourth quarter, but was still defeated 64-58.
Mar 7, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Zyanna Walker (1) drives the ball up court against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images
Before the Fighting Illini's conference tournament outing, they were on a downward trajectory at the end of the regular season compared to the Buffaloes, which could give Colorado the edge in their first-round matchup.
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Villanova may be strong mid-major threat in the first round
Outside of a 90-51 loss to the nation's top teamUConnin the Big East Tournament final, the Sacramento 2 region's No. 10 seed Villanova is entering the tournament strong, going 10-2 in its most recent games.
While the Wildcat's first-round opponent Texas Tech, the No. 7 seed, has marquee wins over top-25 teams such as West Virginia and TCU, the Lady Raiders have tended to sleep on lower-ranked teams this season.
If guard Jasmine Bascoe, who led the Big East in scoring with 18.8 points, can get Villanova's offense going, the Wildcats could get out of the first round over Texas Tech.
