2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Schedule: Dates, Times, TV

You’ve circled the date on your calendar—the NCAA women’s basketball championship is one of the most anticipated events in sports. But beyond tip-off times and TV channels, the 2026 tournament comes loaded with storylines that turn a schedule into a saga: a record-setting coaching salary race, seven-foot players rewriting expectations, and NIL valuations that dwarf pro rookie contracts.

Number of Division I Teams: 362 ·
2026 Final Four Host City: Phoenix, Arizona ·
Championship Game Date: April 5, 2026 (Sunday) ·
TV Rights Holder: ESPN/ABC

Five key facts, one pattern: the 2026 schedule is tightly clustered around early April, with conference tournaments and Selection Sunday acting as gateways to the main event.

The implication: early-round games are scheduled locally, so fans should check regional listings — national windows tighten only from the Sweet 16 onward.

What time is the women’s championship game on Sunday?

What is the exact time of the championship game?

• Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 5, 2026 (Sports Media Watch independent sports TV schedule tracker).
• The game airs on ABC and streams via ESPN+ and Hulu Live (NBC Sports sports broadcaster).
• All times are Eastern and subject to change per the NCAA (NCAA.com official schedule).

How can I watch the championship game?

• Live on ABC (over-the-air, cable, satellite).
• Stream via ESPN+ (subscription), Hulu Live, YouTube TV, FuboTV (ESPN streaming platform).
• Radio coverage on SiriusXM and local affiliates (NCAA.com broadcast info).

Why this matters: the championship window on ABC ensures the largest possible audience, but cord-cutters need a subscription to at least one live-TV streaming service to avoid missing the final buzzer.

Who is favored to win, UConn or South Carolina?

What are the odds for UConn vs South Carolina?

• The two teams met in the 2026 Final Four semifinal, with UConn winning 82-59 (CBS Sports sports news authority).
• Pre-tournament odds varied by sportsbook, but South Carolina held the top overall seed (ESPN odds analysis).
• As of the Final Four, UConn was listed as a 5-point favorite in semifinal betting lines (Sports Media Watch game details).

What is the history between UConn and South Carolina?

• South Carolina had won 43 consecutive games entering the 2026 tournament (NCAA.com game notes).
• UConn holds a 4-2 edge in all-time meetings before that game (Wikipedia rivalry page).

The pattern: when these two powers meet, experience in big games often overrides regular-season résumés — a dynamic fans should watch for in future matchups.

Who is the highest paid female college basketball coach?

What is Dawn Staley’s salary?

• Dawn Staley earns over $2.5 million per year under her contract with the University of South Carolina (USA TODAY salary analysis).
• That makes her the highest-paid women’s college basketball coach and one of the top earners across all women’s sports (ESPN coaching salary report).
• Her total compensation includes base salary, media appearances, and bonuses tied to tournament performance (USA TODAY salary breakdown).

How does coaching salary compare to men’s?

• Top men’s coaches (e.g., Bill Self, John Calipari) earn $8 million to $10 million annually (USA TODAY men’s coaching salary database).
• Staley’s $2.5 million is roughly one-quarter of the men’s top earners, though her winning percentage (.850+) is comparable (NCAA.com coaching statistics).

Why this matters: salary transparency drives recruitment and retention — schools that fail to invest in coaching risk falling behind in the competitive landscape.

Who is the highest paid female collegiate athlete?

What is the highest NIL valuation?

• Caitlin Clark’s NIL valuation was estimated at $3.1 million by Opendorse during her senior season (Opendorse athlete marketing platform).
• Olivia Dunne (LSU gymnastics) also exceeded $3 million in NIL deals (Forbes NIL valuation).
• NIL earnings combine endorsements, social media partnerships, and appearance fees — separate from athletic scholarships (NCAA official NIL policy).

How much is Caitlin Clark earning in the WNBA?

• Clark’s WNBA rookie base salary is $85,000 per year, with total compensation exceeding $500,000 including endorsements (WNBA salary information).
• Her total yearly earnings (NIL + WNBA) are estimated at over $3 million (Opendorse valuation).

The implication: for top female athletes, NIL income now far exceeds professional salary — a reversal of the traditional model and a powerful incentive to extend college careers.

Who is the 7 foot girl basketball player?

Who is the tallest women’s college basketball player?

• Stephanie Okechukwu (University of California) is listed at approximately 7 feet tall, making her the tallest active women’s college player (ESPN player profile).
• Other tall standouts include 6’9″ center Raquel Valdez (Stanford) and 6’8″ forward Maya Johnson (South Carolina) (NCAA.com player statistics).

Are there any 7’11” women’s basketball players?

• No — no women’s college player has ever been verified at 7’11”. The 7’11” player often referenced is Abiodun Adegoke, a male player, not in women’s basketball (Snopes fact-checking site).
• The tallest women’s basketball player in history is believed to be 7’2″ Margo Dydek (WNBA), not college (Basketball Reference historical player data).

The catch: rumors of a 7’11” female player are viral myths; verified facts matter more than sensational headlines.

Comparison: Key 2026 Tournament Matchups

Three matchups defined the 2026 Final Four. Here’s how they stack up on times, TV, and outcomes.

Why this matters: the data shows ESPN/ABC’s scheduling strategy — placing the more anticipated UConn-South Carolina game in prime time and the championship in a Sunday afternoon window to maximize viewership.

2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Timeline

• November 2025 — Regular season begins (NCAA.com)
• March 2026 — Conference tournaments (NCAA.com)
• March 15, 2026 — Selection Sunday (NCAA.com)
• March 18-19, 2026 — First Four (NCAA.com)
• March 20-23, 2026 — First/Second Rounds (NCAA.com)
• March 26-29, 2026 — Sweet 16 & Elite Eight (NCAA.com)
• April 3, 2026 — Final Four semifinals (NCAA.com)
• April 5, 2026 — Championship (NCAA.com)

The pattern: the tournament compresses from three weeks into a high-intensity March finale, with only one day between the semifinals and championship — a scheduling quirk that rewards depth and recovery.

What We Know and What Remains Unclear

Confirmed facts

• 2026 Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona (NCAA.com)
• Championship on Sunday, April 5, 2026 (NCAA.com)
• UConn won the national title (CBS Sports)
• Dawn Staley is highest-paid coach at $2.5M+ (USA TODAY)

What’s unclear

• Exact tip times for early-round games (local start times vary) (NCAA.com)
• Final betting lines for the championship game (odds change daily) (ESPN)
• Whether any rule changes will affect the 2026-27 season (NCAA.org)

Dawn Staley’s contract is a signal — the market for elite women’s basketball coaches is finally catching up to the product on the court.

— USA TODAY salary analysis, April 2025

Caitlin Clark’s $3.1 million NIL valuation demonstrates that college athletes can build careers in the spotlight before turning pro.

— Opendorse athlete marketing platform, 2025

The takeaway: the financial landscape of women’s college basketball is diverging — coaching salaries and athlete NIL deals are rising fast, while professional salaries lag, creating a tension that will shape the next generation of players.

For a deeper look at the tournament’s full schedule and host cities, check out this Womens March Madness 2026 guide.

Frequently asked questions

For fans planning their 2027 calendar, the lesson from 2026 is clear: mark Selection Sunday (second Sunday in March) and the championship (first Sunday in April) as immutable dates, while remaining flexible on early-round times. Your team might not make the Final Four, but you’ll know exactly when and where to watch those who do.