Top overall seeds UConn are the overwhelming favourites to claim the 2026 Women’s NCAA tournament title in Phoenix, according to a panel of college basketball experts.
The Huskies open their tournament campaign on Friday and are chasing a remarkable 13th national championship.
The storied programme are just six victories away from completing a seventh perfect season.
Top seeds dominate expert selections
A unanimous sweep of 22 analysts selected the Fort Worth 1 Region leaders to advance to the Final Four.
Thirteen of those voters tipped the unbeaten squad to lift the national trophy.
While no other college received unanimous backing to reach the semi-finals, fellow top-seeds South Carolina, Texas and UCLA garnered clear majorities.
Half of the polling panel predict an exclusive Final Four consisting entirely of number one seeds.
Toughest routes to the Final Four
Despite the dominance of the highest-ranked teams, the Sacramento 2 region presents a formidable gauntlet.
The Bruins of UCLA could face significant hurdles against highly-rated second seeds LSU or third-seeded Duke.
“With LSU, the top number two seed, and Duke, the best of the number three seeds, together with UCLA, simple math says it’s Sacramento 2.”
Charlie Creme, college basketball analyst
Ole Miss are another dangerous prospect capable of derailing the Los Angeles-based outfit.
The fifth-seeded Rebels boast impressive regular-season victories over Vanderbilt, Oklahoma and Notre Dame.
The dangerous dark horses
Looking beyond the elite top bracket, the Tigers of Louisiana State University have been identified as the premier outside threat.
Their battle-tested roster suffered five defeats this season, but all came against elite SEC opposition.
“What the Tigers learned from those defeats could help them get to the Elite Eight for the fourth year in a row.”
Michael Voepel, college basketball analyst
To complete a shock championship run, the Tigers will rely heavily on a dynamic backcourt spearheaded by Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams.
LeBron James delivered a 30-point masterclass featuring six spectacular dunks as the Los Angeles Lakers secured a 124-116 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
The 41-year-old veteran shot 13-of-14 from the floor to help his team extend their current winning streak to a season-matching seven games.
Despite admitting to feeling his age during his post-match recovery, the four-time NBA champion looked unstoppable on the court.
“Right now, I feel like s—. But in the game, I felt pretty good,” James revealed while icing his joints in the locker room.
“I’m happy I’m able to make a few plays to help our team win.”
Defying the ageing process
According to ESPN Research, the Akron native had not recorded six dunks in a single fixture since March 2017.
Three of those slams came via alley-oop passes, equalling a career-high for the iconic forward during his 23-year professional tenure.
One particularly remarkable highlight saw the basketball legend soar to catch an errant lob from team-mate Marcus Smart before emphatically finishing the play.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves noted that his illustrious colleague remains more athletic than the vast majority of the league.
“It’s just insane to think about. It’s absolutely mind-blowing,” Reaves added.
High praise from fellow superstars
The Los Angeles franchise also benefited from another sensational outing from Luka Doncic.
The Slovenian playmaker contributed 40 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists in a dominant offensive display.
Doncic was quick to laud his veteran team-mate, describing the high-flying performance as truly impressive.
Even the opposition found themselves marvelling at the sheer longevity of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant, who managed 18 points in the defeat, insisted he is no longer surprised by such historic feats.
“He’s a freak athlete, he’s a generational athlete. I think he could play until he’s 45 years old,” the 37-year-old Durant observed.
Making history in Houston
The victory further cements an exceptional season for a Western Conference powerhouse looking to capitalise on their current momentum.
Entering the contest, the former Cleveland Cavalier ranked second across the entire association in fast-break points, trailing only Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey.
He now boasts 77 dunks in just 48 appearances this campaign.
Furthermore, the majestic showing made him the first Laker to score 30 points on 90% shooting since Shaquille O’Neal achieved the feat in 2003.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has confirmed he will no longer pursue an ownership stake in a potential NBA expansion franchise in Las Vegas.
The 40-year-old had previously been highly vocal about his desire to bring a professional basketball organisation to Nevada.
However, the four-time NBA champion definitively ruled out the venture following his team’s 124-116 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
“No, I’m not. Not at all.”
James told reporters when asked about his potential involvement in joining a formal bidding group.
Board of governors vote looms
The NBA’s board of governors is scheduled to meet next week to officially vote on opening the expansion bidding process.
This highly anticipated upcoming vote is expected to pave the way for establishing new franchises in both Las Vegas and Seattle.
Industry executives anticipate that successful proposals for each new team could demand a staggering entry fee of between $7bn and $10bn.
A sudden change of heart
This definitive withdrawal marks a significant public reversal for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
During a 2022 episode of his digital talk show, the former Cleveland Cavaliers star emphatically stated his ownership ambitions.
“I want a team in Vegas. I want the team in Vegas.”
Despite those past declarations, the American superstar has now firmly closed the door on spearheading an ownership syndicate.
Instead, his immediate focus remains strictly on the court after delivering a 30-point performance to help secure a crucial away victory in Houston.
The Boston Celtics are cautiously managing Jayson Tatum’s return to full fitness as NBA franchises enter the frantic final month of the regular season ahead of the playoffs.
Competition across the league is intensifying as Eastern and Western Conference contenders battle to secure their vital postseason seedings.
For the reigning Eastern Conference heavyweights, ensuring their star forward is primed for a deep playoff run remains the ultimate priority.
Celtics focus on Tatum workload
The Boston coaching staff have adopted a gradual approach to ramping up the elite scorer’s court time.
Tatum was restricted to 27 minutes during his initial three appearances before increasing his workload to 32 minutes in subsequent matches.
The Massachusetts franchise still possess another month to build the American forward up to a grueling playoff schedule.
Pistons seek defensive revival
Elsewhere in the East, the Detroit Pistons are searching for answers following a noticeable late-season slump.
Their previously formidable defensive unit has experienced a significant dip in form since the All-Star break.
Despite boasting a superb 40-13 start to the campaign, recent losses have raised concerns about their postseason viability.
Offensive shot creation continues to be a heavy burden for point guard Cade Cunningham.
However, rediscovering their early-season defensive intensity will dictate how far the Michigan outfit can progress.
New era in New York
The New York Knicks are navigating enormous expectations under the guidance of head coach Mike Brown.
One year after dismissing Tom Thibodeau, the Madison Square Garden side boast both a top-five offense and a top-10 defense.
Brown has implemented a much deeper rotation compared to his predecessor, successfully reducing the physical toll on the starting five.
While external pressure continues to mount in Manhattan, the true measure of their progress will arrive in May.
The WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association have agreed in principle on a transformational new collective bargaining agreement just 51 days before the start of the new season.
The breakthrough arrives following a prolonged and frequently contentious 17-month labour dispute.
It concludes a marathon week of negotiations to secure terms before the competition embarks on its 30th anniversary campaign.
Revenue sharing and million-dollar salaries
For the first time in the history of the sport, the newly structured salary system will be directly tied to overall revenue growth.
This monumental shift is expected to introduce the first $1m (£790,000) player salaries to North America’s premier women’s basketball league.
The updated financial framework reflects a period of unprecedented commercial expansion, characterised by surging television viewership and record-breaking match attendance.
“We have aligned on key elements of a new collective bargaining agreement together,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement.
Improved travel and professional standards
While comprehensive details remain unpublished, the arrangement is anticipated to formally codify chartered air travel for all competing franchises.
It will also significantly enhance broader welfare benefits and establish stricter workplace guidelines across the board.
The tentative pact remains subject to official ratification by the athletes, alongside necessary approvals from the relevant boards of governors.
This development marks the sixth such labour resolution since the tournament was established, succeeding the previous terms negotiated in 2020.
Squads are now scheduled to report for training camps on 19 April, with the regular schedule commencing on 8 May.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have become the first team to secure an NBA play-off berth after a 113-108 victory over the Orlando Magic.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander orchestrated the triumph with an outstanding 40-point performance on the road.
The 27-year-old Canadian shot 14 from 27 from the field, extending his astonishing record of consecutive 20-point games to 129.
Chet Holmgren provided vital support with 20 points and 12 rebounds to help the Western Conference leaders claim their ninth consecutive victory.
Momentum swings and Western Conference dominance
The franchise now boasts a formidable 54-15 record for the season, underlining their status as genuine championship contenders.
“We got off to a good start but then the car kind of came off the road for a little bit,” said reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander.
“But that’s what great teams do – they figure out a way to get the car back on the road, they figure out a way to go into a building and win a game when the chips are stacked against you, and we did that tonight.”
Spurs stay second as Pistons maintain Eastern grip
Elsewhere in the West, the San Antonio Spurs retained second place following a comfortable 132-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
The Minnesota Timberwolves also enjoyed a successful night, dispatching the Phoenix Suns 116-104.
Over in the Eastern Conference, the table-topping Detroit Pistons handed the Washington Wizards a 13th straight defeat to strengthen their lead.
However, their 130-117 triumph was significantly marred by a back injury to star point guard Cade Cunningham, who was forced off during the first quarter.
Knicks cruise while Pacers continue to struggle
The New York Knicks solidified their grip on third place in the East by delivering a thumping 136-110 win over the Indiana Pacers.
That result inflicted a 14th consecutive loss upon last year’s NBA Finals runners-up, leaving the struggling franchise with a dismal 15-54 record this term.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards will be re-evaluated in one to two weeks after an MRI scan revealed inflammation in his right knee.
The standout player was subsequently ruled out of Tuesday night’s fixture against the Phoenix Suns due to persistent soreness.
This setback interrupts a stellar individual NBA campaign where the dynamic scorer is averaging a career-best 29.5 points.
Award eligibility at risk
Furthermore, the highly-rated guard has been shooting an impressive near-50% from the field.
He has established a reputation for supreme durability throughout his six-year professional career.
Prior to this season, the prolific shooter had missed a mere nine matches across a three-year span.
However, with only 14 regular-season games remaining, this untimely absence jeopardises his eligibility for end-of-season honours.
Crucial period for Minnesota
The injury arrives at a critical juncture for a franchise desperately trying to secure automatic playoff qualification.
Minnesota currently sit just two games behind the third seed in the tightly contested Western Conference.
Conversely, a recent slump of four defeats in five outings means they are only two games clear of the perilous play-in tournament places.
Duke forward Cameron Boozer has been named a unanimous selection to the Associated Press All-America first team, headlining a historic group of college basketball freshmen.
The highly-touted first-year player joins BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. in a prestigious line-up dominated by new arrivals to the collegiate game.
Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg and Texas Tech’s injured forward JT Toppin complete the five-member roster chosen by a 61-voter panel.
Freshmen live up to the hype
Boozer secured a first-place vote on every single ballot, replicating the achievement of former Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg last season.
The dominant 19-year-old guided his side to both the ACC regular-season and tournament titles, securing the top overall seed for the upcoming NCAA tournament.
“He’s not about numbers, he’s about winning,” said Duke head coach Jon Scheyer.
“I think when your best player’s that way, it becomes contagious, and it has a big effect on the rest of the group.”
Historic selections across the board
Dybantsa earned his spot after establishing himself as the nation’s top scorer with an impressive 25.3 points per game.
The prolific BYU guard joins former NBA players Jimmer Fredette and Danny Ainge as the only first-team selections in the history of the Cougars.
Meanwhile, Acuff ends a decades-long drought for Arkansas, becoming their first top-tier All-American since Sidney Moncrief in 1979.
Lendeborg also achieved a notable milestone, securing Michigan’s first selection since point guard Trey Burke during the 2012-13 campaign.
Toppin honoured despite season-ending injury
Toppin made Texas Tech history as the programme’s inaugural first-team pick, despite suffering a torn ACL in his right knee last month.
The resilient forward was previously a second-team selection last year after helping the Red Raiders reach the Elite Eight.
“JT Toppin is genuine, he’s an unbelievable competitor,” said Red Raiders coach Grant McCasland.
All five selected players successfully guided their respective programmes into this year’s NCAA tournament bracket.