University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Brady Paitrick
Minnesota Selected Host Site for NCAA First and Second Rounds
3/14/2026 2:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS - The Division I Women's Basketball Committee announced today that the University of Minnesota will host the NCAA First and Second Rounds at Williams Arena. The committee announced the 16 schools that will host the opening two rounds in alphabetical order earlier today on ESPN.
Minnesota finished the season with a 22-8 record and was 13-3 at Williams Arena.
The full NCAA Tournament bracket, matchups, dates and times will be announced on Sunday, March 15 at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN. At this time, Minnesota will find out its First Round opponent and what other schools will be competing in Minneapolis.
The Golden Gophers are headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. In addition, it marks the first time Minnesota will host an NCAA Tournament game since 2005, when the Gophers hosted the First and Second rounds before advancing to the Sweet 16.
NCAA Regionals will be played in Fort Worth, Texas and Sacramento, Calif. March 27-30. The Final Four is April 3-5 in Phoenix, Ariz.
Top 16 List (alphabetical order)
Duke
Iowa
Louisville
LSU
Michigan
Minnesota
North Carolina
Ohio State
Oklahoma
South Carolina
TCU
Texas
UCLA
UConn
Vanderbilt
West Virginia
Minnesota finished the season with a 22-8 record and was 13-3 at Williams Arena.
The full NCAA Tournament bracket, matchups, dates and times will be announced on Sunday, March 15 at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN. At this time, Minnesota will find out its First Round opponent and what other schools will be competing in Minneapolis.
The Golden Gophers are headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. In addition, it marks the first time Minnesota will host an NCAA Tournament game since 2005, when the Gophers hosted the First and Second rounds before advancing to the Sweet 16.
NCAA Regionals will be played in Fort Worth, Texas and Sacramento, Calif. March 27-30. The Final Four is April 3-5 in Phoenix, Ariz.
Top 16 List (alphabetical order)
Duke
Iowa
Louisville
LSU
Michigan
Minnesota
North Carolina
Ohio State
Oklahoma
South Carolina
TCU
Texas
UCLA
UConn
Vanderbilt
West Virginia
Highlights: Gophers 55, Ohio State 60
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