The Wild Week Ahead

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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today

The bracket is out. All 68 teams now know their path in the 2026 women’s NCAA tournament, with UConn, UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina grabbing the No. 1 seeds. The First Four tips off Wednesday and Thursday, and the first round gets going Friday morning on ESPN networks. (ESPN)

👉 See the full bracket

WHY IT MATTERS: This is what the entire season was building toward. Selection Sunday showed us who’s in, who got left out, and which heavyweight matchups could be waiting on the road to Phoenix. And for women’s basketball fans, this is the week our daily schedule suddenly starts revolving around tip-off times.

The WNBA and players’ union have now spent five straight days in person trying to hammer out a new CBA, with at least 15 proposals exchanged so far. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league needs a deal by Monday to avoid disruptions to the preseason schedule, though she also acknowledged there could be a little flexibility. (Front Office Sports)

WHY IT MATTERS: The biggest issue still sounds like the salary system, which is the centerpiece of the talks. And the clock is serious this time. An expansion draft for Portland and Toronto, free agency involving more than 100 players, and the college draft all need to happen before training camp is scheduled to open on April 19. There’s real momentum right now, but there’s still plenty to work through.

The U.S. women’s 3x3 team finished third at the FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup, falling to Azerbaijan 22-20 in a tight semifinal before bouncing back to beat Canada 20-10 in the bronze medal game. Allisha Gray, Veronica Burton, Naz Hillmon, and Shakira Austin battled through a physical weekend and left Bangkok with a well-deserved medal. (USA Basketball)

🎥 Watch USA’s best highlights from the tournament

WHY IT MATTERS: USA Basketball has long been dominant in 5-on-5, but building a consistent 3x3 powerhouse has taken time. This bronze is another reminder that the program is still finding its footing. But with Sue Bird now serving as managing director for USA Women’s Basketball and Elena Delle Donne recently named the first managing director for the USA 3x3 women’s national team, it’s clear the federation is investing in this format.