March Madness 2026: How to watch the First Four games at the women's NCAA basketball tournament

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Catch the Arizona State Sun Devils when they compete in the First Four at the women's NCAA March Madness tournament. Here's how to watch every game. (Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The women's 2026 March Madness kicks off this week with the First Four games that will determine which teams will advance to the First Round. You can catch Nebraska vs. Richmond and Stephen F. Austin vs. Missouri State on March 18, and, and on March 19, Samford plays Southern and Virginia faces Arizona State. This year, you can catch all four of the women's First Four games on ESPN2. The rest of the tournament will be broadcast across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews and ABC.

For a complete breakdown of key dates and how to watch every game, we've got you covered. Here's a look at how to watch the entire tournament from the First Four to the Championship Final.

How to watch the First Four at the women's March Madness tournament:​

Dates: March 18-19, 2026

TV channel: ESPN2

Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, Fubo, DirecTV and more

When does March Madness start? ​

The 2026 women's NCAA basketball tournament begins with the First Four on Wednesday, March 18 and March 19.

March Madness women's First Four schedule:​

All times Eastern

Wednesday, March 18

• 
  7 p.m.: No. 11 Nebraska vs. No. 11 Richmond (ESPN2)
  
  
• 
  9 p.m.: No. 16 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 16 Missouri State (ESPN2)
  

Thursday, March 19

• 
  7 p.m.: No. 16 Samford vs. No. 16 Southern (ESPN2)
  
  
• 
  9 p.m.: No. 10 Virginia vs. No. 10 Arizona State (ESPN2)
  

Where to watch women's March Madness First Four games:​

All women's tournament First Four games will be available on ESPN2.

Where to stream March Madness games without cable: ​

Every game of the 2026 women's March Madness Tournament will stream on ESPN Unlimited. You'll also be able to access every game on live TV services like Sling, Fubo, and DirecTV.

2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament game schedule​

The following is the First Four and First Round schedule for all teams participating in this year's March Madness tournament.

All times Eastern.

First Four:

Wednesday, March 18

• 
  7 p.m.: No. 11 Nebraska vs. No. 11 Richmond (ESPN2)
  
  
• 
  9 p.m.: No. 16 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 16 Missouri State (ESPN2)
  

Thursday, March 19

• 
  7 p.m.: No. 16 Samford vs. No. 16 Southern (ESPN2)
  
  
• 
  9 p.m.: No. 10 Virginia vs. No. 10 Arizona State (ESPN2)
  

First Round:

Friday, March 20

• 
  11:30 a.m.: No. 3 Duke vs. No. 14 Charleston (ESPN2)
  
  
• 
  12 p.m.: No. 3 TCU vs. No. 14 UC San Diego (ESPN)
  
  
• 
  1:30 p.m. ET: No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 9 Virginia Tech (ESPN2)
  
  
• 
  2 p.m.: No. 6 Baylor vs. No. 11 Nebraska/Richmond (ESPN)
  
  
• 
  2:30 p.m.: No. 6 Washington vs. No. 11 South Dakota State (ESPN News)
  
  
• 
  3 p.m.: No. 5 Maryland vs. No. 12 Murray State (ESPNU)
  
  
• 
  3:30 p.m.: No. 5 Ole Miss vs. No. 12 Gonzaga (ESPN2)
  
  
• 
  4 p.m.: No. 1 Texas vs. No. 16 Stephen F. Austin/Missouri State (ESPN)
  
  
• 
  5:30 p.m.: No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 15 Holy Cross (ESPN2)
  
  
• 
  5:30 p.m.: No. 4 North Carolina vs. No. 13 Western Illinois (ESPN News)
  
  
• 
  6 p.m.: No. 2 LSU vs. No. 15 Jacksonville (ESPN)
  
  
• 
  6 p.m.: No. 4 Minnesota vs. No. 13 Green Bay (ESPNU)
  
  
• 
  7:30 p.m.: No. 5 Michigan State vs. No. 12 Colorado State (ESPN News)
  
  
• 
  8 p.m.: No. 7 NC State vs. No. 10 Tennessee (ESPN)
  
  
• 
  8:30 p.m.: No. 7 Texas Tech vs. No. 10 Villanova (ESPNU)
  
  
• 
  10 p.m.: No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Idaho (ESPN)
  

Saturday, March 21

• 
  11:30 p.m.: No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 14 Howard (ESPN2)
  
  
• 
  12 p.m.: No. 3 Louisville vs. No. 14 Vermont (ESPN)
  
  
• 
  1 p.m.: No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 16 Samford/Southern (ABC)
  
  
• 
  1:30 p.m.: No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 10 Virginia/Arizona State (ESPN2)
  
  
• 
  2 p.m.: No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 11 Fairfield (ESPN)
  
  
• 
  2:30 p.m.: No. 5 Kentucky vs. No. 12 James Madison (ESPNU)
  
  
• 
  2:30 p.m.: No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 11 Rhode Island (ESPN News)
  
  
• 
  3 p.m.: No. 1 UConn vs. No. 16 UTSA (ABC)
  
  
• 
  3:30 p.m.: No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 USC (ESPN2)
  
  
• 
  4 p.m.: No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 15 Fairleigh Dickinson (ESPN)
  
  
• 
  5 p.m.: No. 4 West Virginia vs. No. 13 Miami (Ohio) (ESPNU)
  
  
• 
  5:30 p.m.: No. 8 Iowa State vs. No. 9 Syracuse (ESPN2)
  
  
• 
  7 p.m.: No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 15 High Point (ESPN News)
  
  
• 
  7:30 p.m.: No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 9 Princeton (ESPN2)
  
  
• 
  9:30 p.m.: No. 7 Illinois vs. No. 10 Colorado (ESPN2)
  
  
• 
  10 p.m.: No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 16 California Baptist (ESPN)
  

2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament schedule:​

The schedule and locations for the women's tournament:

• 
  Selection Sunday: 8 p.m. ET Sunday, March 15 on ESPN
  
  
• 
  First Four: March 18-19
  
  
• 
  First round: March 20-21
  
  
• 
  Second round: March 22-23
  
  
• 
  Sweet 16: March 27-28 in Fort Worth, TX and Sacramento, CA
  
  
• 
  Elite Eight: March 29-30 in Fort Worth, TX and Sacramento, CA
  
  
• 
  Final Four: Friday, April 3, Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, AZ
  
  
• 
  NCAA championship game: Sunday, April 5, Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, AZ
  

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