West Virginia to Host NCAA Tournament First and Second Rounds
March 14, 2026 03:33 PM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women's basketball team is set to host the First and Second Rounds of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, as announced by the NCAA on Saturday afternoon.
The Mountaineers now wait to learn their first-round opponent with the full bracket reveal on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN as part of the national selection show. WVU will learn its overall seed, as well as the other programs that will begin their tournament in Morgantown.
Tickets for the event will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, March 16. Game times and dates for the first and second rounds will also become available following the show on Sunday.
This historic achievement marks the first time in the modern era of the championship that the Mountaineers will host an NCAA Tournament game. The only NCAA Tournament game that has been played in West Virginia was in 1992, when the field of participants was just 48 teams. During that season, the Mountaineers were the No. 4 seed and defeated Clemson to advance to the Sweet 16 for the only time in program history.
West Virginia was also a No. 4 seed in 2021, but the tournament was moved to a "bubble" in San Antonio due to COVID-19 wiping away WVU's chance to host tournament games. Additionally, WVU was as high as a No. 2 seed in 2014 and No. 3 in 2010, but at that time, tournament games were at predetermined host sites, with the Mountaineers playing at LSU and Texas in those seasons, respectively.
WVU is fresh off capturing the program's second Big 12 Conference Tournament championship. The 62-53 win over TCU gave the Mountaineers their first tournament title since 2017 and earned the team the Big 12 Conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
The Mountaineers 27 wins this season are the third most in program history, sitting behind a 30-win season in 2014 and a 29-win season in 2014. During the Mark Kellogg era, the Mountaineers have won 77 contests, tied for the second most over a three-season span. WVU also won 77 games from 2010-12 and won a program-best 78 games from 2014-16.
Additionally, at home over the last three seasons the Mountaineers are 44-5.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWBB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
The Mountaineers now wait to learn their first-round opponent with the full bracket reveal on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN as part of the national selection show. WVU will learn its overall seed, as well as the other programs that will begin their tournament in Morgantown.
Tickets for the event will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, March 16. Game times and dates for the first and second rounds will also become available following the show on Sunday.
This historic achievement marks the first time in the modern era of the championship that the Mountaineers will host an NCAA Tournament game. The only NCAA Tournament game that has been played in West Virginia was in 1992, when the field of participants was just 48 teams. During that season, the Mountaineers were the No. 4 seed and defeated Clemson to advance to the Sweet 16 for the only time in program history.
West Virginia was also a No. 4 seed in 2021, but the tournament was moved to a "bubble" in San Antonio due to COVID-19 wiping away WVU's chance to host tournament games. Additionally, WVU was as high as a No. 2 seed in 2014 and No. 3 in 2010, but at that time, tournament games were at predetermined host sites, with the Mountaineers playing at LSU and Texas in those seasons, respectively.
WVU is fresh off capturing the program's second Big 12 Conference Tournament championship. The 62-53 win over TCU gave the Mountaineers their first tournament title since 2017 and earned the team the Big 12 Conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
The Mountaineers 27 wins this season are the third most in program history, sitting behind a 30-win season in 2014 and a 29-win season in 2014. During the Mark Kellogg era, the Mountaineers have won 77 contests, tied for the second most over a three-season span. WVU also won 77 games from 2010-12 and won a program-best 78 games from 2014-16.
Additionally, at home over the last three seasons the Mountaineers are 44-5.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWBB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
2026 Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament Champions Recap
Wednesday, March 11
Big 12 WBB Tournament Champions | Mark Kellogg, Jordan Harrison and Sydney Shaw
Tuesday, March 10
Mark Kellogg, Sydney Shaw & Jordan Harrison | Big 12 Tournament vs. TCU
Sunday, March 08
Mark Kellogg, Meme Wheeler & Jordan Harrison | Big 12 Tournament vs Colorado
Saturday, March 07
