The 2026 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament will be held from March 4–8, 2026, at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. For the first time, all 16 member teams will compete in a single-elimination bracket. The top four seeds earn a double-bye into the quarterfinals, while seeds 5–8 receive a single-bye. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, March 8, at 4:00 PM CT on ESPN, unless BYU advances to the final, in which case the game moves to Monday, March 9.
2026 Big 12 Women’s Tournament Daily Schedule & TV Channels
The road to the Big 12 title in Kansas City features 15 total games. Most early-round matchups will stream exclusively on ESPN+, with the quarterfinals and semifinals moving to ESPNU and ESPN+, and the final airing on ESPN.
Tournament Session Schedule (All Times Central):
- Wednesday, March 4 (First Round):
- Game 1: No. 12 Seed vs. No. 13 Seed – 11:00 AM (ESPN+)
- Game 2: No. 9 Seed vs. No. 16 Seed – 1:30 PM (ESPN+)
- Game 3: No. 10 Seed vs. No. 15 Seed – 5:30 PM (ESPN+)
- Game 4: No. 11 Seed vs. No. 14 Seed – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
- Thursday, March 5 (Second Round):
- Game 5: No. 5 Seed vs. Winner Game 1 – 11:00 AM (ESPN+)
- Game 6: No. 8 Seed vs. Winner Game 2 – 1:30 PM (ESPN+)
- Game 7: No. 7 Seed vs. Winner Game 3 – 5:30 PM (ESPN+)
- Game 8: No. 6 Seed vs. Winner Game 4 – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
- Friday, March 6 (Quarterfinals):
- Game 9: No. 4 Seed vs. Winner Game 5 – 11:00 AM (ESPNU)
- Game 10: No. 1 Seed vs. Winner Game 6 – 1:30 PM (ESPNU)
- Game 11: No. 2 Seed vs. Winner Game 7 – 5:30 PM (ESPN+)
- Game 12: No. 3 Seed vs. Winner Game 8 – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
- Saturday, March 7 (Semifinals):
- Game 13: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 – 3:00 PM (ESPN+)
- Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12 – 5:30 PM (ESPN+)
- Sunday, March 8 (Championship):
- Game 15: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14 – 4:00 PM (ESPN)*
- Note: If BYU is in the final, the game moves to Monday, March 9 at 3:00 PM CT.
Tournament Watch: Will the Big 12 get 6 or 7 teams into the Big Dance? Track the latest bracketology and field projections in our 2026 Women’s Selection Sunday Guide.
Expert Note from the Sports Brackets Analyst: The move to a 16-team format makes the Big 12 one of the deepest gauntlets in the country. Kansas City is basketball country, and the T-Mobile Center provides a true neutral-site feel that tests a team’s depth. Watch the ‘Four Corners’ newcomers—Utah and Colorado specifically—who bring a different physical style to the league. The ‘BYU Rule’ is also a unique factor; if the Cougars make a run, the entire championship Monday window opens up, which can actually help a team’s recovery time but disrupts the rhythm of a traditional tournament week.
How many teams are in the 2026 Big 12 Women’s Tournament?
All 16 Big 12 member teams participate in the 2026 tournament. The top four seeds receive a double-bye into the quarterfinals, and seeds 5–8 receive a single-bye into the second round.
Where is the 2026 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament?
The tournament is held at the T-Mobile Center in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
What happens if BYU makes the Big 12 Women’s Championship?
Due to BYU’s policy of not competing on Sundays, if they reach the final, the championship game will be moved from Sunday, March 8 to Monday, March 9.
2026 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament Schedule & TV Broadcasts
Here’s the 2026 Big 12 Women’s basketball tournament schedule & TV broadcasts for you. You can also get the 20026 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament Bracket from the league here.
| Date | Round | Session / Key Details | Game Times (CT) | Matchups (by Seed) | TV / Broadcast |
| Wednesday, March 4 | First Round | Session 1 (Morning) – Reading & Fitness Challenge Day 1 Session 2 (Evening) – First Responders Appreciation Night | 11:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. | Game 1: No. 12 vs. No. 13 Game 2: No. 9 vs. No. 16 Game 3: No. 10 vs. No. 15 Game 4: No. 11 vs. No. 14 | ESPN+ (all games) |
| Thursday, March 5 | Second Round | Four games | 11:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. | Game 5: No. 5 vs. Winner of Game 1 Game 6: No. 8 vs. Winner of Game 2 Game 7: No. 7 vs. Winner of Game 3 Game 8: No. 6 vs. Winner of Game 4 | ESPN+ (all games) |
| Friday, March 6 | Quarterfinals | Four games | 11:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. | Game 9: No. 4 vs. Winner of Game 5 Game 10: No. 1 vs. Winner of Game 6 Game 11: No. 2 vs. Winner of Game 7 Game 12: No. 3 vs. Winner of Game 8 | ESPNU (Games 9 & 10) ESPN+ (Games 11 & 12) |
| Saturday, March 7 | Semifinals | Evening session | 3:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. | Game 13: Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10 Game 14: Winner of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 12 | ESPN+ (both games) |
| Sunday, March 8* | Championship | Final | 4:00 p.m. | Game 15: Winner of Game 13 vs. Winner of Game 14 | ESPN |
2026 NCAA Women’s Tournament Schedule and Bracket
The winner of the 2026 Big Ten Women’s basketball tournament earns the conference’s automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. If you are looking for a printable bracket to complete your bracketology (or follow the action after Selection Sunday), we’ve got you covered.
