5 Teams to Watch Heading into Woman's Sweet 16

With the first two rounds of the 2026 NCAAWB Tournament in the books, we have had our fair share of dominance as well as upsets. Intriguing matchups fill the brackets, with the unpredictability of each game shining through in its own unique way. Yet, who are the biggest teams to watch? Who is on upset alert? Here are the five teams I will be watching closely with a trip to the Elite 8 on the line.

Virginia Cavaliers

Virginia is the clear Cinderella story of the tournament this season. As a 10-seed, they have surprised just about everyone on their road to the Sweet 16. They had an incredible showing in the Round of 32 against 2-seed Iowa, showcasing their elite defense and efficient offense. With this win against Iowa, they become the first First-Four team to ever reach the Sweet 16 in women's college basketball history.

I really like the Cavaliers' chances in this game. Of course, they are the severe underdog against TCU, but TCU has been prone to inconsistency. I would not be shocked if this game is close the entire way through and comes down to the final possessions.

LSU Tigers

2-seeded LSU has looked absolutely dominant so far this tournament. Their offense has been on a roll, with both games ending in the team scoring over 100 points. Granted, it was against teams that they should be beating, but even UConn did not accomplish this sort of offensive success.

What really stood out to me was their win against 7-seed Texas Tech. That Texas Tech team is very good, and the Tigers made it look like they were playing in a different league. LSU is well-coached, has valuable experience, and should absolutely be a team to watch as a serious threat to the top teams.

Kentucky Wildcats

The 5-seeded Kentucky Wildcats are another team that I think has turned a lot of heads during the tournament. They did barely hold on against West Virginia in what was a one-point thriller, but Kentucky has shown more than enough to justify their place in the Sweet 16.

Their next matchup against 1-seeded Texas will absolutely be their biggest test. However, if there is a team on upset watch this tournament, in my opinion, it is Texas. I just do not trust Texas this year, so combine that with how Kentucky is playing and we have a very interesting matchup on our hands. Am I predicting Kentucky to win? Probably not, but it is absolutely a team to watch considering how close I think this game is going to be.

Vanderbilt Commodores

This 2-seeded Vanderbilt team is so much fun to watch. They absolutely fly across the court both offensively and defensively, creating a nightmare for any opponent they face. Their ball movement is among the best in the country, which has been on full display in their two dominant wins in the tournament thus far.

With 6-seeded Notre Dame up next, the reason I have Vanderbilt as a team to watch is because I think they are going to show the world that they can pose a serious threat to UConn. Granted, both teams have to win first, but if all goes well these two teams should be matching up in the Elite 8. If this happens, I think Vanderbilt poses one of the biggest threats to how UConn plays, making them a team to watch for however much longer they are in the tournament.

UCLA Bruins

I said this in my pre-tournament article and I will say it again: the 1-seeded UCLA Bruins should be the biggest favorite to win this tournament after UConn. They are arguably the most balanced team in the country, with their unselfish style of play reigning supreme against any opponent they face.

It is honestly hard to picture UCLA losing at any point before the Final Four. They crushed CA Baptist and also dominated Oklahoma State, doing exactly what they needed to do and were expected to do. Now, with a dance against 4-seeded Minnesota next, this should be the first game we see against a formidable foe. With that said, look for UCLA to dominate again with their beautiful style of play and cement themselves as one of the biggest favorites over teams like South Carolina and Texas.

Check out fansonlysportz.com/news for more sports media content posted daily.

Also, make sure to stay tuned and follow me on social media @matthylen_ as I continue coverage of the 2026 Women's March Madness Tournament!