For the first time in three years, Villanova women’s basketball is set to return to the March Madness tournament.
The Wildcats are the No. 10 seed in the Sacramento 2 Region and are set to face No. 7 seed Texas Tech (25-7, 12-6 Big 12) on Friday, March 20. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. EDT at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, LA.
“March is different,” head coach Denise Dillon said. “This group knows that if you aren’t focused and locked in to what needs to happen, it’s short lived. You have to be ready and count on those veteran leaders who have experienced this. The young ones who have now put in the time now just need to be ready to put it out on the floor.”
The teams share identical season records. However, in comparison to Texas Tech, Villanova holds four more wins and two fewer defeats in conference play.
Half of Villanova’s losses in conference play come from battles against the undefeated No. 1 seed, the University of Connecticut (34-0, 20-0 Big East).
Villanova’s last dance in the tournament took place in 2023. During the tournament, the Wildcats advanced all the way to the sweet 16 in 2023. Led by women’s basketball legend Maddy Siegrist, it was the program’s deepest run in the tournament since 2003.
“It feels different,” Denise Dillon said about comparing this year’s Selection Sunday to years prior. “I’m fortunate to be able to have experienced it in different aspects and different timeframes, but for them this is new, and we’re ready to get on the road.”
Villanova will rely on its combination of veteran leadership and young talent as it takes on the tournament.
“Being a senior, and then with our underclassmen, I think it’s so fun that we get to do this all together,” senior forward Denae Carter said about the excitement of the NCAA tournament. “We pour into each other so much that this is as important to them as it is to me.”
The 2026 tournament marks the first time in 13 years that Texas Tech will make an appearance in the March Madness tournament.
During the Lady Raiders’ last appearance in 2013, they fell short to South Florida, 71-70, in the first round of the tournament.
The Lady Raiders are currently led by senior guard Bailey Maupin.
Maupin averages 15.1 points and 3.6 assists per game. Maupin was recently named to the All-Big 12 First Team.
Senior guard Snudda Collins follows Maupin offensively, averaging 14.8 points per game this season. She received the Big 12 Sixth Player of the Year and was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team.
Junior guard/forward Jaylnn Bristow Received an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.
Head coach Krista Cerlich received the Coach of the Year award for the conference.
“With Texas Tech in the Big 12 you know they’re coming ready to battle,” Dillon said. “They’re a really intense defensive team who’s really good at holding their opponents to a low percentage and they really shoot the ball from the perimeter. Big keys are keeping them off the glass, getting them off the three and handling that pressure to take care of the ball.”
Villanova’s bracket also includes No. 2 Louisiana State University (27-5, 12-4 SEC) and No. 15 Jacksonville University (24-8, 13-5 Atlantic Sun).
Should Villanova beat Texas Tech, it will advance to the Round of 32 and take on the winner of the LSU/Jacksonville game.
