Big Ten women’s basketball tournament 2026: Schedule, streaming info, scores

The juggernaut goes for a complete season sweep, from the golden tint of west L.A. to the glassy palace in downtown Indy. UCLA has been a full-fledged force this season, romping through the Big Ten without a single loss. Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice and the Bruins now risk their unbeaten record at the annual conference tournament, which tips off Wednesday and runs through Sunday.

There might be a universal favorite in this tourney, but the field is deep overall. Six other Big Ten programs are ranked in the AP poll, including No. 8 Michigan, No. 9 Iowa and No. 11 Ohio State. This year’s bracket is spread across four broadcasters, from the traditional CBS to subscription streamer Peacock. Here’s how to watch and when to tune in.

How to watch the Big Ten women’s basketball tournament

Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse — Indianapolis

Dates: March 4-8

TV: Big Ten Network, CBS, NBC Sports Network, Peacock

Streaming: Fubo (Stream Free Now!)

Watching in person? Get tickets on StubHub.

BTN also streams on Fox One. CBS is free over the air, and it also streams on Paramount+.

Second-ranked UCLA has powered its way to a regular-season championship through its stacked, versatile lineup. The team shoots a collective 37.6 percent from beyond the arc, an impressive mark that’s buoyed by Rice and Gabriela Jaquez, plus fifth-year transfer Gianna Kneepkens. Perimeter action orbits around Betts, the game-breaking senior center who dominates inside but can also dime from the block.

UCLA has all the bearings of a national champion, and its postseason journey begins with its Big Ten proving ground.

The Bruins won last year’s tournament, outlasting crosstown rival USC in the finale. The Trojans are waiting for all-conference superstar JuJu Watkins to return from her torn ACL.

Only two conference opponents came close to toppling UCLA this season. Ohio State pushed the Bruins to a seven-point finish back in December. The Buckeyes come into the tournament averaging a robust 83 points per game, fueled by electric guard Jaloni Cambridge. The sophomore has put up efficient shooting numbers on high volume, with a conference-best 23.4 points per game. Her sister, junior Kennedy Cambridge, leads the Big Ten at four steals per game.

Meanwhile, Michigan took UCLA to the brink on Feb. 8 with a 69-66 heart-racer in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines enter tournament week ranked 11th nationally in offensive rating; their sophomore trio of Olivia Olson, Syla Swords and Mila Holloway can control tempo from the outside. Olson came on especially strong down the stretch, with February shooting splits of 49.6/45.2/84.8 percent.

Iowa was a perennial winner during the Caitlin Clark era, and the Hawkeyes are trending up again with sophomores Ava Heiden and Chazadi Wright. Heiden, a 6-foot-4 center, paces her team with 17.6 points per game. Wright, a 5-foot-4 point guard, has made a conference-high 46.2 percent of her 3-point attempts on more than five tries per contest.

Only 15 of the conference’s 18 teams qualified for the Big Ten tournament. Penn State, Northwestern and Rutgers will not participate.

Tournament schedule

All times ET. Conference tournament seedings are also listed.

Wednesday, March 4 – First round

Broadcasters: NBCSN and Peacock

Game 1: No. 12 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Indiana, 3:30 p.m.

Game 2: No. 10 Illinois vs. No. 15 Wisconsin, 25 minutes after Game 1 ends

Game 3: No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 14 Purdue, 25 minutes after Game 2 ends

Thursday, March 5 – Second round

Broadcaster: BTN

Game 4: No. 8 Washington vs. No. 9 USC, noon

Game 5: No. 5 Ohio State vs. Game 1 winner, 25 minutes after Game 4 ends

Game 6: No. 7 Michigan State vs. Game 2 winner, 6:30 p.m.

Game 7: No. 6 Maryland vs. Game 3 winner, 25 minutes after Game 6 ends

Friday, March 6 – Quarterfinals

Broadcaster: BTN

Game 8: No. 1 UCLA vs. Game 4 winner, noon

Game 9: No. 4 Minnesota vs. Game 5 winner, 25 minutes after Game 8 ends

Game 10: No. 2 Iowa vs. Game 6 winner, 6:30 p.m.

Game 11: No. 3 Michigan vs. Game 7 winner, 25 minutes after Game 10 ends

Saturday, March 7 – Semifinals

Broadcaster: BTN

Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 2 p.m.

Game 13: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 8 – Championship

Broadcaster: CBS

Game 14: Game 12 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 2:15 p.m.

Last 10 Big Ten tournament champs

2025: UCLA

2024: Iowa

2023: Iowa

2022: Iowa

2021: Maryland

2020: Maryland

2019: Iowa

2018: Ohio State

2017: Maryland

2016: Maryland

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This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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