For college basketball fans, March Madness is the most exciting time of the season.
However, for the players and programs, the time can be stressful: All the hard work they have put into the 2025-26 college basketball season could be over with just one bad game in the women's NCAA tournament. Every game requires a "win-or-go-home" mentality.
REQUIRED READING: Women's NCAA Tournament bracket: Who's in, out and on March Madness bubble
Likely No. 1 overall seed UConn enters the tournament looking to defend its national championship, while No. 2 UCLA is looking to cash in on its best opportunity to win a national title in Lauren Betts' final collegiate season.
Meanwhile, some coaches will enter the tournament seeking to win to continue to build momentum and foundation for a successful 2026-27 season.
