UConn Heavy Favorite to Win 2026 Women’s NCAA Basketball Championship | Odds & Contenders

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut Huskies women’s basketball team enters the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the clear favorite to win their 13th national championship, carrying -270 odds, according to DraftKings Sportsbook as of Friday. The bracket reveal established UConn with the shortest odds for a pre-tournament favorite since 2018, the last time the Huskies held that position.

A significant gap separates UConn from its closest competitor, the UCLA Bruins, who are listed at +550. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) dominates the next tier of contenders, with Texas (+700), South Carolina (+800), LSU (+1600), and Vanderbilt (+5000) all featuring prominently. Michigan rounds out the teams with odds shorter than 100-1, at +8000.

Throughout the season, UConn, UCLA, and South Carolina have consistently been favored by the public, collectively accounting for 57.4% of the futures handle at BetMGM. Even as these teams’ established odds are unlikely to cause substantial liabilities for sportsbooks, BetMGM has reported increased exposure on Michigan and Vanderbilt, suggesting a potential for unexpected payouts.

Head coach Geno Auriemma’s team is undefeated entering the tournament. Auriemma, who began his coaching career as an assistant at Bishop McDevitt High School in 1977, currently holds the NCAA basketball records for both wins (1,284 as of March 20, 2026) and winning percentage (.886 with a minimum of 10 seasons). He also boasts the most NCAA Division I basketball championships at 12.

Despite UConn’s dominant record and favorable odds, concerns remain regarding the team’s rebounding performance. Auriemma has repeatedly emphasized the necessitate for improvement in this area, noting the Huskies rank 139th nationally in total rebounds per game (37.4) and 204th in offensive rebounds per game (11.3). He stated after a February win over Creighton, “You don’t need any talent to be an offensive rebounder. All you need is when the ball leaves somebody’s hand, you automatically are putting yourself in a position to chase it.”

UConn’s path through the tournament begins with games at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, where they recently completed second-round play in the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, as reported by CT Insider. The Huskies have a history of success in the Big East Conference, with 24 tournament championships and 25 regular season titles. They also secured seven AAC tournament and seven AAC regular season championships during their time in that conference.

Auriemma recently addressed skepticism surrounding his team’s No. 1 seed, offering a blunt response to those who question their deservingness, according to MSN. The Huskies’ pursuit of a 13th national championship continues, with the tournament unfolding amidst scrutiny and high expectations.