March Madness top seeds dominate: Each No. 1 team's path to Sweet 16

There is only one perfect2026 Women's NCAA Tournamentbracket remainingon ESPNfollowing several upsets during the first two rounds and a Cinderella run, but the top-seeded teams have been all chalk thus far.

All four No. 1 seeds advanced to the Sweet 16 after a perfect 8-0 start to March Madness and they've done so in dominant fashion. Ten games have been decided by 40 or more points, marking the most in a single tournament, and six of those victories came from No. 1 seeds.

Not every high seed has been so lucky. The No. 2 seeds and No. 3 seeds went a combined 14-2 after No. 2 Iowa and No. 3 Ohio State were upset in the second round by No. 10 Virginia and No. 6 Notre Dame, respectively. Virginia is the first First Four team to advance to the Sweet 16 and the only double-digit seed remaining.

USA TODAY Sportshas followed along with every upset, buzzer-beater and matchup from the 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament. Here's the path each No. 1 seed has taken to the Sweet 16:

The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Laura Ziegler of the Louisville Cardinals kisses the court after her team's 69-68 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.

Laura Ziegler of the Louisville Cardinals kisses the court after her team's 69-68 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.

Ohio State mascot Brutus Buckeye and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish leprechaun mascot cheer prior to the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.

Louisville fans cheer during a first-round game between the Louisville Cardinals and Vermont Catamounts in the 2026 NCAA WomenâÕs Basketball Tournament at the KFC Yum Center, March 21, 2026, in Louisville, Ky.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish huddle up prior to the start of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Second Round game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Jerome Schottenstein Center on March 23, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. Notre Dame defeated Ohio Sate 83-73.

A Louisville fan held a sign in the final seconds as the Cards defeated Alabama 69-68 to move on to the Sweet 16 during the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. March 23, 2026.

Alabama mascot Big Al works the crowd during a first-round game between the Rhode Island Rams and Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2026 NCAA WomenÕs Basketball Tournament at the KFC Yum Center, March 21, 2026, in Louisville, Ky.

The Ohio State Buckeyes sit for the starting lineup prior to the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.

Ohio State Buckeyes fans react to a foul call during the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.

A member of the Louisville Cardinals band performs during the third quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.

The Iowa State Cyclones mascot on the court during a break against the Syracuse Orange in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Ct. on Mar 21, 2026.

Guard Kylie Feuerbach #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes interacts with fans after a match-up against the FDU Knights on March 21, 2026 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena during the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in Iowa City, Iowa.

See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the2026 NCAA Women's March MadnessSecond Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.

No. 1 seed UConn

Fort Worth 1 bracket:

No. 1 UConn 90, No. 16 UTSA 52 (Storrs, Conn.)
No. 1 UConn 98, No. 9 Syracuse 45 (Storrs, Conn.)
Friday, March 27: No. 1 UConn vs. No. 4 North Carolina | 5p.m. ET (ESPN)

There were questions whether UConn was deserving of the No. 1 overall seed over UCLA after the Huskies cruised through Big East conference play. The Selection Committee ultimately gave UConn the edge because of the "observable component," the way they won throughout the season. The Huskies have carried that dominance into March Madness and defeated their opponents by an average margin of 36 points as they extended their win streak to 52 games.

Any star can go off any given night. Senior guard Azzi Fudd was limited to nine points in UConn's first-round win over No. 16 UTSA, but she tied her career-high in points (34) and 3-pointers (8) in a rout of Syracuse in the second-round. I haven't even mentioned national player of the year candidate Sarah Strong, who is averaging 18 points and seven rebounds in the tournament. UConn has been No. 1 on the2025-26 USA TODAY Sports Coaches Pollall season long and shows no signs of slowing down. They punched their ticket to the Sweet 16 for the 32 consecutive time.

Azzi Fudd scored a career-high 34 points against Syracuse.

No. 1 seed UCLA

Sacramento 2 bracket:

No. 1 UCLA 96, No. 16 Cal Baptist 43 (Los Angeles)
No. 1 UCLA 87, No. 8 Oklahoma State 68 (Los Angeles)
Friday, March 27: No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 4 Minnesota | 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Lauren Betts recorded a career-high 35 points in UCLA's second-round win over No. 8 Oklahoma State to punch the Bruins' ticket to the Sweet 16 for the fourth season in a row. Betts added nine rebounds and five assists in the win. It was a team effort and a total of four UCLA players reached double-digits, including 15 points from Gianna Kneepkens, who remains hot from beyond the 3-point line (3-of-6 3PT). UCLA opened the tournament with its largest postseason win in program history with the 53-point victory over No. 16 CBU. The Bruins are one win away from returning to the Elite Eight in back-to-back seasons.

No. 1 seed Texas

Fort Worth 3 bracket:

No. 1 Texas 97, No. 16 Missouri State 45 (Austin, Texas)
No. 1 Texas 100, No. 8 Oregon 58 (Austin, Texas)
Saturday, March 28: No. 1 Texas vs. No. 5 Kentucky | 3 p.m. ET (ABC)

Madison Booker came into the 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament with extra motivation after making it to the Elite Eight and Final Four in the first two seasons of her career.

"I feel like we can get farther. I feel like we can win a championship. That's how the mentality is on this team," Booker told USA TODAY Sports.

She's been aggressive in hunting her shot. Booker scored a career-high 40 points in Texas' 100-58 win over No. 8 Oregon in the second round, rounding out her stat line with eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and no turnovers. Rori Harmon did a little bit of everything in the win with nine points, five steals and six rebounds. Texas is 79-7 all-time in games in which both Booker and Harmon play. The dynamic duo looks to improve that record to 80 wins against SEC foe Kentucky.

"We're sisters. I have her back. She has my back, for sure. I'm going to miss playing with her. It's going to feel so weird. I don't know. I really want her to stay another year," Booker joked.

No. 1 seed South Carolina

Sacramento 4 bracket:

No. 1 South Carolina 103, No. 16 Southern 34 (Columbia, SC)
No. 1 South Carolina 101, No. 9 USC 61 (Columbia, SC)
Saturday, March 28: No. 1 South Carolina vs. No 4 Oklahoma | 5:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)

South Carolina has surpassed the century mark in the first two games of the tournament. Joyce Edwards has been all the difference. The sophomore seamlessly slid into the starting lineup this season and has led the team in scoring, a trend she's continued into March Madness. Edwards is averaging a near double-double in the tournament, averaging 25 points and nine rebounds through two games. A total of six players reached double-digits in South Carolina's rout of USC, including a 15-point, 15-point double-double from Madina Okot. The Gamecocks will have their biggest test yet with a Sweet 16 matchup against No. 4 Oklahoma. The Sooners handed South Carolina its second loss of the regular season. Oklahoma freshman Aaliyah Chavez scored 15 of her 26 points in overtime in January, marking theSooners' third-ever win against an AP top 2 opponent. Slowing down Chavez will be top of mind for South Carolina.

Reach USA TODAY National Women's Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at@CydHenderson.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:March Madness top seeds dominate: Path to Sweet 16 for each No. 1 seed