Players to watch in the 2026 Women’s NCAA March Madness Tournament
USAT’s Sam Cardona-Norberg and Meghan Hall give a few of their favorite players they will be keeping an eye on in the women’s March Madness tournament.
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Olivia Miles and the third-seeded TCU Horned Frogs open the NCAA Tournament with a first-round game against the 14th-seeded UC San Diego Tritons on March 20. TCU finished first in the Big 12 and entered March Madness with a 29-5 record.
Miles, who is a graduate student after earning her political science degree over four seasons at Notre Dame, leads the Horned Frongs in scoring (19.6 points), minutes (35.0) and assists (6.4) per game. Here’s what to know about the guard.
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Olivia Miles stats 2025-26 season
All stats as of Selection Sunday (March 15)
- Points per game: 19.6
- Rebounds per game: 6.9
- Assist per game: 6.4
- Field Goal Percentage: 48.7%
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Olivia Miles WNBA projections
Miles was widely projected as the No. 2 overall pick for the 2025 WNBA Draft. However, she chose to use her final season of eligibility to transfer to TCU, making the Horned Frogs a national contender.
Olivia Miles college awards
She is a four-time All-American and three-time Nancy Lieberman Award finalist. Miles was first-team All-Big 12 this season and earned first-team All-ACC honors in every full season she played at Notre Dame.In the 2024-25 season, Miles became one of only three players in the last 15 years to average at least 15 points, five assists, and five rebounds while shooting 40% from deep. The other two names on that list: Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu. Miles is the only player in NCAA history – men’s or women’s – to record a 20-point triple-double in her first game back from a yearlong injury absence. She did that in November 2024 while playing for Notre Dame. This followed her debut on the national stage in 2023 and when she became the first freshman ever to record a triple-double during March Madness.
Why did Olivia Miles transfer to TCU?
After returning from a knee injury ahead of last season, Miles said she wanted to “gain more confidence in my game” and didn’t feel emotionally, mentally or physically ready to go to the WNBA.
When is the Women’s Final Four?
The 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament tips off on Friday, April 3 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix and Arizona.
2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament full schedule
- March 18-19: First Four
- March 20-21: First Round
- March 22-23: Second Round
- March 27-28: Sweet 16
- March 29-30: Elite 8
- April 3: Final Four
- April 5: National Championship
Grant Turnage contributed to this story