IRVING, Texas – The field is set for the 2026 American Conference Women’s Basketball Championship, with the Rice Owls earning the No. 1 seed. The championship will take place March 10–14 at Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
Rice secured the top seed after finishing the regular season with a 27-4 overall record and a 17-1 mark in conference play. It is the Owls’ first regular-season American title since joining the league. Under the new tournament format, Rice receives a double bye and advances directly to the semifinals on Friday, March 13, at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
 
East Carolina (22-9, 14-4 American) earned the No. 2 seed and will also advance to the semifinals, playing Friday, March 13, at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
 
Defending champion South Florida (20-11, 13-5) is the No. 3 seed and receives a bye to the quarterfinals. The Bulls will play on Thursday, March 12, at 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT on ESPN+. Joining them in the quarterfinals is No. 4 Tulsa, which will play the first game of the day at 1 p.m. ET / noon CT on ESPN+.
 
North Texas (17-13, 11-7) claimed the No. 5 seed and will compete in the second round on Wednesday, March 11, at 1 p.m. ET / noon CT on ESPN+. The Mean Green will face the winner of the tournament’s opening game between No. 8 Charlotte (14-17, 8-10) and No. 9 Florida Atlantic (13-17, 7-11).
 
UTSA (14-15, 9-9), the No. 6 seed, will play Wednesday, March 11, at 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT on ESPN+, facing the winner of Tuesday’s first-round matchup between No. 7 Temple (14-16, 8-10) and No. 10 Tulane (11-19, 6-12).
 
The championship final is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, and will air on ESPNU. All other games of the 2026 American Championship will be available on ESPN+.
 
The winner of the 2026 American Women’s Basketball Championship will receive the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship.
 
2026 American Women's Basketball Championship Schedule
Legacy Arena At The BJCC | Birmingham, Alabama

First Round | Tuesday, March 10
Game 1: No. 8 Charlotte vs No. 9 Florida Atlantic - 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT | ESPN+

Game 2: No. 7 Temple vs No. 10 Tulane - 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT | ESPN+

Second Round | Wednesday, March 11
Game 3: Game 1 Winner vs No. 5 North Texas - 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT | ESPN+

Game 4: Game 2 Winner vs No. 6 UTSA - 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT | ESPN+

Quarterfinals | Thursday, March 12
Game 5: Game 3 Winner vs No. 4 Tulsa - 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT | ESPN+

Game 6: Game 4 Winner vs No. 3 South Florida - 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT | ESPN+
 
Semifinals | Friday, March 13
Game 7: Game 5 Winner vs No. 1 Rice - 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPN+

Game 8: Game 6 Winner vs No. 2 East Carolina – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT | ESPN+
 
Final | Saturday, March 14
Game 9: Game 7 Winner vs Game 8 Winner - 9:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. CT | ESPNU