The University of Tennessee women's basketball team has extended its historic streak, earning a bid to the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament. This marks the 44th consecutive appearance for the Lady Volunteers, the only program to be selected for every NCAA Tournament since the event's inception in 1982.
Seeded in the tournament field, Tennessee learned its first-round opponent during the selection show on March 16, 2026. The Lady Vols are set for a rematch against North Carolina State, a team they faced earlier in the regular season. The game is scheduled to be played at a neutral site as part of the tournament's first-round schedule.
The bid continues the legacy of the program under head coach Kellie Harper, who has now led the team to multiple NCAA appearances during her tenure. The selection maintains Tennessee's unique status in women's college basketball as the sole program with an unbroken tournament record.
The upcoming game against NC State presents an immediate challenge for the Lady Vols as they begin their pursuit of a ninth national championship. The tournament's full bracket and game times were announced by the NCAA selection committee.
