LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Louisville women's basketball will host the first and second rounds of the 2026 NCAA Tournament at the KFC Yum! Center, the NCAA selection committee announced.
The Cardinals are one of 16 host sites announced — a day before the full field is revealed on Selection Sunday. Dates, times and teams will be announced on Sunday night.
It marks the seventh time in program history Louisville has hosted the opening rounds, and the first time since the 2021-22 season, when the Cardinals advanced to the Final Four.
Louisville | Kentucky | Indiana | Eric Crawford
Louisville has reached the Final Four four times, and three of those appearances came in years when the Cards hosted the opening rounds at home.
The hosting assignment also signals a top-four seed for Louisville, the 11th time in program history the Cardinals have earned that distinction, and all 11 have come under head coach Jeff Walz.
Louisville finished the regular season 27-7 overall and 15-3 in ACC play, good for second in the conference. The Cardinals won at least 12 ACC games for the 12th consecutive season — the only program in the league that can make that claim. No other ACC team has won 10 or more conference games in each of the past 12 seasons.
Louisville also reached the ACC Tournament championship game for the fifth time in their 12 seasons in the league.
Duke and North Carolina were also selected as ACC host sites for the opening rounds.
All-session tickets go on sale Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET, immediately following the Selection Show. Single-session tickets will be available later in the week.
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