Connecticut’s March Madness: The Huskies Are Coming for Everything
Selection Sunday is March 15. The bracket drops at 6 p.m. ET on CBS. And if you’re a Connecticut sports fan — or just a fan of watching the best basketball programs in the country do their thing — the next few weeks are going to be very good to you.
Two Connecticut schools are heading into the NCAA Tournament with serious business on their minds. One of them is the most dominant team in college basketball, men’s or women’s. The other is quietly building a case to be the Ivy League’s most dangerous postseason threat. Here’s what you need to know before the madness tips off.
UConn Women: The Best Team in the Country. Full Stop.
If you’re looking for the favorite to win the 2026 NCAA Women’s Tournament, you don’t need to look any further than Storrs.
The UConn Huskies women’s basketball team went 31-0 in the regular season — the 11th undefeated regular season in program history — and enter March as the No. 1 overall seed. They’re not just favored. They’re a category of their own.
Coach Geno Auriemma’s team has won 47 consecutive games, a streak that dates back to last season’s national championship run. When they win games, they win them big. Their average margin of victory this season is 37.8 points per game — the third-highest in NCAA women’s basketball history.
The driving force is sophomore forward Sarah Strong, who has stepped into the spotlight left by Paige Bueckers and made it look easy. She’s averaging 18.8 points and 7.7 rebounds a game while playing the kind of two-way basketball that makes opposing coaches lose sleep. Alongside her, redshirt senior Azzi Fudd remains one of the best guards in the country.
This is a team defending a national championship — their 12th all-time — and doing it better than the previous version. History backs them up: in seven of their ten previous undefeated regular seasons, the Huskies have won the title. The question isn’t whether UConn belongs in the conversation. The question is whether anyone can stop them.
UConn Men: Title Contenders, Shaky Finish
Dan Hurley’s Huskies have been one of the best men’s programs in the country all season. They spent much of the year projected as the fourth No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament — a remarkable run for a program that continues to build on back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2024.
Then came the weekend. A loss to Marquette — a team well below .500 — opened the door for Florida, who promptly walked through it. Most bracketologists now have the Huskies slipping to a 2 seed, with the final seeding picture to be settled through the Big East Tournament ahead of Selection Sunday.
None of that changes the core of it: UConn men are a genuine title contender. They’ve been to this stage before. They know how to win in March. The bracket will tell its own story starting March 20.
Yale: The Ivy League Wildcard
Yale are heading to the Dance as the Ivy League’s automatic qualifier — and they’ve done it before. The Bulldogs have developed a habit of making the tournament relevant for a day or two in the opening rounds, and this year they arrive projected as a 12 seed.
A 12 seed matters more than it sounds. The 12-over-5 upset is one of the most historically reliable in the entire bracket — it’s happened often enough that picking it is no longer even considered a bold call. Yale has the talent, the coaching and the chip on their shoulder that every mid-major needs to pull off the kind of first-round result that sends your bracket straight to the trash.
They won’t be anyone’s favorite. That’s exactly when they’re dangerous.
The Rest of Connecticut: Watch This Space
UConn and Yale might be the headline acts, but they might not be the only Connecticut schools dancing in March.
Fairfield's women's program is knocking on the door. The Stags finished 19-1 in MAAC conference play and are considered close to a lock for the NCAA women's field regardless of how the conference tournament plays out. Head coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis has built one of the most quietly impressive mid-major programs in the country — they beat Villanova this season and pushed Iowa close on the road. Don't sleep on them.
On the men's side, Fairfield, Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart are all still alive in the MAAC tournament. Only one MAAC team gets the automatic bid, so it's a straight shoot-out between them. Any one of the three could be the team that punches Connecticut's third or fourth ticket to the Dance.
That means Connecticut could realistically have four or five programs in the NCAA Tournament when the bracket is revealed on March 15. For a state this size, that would be remarkable — and it speaks to how deep the talent runs right now across CT college basketball.
Keep an eye on the MAAC tournament results before Selection Sunday. If Fairfield, Quinnipiac or Sacred Heart wins it, Connecticut's March just got a lot more interesting.
The CT Betting Window — Mark Your Calendar
Here's something every Connecticut bettor needs to know before March 15.
Under state law, you can't bet on in-state college teams during the regular season. But once UConn or Yale qualifies for the NCAA Tournament — a multi-team tournament — a futures window opens. It's short, it's specific, and if you miss it, it's gone.
Here's exactly how it works. Once the bracket is set on Selection Sunday, you can bet UConn or Yale to win the entire NCAA Tournament outright. Futures only — no game lines, no spreads, no totals, no player props on CT teams. Just the championship market.
That window opens on March 15 when the bracket drops and closes before the First Four tips off on March 17. That's roughly 48 hours. After tip-off, it's locked.
To place your bet, walk into any MyWinners or Winners venue in Connecticut and put your futures wager on through Fanatics Sportsbook. Cash or card, in person, done.
With UConn women as the No. 1 seed and defending champions, and the men in the mix as a likely 2 seed, Connecticut has two genuine title contenders in this bracket. If you want to back them, Selection Sunday is your starting gun.
Bet and Watch March Madness at MyWinners
The Big Dance tips off March 20, and MyWinners and Winners locations across Connecticut will have every game covered. From first-round chaos through to the Final Four, there’s no better place to catch the action. You can bet on March Madness through the Fanatics Sportsbook counters located in every Winners and MyWinners venue.
Head into your nearest MyWinners venue — Norwalk, New Britain, Hartford, Manchester, Milford, Waterbury, East Haven, Bobby V’s Stamford, or Bobby V’s Windsor Locks — and watch Connecticut’s finest make their run.
Find your nearest Winners venue here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bet on March Madness at MyWinners?
Not through MyWinners directly — but you can bet on it in our venues. Fanatics Sportsbook operates self-service betting kiosks and tellers at every MyWinners and Winners location in Connecticut, covering college sports markets where permitted under state law. So whether you're watching the games at our Stamford, Hartford or East Haven venues, you can get your bracket bets on through Fanatics while you're there.
Can I bet on UConn in the NCAA Tournament in Connecticut?
Yes — but only within a specific window. Connecticut law doesn't permit betting on in-state college teams during the regular season, but once UConn qualifies for the NCAA Tournament, a futures window opens. You can bet UConn to win the tournament outright from Selection Sunday (March 15) until just before the First Four tips off on March 17. Individual game lines, spreads, totals and player props on CT teams are not permitted. Head into any MyWinners or Winners venue and place your wager through Fanatics Sportsbook in-venue.
When is Selection Sunday 2026?
Selection Sunday is March 15, 2026. The full NCAA Tournament bracket for both the men’s and women’s tournaments will be revealed that evening.
Is UConn women’s basketball the No. 1 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament?
Yes. UConn women enter the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed after completing a perfect 31-0 regular season. They are the reigning national champions and heavy favorites to repeat.
What seed are the UConn men projected to receive in the 2026 NCAA Tournament?
The Huskies spent most of the season on the No. 1 seed line but dropped to a projected 2 seed after a late-season loss to Marquette. Their final seed will be confirmed on Selection Sunday, March 15.
Is Yale in the 2026 NCAA Men’s Tournament?
Yes. Yale are projected to receive the Ivy League’s automatic bid and enter the tournament as an approximate 12 seed, making them one of the most watched potential upset picks in the first round.
When does the 2026 NCAA Tournament begin?
The First Four play-in games begin March 17, with the main bracket — First Round action — starting March 20.
