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March Madness is here! Before the games begin, the women’s tournament starts with Selection Sunday, which reveals all 68 teams, seedings and matchups during the first round of the massive annual collegiate competition.
At a Glance: How to Watch NCAA Women’s March Madness Selection Sunday 2026 Online
Want to watch the bracket reveal TV special online? Women’s college basketball fans can watch Selection Sunday on ESPN.
Here’s what to expect: The UConn Huskies are likely to be at the top of the bracket, as the No. 1 seed. And with an undefeated record of 34-0, the team is also in the best position to repeat as championships in 2026. South Carolina, UCLA and Texas are all expected to be championship contenders this year too.
There are a few ways to watch Women’s Selection Sunday this year. Here’s what you need to know.
NCAA Women’s March Madness Selection Sunday 2026: Date, Start Time
Ahead of Women’s March Madness, the NCAA Selection Sunday TV special broadcasts on Sunday, Mar. 15 with a start time of 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET. It airs live on ESPN. In addition, the entire women’s March Madness tournament broadcasts on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS and ESPNU.
Cord-cutters can watch NCAA Women’s March Madness on any live TV streaming service that carries ESPN, such as DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, ESPN Unlimited and others. All web-based services are accessible on your smartphone, tablet, laptop or smart TV.
Keep reading to find out how to watch the Women’s Selection Sunday TV special without a cable subscription, including options to watch for free.
How to Watch 2026 NCAA Women’s March Madness Selection Sunday Without Cable
Since it broadcasts on ESPN, Women’s Selection Sunday is streamable on web-based streaming cable services, some of which even offer free trials so you can watch the TV special online for free.
DirecTV
One of the best ways to watch Women’s March Madness is on DirecTV.
The cable alternative’s “MySports” package offers ESPN, plus more than 20 other channels, such as NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN2, FOX Sports, TNT and more. In addition, the streamer has a five-day free trial available, which more than enough time to watch Women’s Selection Sunday. You can either cancel or keep the service after the free trial is over, with prices going for $69.99 per month.
Best For ESPN
ESPN Unlimited
ESPN Unlimited is the sports network’s new streaming service, and it’s live-streaming NCAA Women’s March Madness Selection Sunday online without needing a cable subscription.
ESPN Unlimited includes all of the sports network’s channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ABC on ESPN, ESPNU, ESPNEWS and others, as well as original programming, such as The Pat McAfee Show, 30 For 30, McEnroe’s Places, Man in the Arena: Tom Brady, Southern Hoops: A History of SEC Basketball, Deion’s Double Play and others. It also comes with streaming access to live sports from NBA, UFC, Formula 1, NHL, MLB and other sports leagues.
Fubo
We also like Fubo, another live TV streaming service that includes an ESPN feed.
To watch ESPN online, along with more than 200 other news, entertainment and sports channels with a subscription to Fubo, which starts at $48.99 for the first month of service, $73.99 per month afterward (with Fubo’s current deals). You can record more than 1,000 hours of TV shows, movies, games and more too with Fubo’s free DVR. The online TV streaming service offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can watch NCAA Women’s March Madness Selection Sunday online for free.
Hulu + Live TV
You can also watch ESPN with a subscription to Hulu + Live TV.
The streaming service has access to more than 95 live channels — like AMC, BET, CNN, Discovery Channel, Food Network and others — starting at $89.99 per month and comes with Hulu’s entire streaming library, as well as Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited. Right now, Hulu + Live TV offers a three-day free trial, so you can watch Women’s Selection Sunday for free.
Sling
Sling might be a good fit. It’s the most wallet-friendly cable alternative, with prices starting at $45.99 for Sling Orange.
The Sling Orange package includes ESPN for the NCAA Women’s March Madness Selection Sunday, while it also has AMC, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, Freeform, TNT and other channels. Sling currently does not offer a free trial. However, Sling offers day passes starting at just $4.99 for a 1-Day Pass.
Please note: Pricing and channel availability varies from TV market-to-TV market. Learn more about Sling Orange here.
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