local
A major bracket shake-up: NCAA women's tournament to seed the top 16 by true ranking next year
By DOUG FEINBERG, Associated Press at ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports
· July 13, 2026
· 1 min read
Beginning with next year’s NCAA women's basketball tournament, the top 16 teams will be placed in the bracket in their true ranking regardless of conference affiliation. In the past, the top four teams in a conference would be placed in different regions to protect them from playing each other un...
Key takeaway In the past, the top four teams in a conference would be placed in different regions to protect them from playing each other until the Final Four.
Why this matters in The McAllen
The change in seeding for the NCAA women's basketball tournament could have a significant impact on local interest in the Rio Grande Valley. With the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley women's basketball team competing in the Western Athletic Conference, fans may see more competitive matchups in the early rounds of the tournament. The new seeding system could also lead to more Valley teams being featured in prominent games, potentially boosting attendance and viewership for local schools. As the NCAA implements this new system, Valley residents will be watching to see how it affects the tournament's overall competitiveness and the chances of local teams advancing to the later rounds. The region's strong following of women's basketball will likely be eagerly anticipating the upcoming tournament to see how this change plays out.
About this story
Original reporting by ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports . The McAllen surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 13, 2026 ·
Source: ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Beginning with next year’s NCAA women's basketball tournament, the top 16 teams will be placed in the bracket in their true ranking regardless of conference affiliation. In the past, the top four teams in a conference would be placed in different regions to protect them from playing each other un...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 13, 2026 by ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports and curated for The McAllen readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by DOUG FEINBERG, Associated Press at ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports. To learn more about how The McAllen selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The McAllen, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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