2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament: Sleepers & Cinderellas (Round 2)
The first set of games in the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament is now in the books. The favorites are still in prime position to dominate through the next rounds. However, there are a few teams that may be capable of creating some magic heading into the second round and beyond. Here are some of our favorite sleepers for round two.
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Best Women’s NCAA Tournament Round 2 Sleepers
No. 5 Maryland Terrapins
Maryland rolled into the tournament as the No. 5 seed in the West Region. The Cardinals bested No. 12 seed Murray State by a commanding 32 points in their first-round matchup. Maryland scored 99 points on 50% shooting from the field and 86% on 22 free throws. The Terrapins can obviously pour on the points and show a tremendous ability to get to the line and knock down free throws. That could very well translate into a deep run.
Maryland finished the season winning six out of their last eight games. The Terrapins rank 49th in defensive rating - holding opponents to 63.2 points per game. Offensively, the Terrapins present a serious threat. North Carolina ranks 12th in offensive rating and averaged over 82 points per game.
Maryland will most certainly have to put tremendous emphasis on the defensive end if it wants to make a serious run against some elite competition. Having said that, this offense has the firepower to make up for any lapses on defense.
No. 5 Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss earned a No. 5 seed bid after going 24-11 on the season. Ole Miss will match up against Minnesota in the second round. Six out of the last nine regular-season games for the Rebels were against ranked teams, so they are certainly battle-tested going into the second round.
Ole Miss is ranked 36th in the nation in points scored per game - putting up 75.4 points each contest. The offense for Ole Miss is led by forward Cotie McMahon, who averaged a strong 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and three assists per game. The Rebels rank eighth in the nation in free throws made and 17th in offensive rebounds.
Ole Miss is a top-35 offense that is holding opponents to 62.1 points per game, which gives them more than a puncher's chance in the second round. If McMahon and Latasha Lattimore can dig deep for the next few games, Ole Miss has a very solid chance to make it to the Sweet 16.
No. 5 Michigan State Spartans
The Spartans are flying high after a first-round win against Colorado State. Michigan State ended its season in tough fashion, losing six out of its last nine games. The Spartans faced six ranked teams in their last nine games, which means they are certainly ready for tough competition. Michigan State will certainly be facing a formidable opponent in Oklahoma on Sunday.
Michigan State holds the 11th spot in terms of points per game. The Spartans average 82.5 points per game while allowing fewer than 66 points per game to the opposition. Michigan State plays a fantastic brand of offensive basketball, which is what they will rely on heavily if they want to beat Oklahoma. The Spartans are ranked eighth in the nation in offensive rating.
Michigan State's offense ranks 10th in field-goal rate (47.8%), 11th in field-goals made (30.4) and 14th in assists. Defensively, the Spartans rank 32nd in steals per game (6.4) and 59th in blocks per game (4.0). If Michigan State can improve on its three-point shooting (4-of-21 last game) and force Oklahoma turnovers, it very well could stamp its ticket to the Sweet 16.
Enjoy the games throughout the weekend. Best of luck with your picks.