March Madness: UW WBB Huskies Draw South Dakota State in NCAA 1st Round

The Washington Huskies are dancing again, and they enter the NCAA bracket with real momentum.

UW earned a No. 6 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and will meet No. 11 seed South Dakota State in the first round on Friday in Fort Worth, Texas, with the tip time still TBD.

Fittingly, the bracket reveal landed with a crowd — fans gathered at Alaska Airlines Arena to watch the Selection Show alongside the Dawgs.

This bid marks Washington’s 21st NCAA Tournament appearance and its second straight trip, a milestone the program hadn’t hit since 2016–17.

Moreover, the path ahead already has a promising shape: if the Washington Huskies advance, they’ll face the winner of No. 3 seed TCU vs. No. 14 seed UC San Diego.

The Resume: How UW Earned the #6 seed
Washington didn’t back into March; it pushed through a Big Ten schedule and arrived with a sturdy 21–10 record, including 11–9 in Big Ten conference play.

The Huskies upset both Michigan (then #6-ranked, now #2 seed) and Maryland (then-#16-ranked, now #5 seed) during the regular season.

In the Big Ten Tournament, the Dawgs beat USC (now #9 seed) before taking a hard swing at #1-seeded UCLA, pushing them to the limit — a run that sharpened UW’s edge and, consequently, solidified its profile.

Huskies March with Balance and Depth
Just as important, the Huskies bring balance that makes them tournament ready. Washington scores efficiently from multiple spots, they rebound with purpose, and they defend with length on the perimeter and an improving interior defense. That two-way identity will be critical against a confident SDSU team that thrives on execution and rhythm.

Everything starts with 5’7” junior point guard Sayvia Sellers, who drives UW’s pace and poise. She averages 18.5 points per game on 48.2% shooting, while adding 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals.

Next, 6’0” sophomore wing-guard Avery Howell embodies Washington’s versatility. She posts 13.7 points on 50.5% shooting, hits 41.9% from three, and leads the Huskies at 8.3 rebounds per game.

On the wing, senior Elle Ladine supplies steady production—10.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists—plus 32.4% from deep.

Inside, 6’3” freshman forward McGaughy anchors the paint with 9.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 47.8% shooting, and 1.1 blocks. Her rim protection matters because it lets Washington’s guards pressure the ball more aggressively.

The Jackrabbits’ Challenge: Summit Champions With a Star
South Dakota State arrives at 27–6 after winning the Summit League Tournament, and the Jackrabbits bring the kind of polish that can punish mistakes. “

Their headliner, 6’2” forward Brooklyn Meyer, fills the stat sheet with 22.4 points, 8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game. She scores, creates, and protects the rim — so UW must counter with its characteristic defensive discipline and offensive efficiency.

Meanwhile, guard Madison Mathiowetz adds a second punch at 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. Beyond those two, SDSU typically rounds out its attack with a steady lead ball-handler who values possessions and an extra frontcourt contributor who keeps spacing and rebounding intact—details that can decide a one-game swing.

This matchup, therefore, reads like a classic March pressure cooker: UW’s scoring and rebounding balance against SDSU’s disciplined half-court execution.

If the Washington Huskies win the battle of shot quality and the glass, the Dawgs can turn Friday into a tournament springboard.

GO DAWGS!

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us