After getting humbled by South Carolina, the Lady Vols didn’t just bounce back - they came out swinging. Tennessee dropped 98 points on Missouri in a statement win Thursday night, reminding everyone that this squad still has serious March aspirations. And just a day later, ESPN’s latest bracketology reflects that rebound.
According to ESPN’s Charlie Creme, Tennessee is currently projected as a 5-seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That would land them in a bracket where they’d face the winner of a First Four play-in between 12-seeds Utah and Stanford. Whoever survives that matchup would then take on Tennessee in the Round of 64.
The bracket sets up a potential second-round clash with 4-seed TCU, assuming the Horned Frogs take care of 13-seed Murray State. And here’s the kicker: those opening two rounds would be played in Fort Worth - TCU’s backyard.
That’s the reward for being a top-four seed in the women’s tournament: home-court advantage through the first weekend. For Tennessee, it means they’ll likely be walking into a hostile environment early.
Should the Lady Vols advance to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year under head coach Kim Caldwell, the road only gets tougher. Waiting in Sacramento could be 1-seed Vanderbilt - a potential in-conference showdown with high stakes.
Also looming in that region? 2-seed Texas and 3-seed Michigan State, both teams with deep tournament potential and rosters built for March.
Tennessee is one of 11 SEC teams currently projected to make the field, a testament to how deep and competitive the conference has been all season. Only the Big Ten has more, with 12 teams in the mix.
But before the Lady Vols can start thinking about seeding and matchups, there’s business to handle on the court. Next up: a massive home showdown against No.
4 Texas, airing Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
It’s not just a marquee matchup - it’s a rematch of last year’s Sweet 16, where Texas ended Tennessee’s tournament run. You can bet that game is circled in bold inside the Lady Vols' locker room.
And the schedule doesn’t let up. After Texas, Tennessee hits the road for a Tuesday matchup at Ole Miss, returns home to face Texas A&M on Thursday, and then closes the week with a Sunday trip to Oklahoma. It’s a gauntlet, but it’s also an opportunity - a chance to stack wins, sharpen their identity, and solidify their place in the tournament picture.
The Lady Vols have found their rhythm again. Now the question is whether they can sustain it through the grind of February and into March.