The West Virginia Mountaineers women's basketball program is on the precipice of hosting the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament next week – which would provide a major advantage for the team. But to get earn that opportunity, the NCAA Tournament selection committee must name them one of the Top 16 seeds in the field (one of the Top 4 in each region).
After securing the Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament Championship last Sunday in Kansas City against regular season Big 12 champions TCU, the Mountaineers have been projected as a 4-seed in the most recent ESPN Bracketology projection and jumped to No. 12 in the final regular season AP Poll.
West Virginia legend Meg Bulger, who was an All-American with the school's women's basketball program, recently caught up with Game On WV recently to discuss WVU's success this season. When questioned if she thought the Mountaineers might get snubbed for a 4-seed and a host site, she indicated she didn't think it was feasible for the committee to do so, though she acknowledged that such bias and disrespect isn't uncommon for WVU women's basketball to face.
"It wouldn't surprise me," Bulger said. "Crazier things have happened that get done to West Virginia so I'm used to it, I've accepted it. But this is one of those things where they can't deny them."
Will @WVUWBB get cheated out of hosting the first round of the NCAA tournament? pic.twitter.com/YrYiz6LfpR
— Game On WV (@GameOn_WV) March 13, 2026
"They sent them to North Carolina, they sent them out to Iowa, and we've produced. We get great homes crowds, they're sixth in the Big 12 in attendance. And all the other intangibles that I mentioned to why they deserve to host. I just don't think this one can be denied, and I think in spite of it, we will still get a home seeding."
When further pressed on what a host seed might mean for the program, Bulger dived a bit deeper on what she considers a persistent "denial" of the program's abilities at the national level that she believes the women's basketball world is finally waking up to.
"It means everything for the program, and yeah, validation that we did so well so consistently and you forced us to do it for so long that you can't deny us now," Bulger said.
"It shouldn't surprise anyone who has followed the program, but of course, I'm sure it will around the nation. But if you've been following at all, you understand what West Virginia basketball is about. And it will be really exciting – I'm a super proud alum to watch them get that home court advantage."
Bulger, along with the WVU women's basketball team and fan across the country, will find out whether or not the Mountaineers have earned one of those Top 16 seeds later today, one day ahead of the full bracket release. The announcement will be broadcast on ESPN at approximately 3:15 PM EST between the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament Semfinals.