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WVU should secure coveted NCAA host seed with exciting Big 12 Championship win

The Mountaineers have done enough to bring the Big Dance to Morgantown.
Mar 8, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers forward Riley Makalusky (21) blocks out during the second half against the TCU Horned Frogs at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
Mar 8, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers forward Riley Makalusky (21) blocks out during the second half against the TCU Horned Frogs at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | William Purnell-Imagn Images

The West Virginia Mountaineershave securedtheir first Big 12 Tournament Championship since 2016, and with the triumph,they'll likely be ableto bring the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament to their home court.

While nothing will be certain until the field is released next weekend, most analysts are now claiming WVU women's basketball has done enough to climb into the Top 16 overall seeds in the tournament, guaranteeing at least a No. 4 seed.

And that's quite important, as the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament allows those top four seeds in each region to host the opening weekend, giving at least one (and hopefully two) home games in the Big Dance.

Why the West Virginia Mountaineers will likely host an NCAA Tournament game

Charlie Creme, who serves as ESPN's women's basketball bracketologist,stated on Sundaythat he believed the Mountaineers would be moving into the Top 16 seeds and earn a host site for the NCAA Tournament. And he's not the only one espousing the opinion.

Per Charlie Creme of ESPN,

With a win, WVU would move into a top 16 team and would be a host site for the 1st and 2nd rounds of NCAA.#WVU

— Quinn Robie (@QuinnRobie1)March 8, 2026

Talia Goodman, a national women's basketball analyst withOn3, had already called for the Mountaineers to earn a 4-seed after they downed Colorado in the semifinals of the tournament ,reiterated her beliefon social media that the Mountaineers should host after their win.

And she was backed up by Big 12 Conference women's basketball analyst and former Division 1 assistant coach Rachel Galligan, whoclaimed she believesWest Virginianeedsto host on opening weekend. No questions asked.

West Virginia. Big 12 Tournament champs.

Let ‘em host!

— Talia Goodman (@TaliaGoodmanWBB)March 8, 2026

West Virginia needs to be hosting in the NCAA Tournament. ZERO question.

— Rachel Galligan (@RachGall)March 8, 2026

The Mountaineers racked up their fourth Quad 1 win of the season and moved to a combined 13-6 in games against Quad 1 and Quad 2 opponents with the victory. The Mountaineers entered the game on Sunday ranked 18th in the NET Rankings, 15th in the Wins Above Bubble (WAB) Rankings, and 15th in the AP Top 25.

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