Bracket surprise: Clemson WBB headed to Columbia for 2026 NCAA Tournament
Clemson women’s basketball is back in the NCAA Tournament.
And, in a surprise draw, they’ll be staying in the state.
Coach Shawn Poppie’s Tigers are the No. 8 seed in Sacramento Region 4, it was announced Sunday on ESPN. Clemson will play its opening game against No. 9 Southern Cal on Saturday at Colonial Life Arena.
And, yes, that means if Clemson wins it’d likely play its top rival, the South Carolina Gamecocks, who are the No. 1 seed in that region. USC plays either No. 16 seed Southern University or Samford earlier Saturday.
Clemson-Southern Cal will tip off around 3:30 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2. It’ll follow the South Carolina vs. Southern/Samford game (1 p.m. Saturday, ABC).
Clemson is in Sacramento Region 4, meaning if it happens to win two games (including a major upset of the Gamecocks) it would play potential Sweet 16/Elite Eight games at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.
Clemson entered Selection Sunday at 21-11 and was considered a lock for the field, albeit on the lower end of the seed list. The Tigers tied for eighth in the ACC with an 11-7 conference record and lost to Duke in the ACC tournament quarterfinals.
This is Clemson’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018-19 and only its second appearance since 2002. The Tigers’ 21 wins are their most in a season since 2000-01, and they won 11 ACC games for the first time since 1998-99.
This is Clemson’s 17th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance. The Tigers’ best finish is the Elite Eight round (1991). In Clemson’s last NCAA appearance, it was a No. 9 seed and beat South Dakota in the first round before losing to No. 1 Mississippi State.
Clemson women’s basketball held a Selection Sunday watch party on the suite level of the football team’s Memorial Stadium, where players watched the selection show on the stadium’s massive videoboard.
“I’m obviously super proud of this group,” Poppie said. “It was a fun atmosphere, a fun environment. They worked their tails off to get to this point and deserve all the attention they got tonight. ... Now it’s time to go to work.”
Scouting Southern Cal ... and looking ahead
Southern Cal, Clemson’s opening opponent, went 17-13 and 9-9 in the Big Ten this season. The Trojans have been without star guard JuJu Watkins all season after she tore her ACL in last year’s NCAA Tournament.
Southern Cal, coached by Lindsay Gottlieb, was a solid No. 22 in the NCAA NET rankings, well ahead of Clemson (No. 41). The Trojans 5-12 against Quad 1 teams, which was more games and wins than Clemson (2-10 vs. Quad 1 teams).
Freshman guard Jazzy Davidson, who averages 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, has been injured but will be available for the 2026 postseason.
“Obviously they’re playing without JuJu this year, but we’re gonna have our hands full,” Poppie said. “I think a lot of people will jump to that second round with South Carolina and the rivalry and all that. ... But we have a lot of respect for what they (Southern Cal) have done.”
Poppie admitted he was surprised Clemson scored a No. 8 seed, which was sixth best among the record nine ACC teams that made the 2026 field. He and his players assumed the Tigers would be a No. 9 or No. 10 seed.
Clemson was the No. 31 overall seed in the field, per the selection committee (third of four No. 8 seeds). Southern Cal (No. 33) was the top-ranked No. 9 seed.
Potentially matching up with South Carolina, which beat Clemson 65-37 in November, in the second round was also a stunner. But Tigers guard Rachael Rose, a Wofford transfer, said the team is embracing that possibility.
“That’s a get-back game for us,” Rose said. “We were a totally different team when we played them the first time. ... We’re not scared to play them again. We’d be excited for it”
How to watch Clemson WBB’s first NCAA game
Who: No. 8 Clemson (21-11) vs. No. 9 seed Southern Cal (17-13)
When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina
TV: ESPN2
Point spread: Southern Cal by 7.5 points
This story was originally published March 15, 2026 at 8:42 PM with the headline "Bracket surprise: Clemson WBB headed to Columbia for 2026 NCAA Tournament."
