Texas Women Basketball Secures Moody Center as NCAA Tournament Host Site

For the fifth straight year, the Texas women basketball team will enjoy the comfort of home court advantage when the NCAA Tournament tips off next week.

The NCAA announced Saturday that Austin Moody Center has been selected as one of 16 host sites for first and second-round tournament games, ensuring the Longhorns will begin their championship quest in familiar surroundings.

Texas (31-3) joins an elite group of programs including Duke, UConn, South Carolina, and UCLA among the tournament hosts, a designation reserved for the field top-16 overall seeds. The complete tournament bracket will be unveiled Sunday evening, but the Longhorns have positioned themselves as a virtual lock for a No. 1 seed throughout the season.

Saturday announcement was hardly surprising given Texas dominant campaign, said one college basketball analyst. They have been considered one of the nation premier teams all season long.

The Longhorns have been particularly dominant at home, carrying a spotless record at Moody Center this season while building an impressive postseason pedigree at their current venue. Texas boasts a remarkable 7-1 record in NCAA Tournament games played at both Moody Center and their former home, the Erwin Center.

Texas has not lost since the NCAA selection committee March 1 projection ranked them as the No. 4 overall seed, continuing a season-long trend of exceeding expectations. The Longhorns only question mark heading into Selection Sunday involves which No. 1 seed line they will claim.

Most bracketologists expect Texas to secure one of the tournament four coveted top seeds, but their exact positioning within a hierarchy that likely includes undefeated UConn (34-0), UCLA (31-1), and SEC rival South Carolina (31-3) remains to be determined.

The overall seeding will significantly impact Texas tournament path, determining whether they are positioned to play potential Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games in Fort Worth or Sacramento, California.

I will go wherever they send me, Texas coach Vic Schaefer said following the SEC championship game on March 8. I will take this team to Timbuktu. I do not care. They will go wherever. They do not care. They are good enough.

Schaefer confidence reflects a program that has steadily built toward this moment. The Longhorns have navigated a challenging SEC schedule while maintaining their status among the nation elite, positioning themselves for what many consider their best championship opportunity in recent memory.

The home-court advantage could prove crucial in the early rounds. Texas has consistently thrived in front of their passionate Austin fanbase, who have created an intimidating atmosphere at Moody Center throughout the season.

With the bracket reveal just hours away, Texas finds itself in an enviable position. Their combination of elite talent, experienced leadership, and now confirmed home-court advantage has established them as a legitimate title contender.

The tournament opening weekend will test whether the Longhorns can capitalize on their advantageous position and advance toward their ultimate goal of cutting down nets in Cleveland at the Final Four.