The Big 12 women’s basketball tournament continues on Friday in Kansas City, Mo., with four quarterfinal games, which means the top four teams in the league come online after securing double byes in regular season action.
The top four seeds will face a group of teams that may not have been expected to reach this point, based on seeding. The No. 9, No. 10 and No. 12 seeds have advanced to the quarterfinals Only one team with a single bye, Colorado, got out of the second round. Many of those lower-seeded teams are on the NCAA Tournament bubble and an upset would boost their chances.
Here is a preview of those four games, along with the complete schedule of the tournament. All games on Friday can be found on ESPN+.
Game 9: No. 12 Kansas State vs. No. 4 Oklahoma State, 11 a.m., ESPN+
The Matchup: Kansas State (17-16) put together one of the most impressive runs you’re likely to see in any basketball game, as the Wildcats scored the final 21 points in their come-from-behind victory over Texas Tech on Thursday. K-State isn’t getting in the NCAA Tournament but is playing like a team that can get there. Tess Heal (11.1 ppg) was a real problem for Texas Tech down the stretch and averaged more than 15 ppg in Big 12 play.
Oklahoma State (23-8) will be in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years under head coach Jacie Hoyt. The program has not won a conference tournament championship since 1991 in the former Big 8 Conference. Hoyt has built a team that is difficult to deal with on the offensive end, with five players averaging double figures. OSU is led by guard Micah Gray (14.1 ppg). The Cowgirls are looking for a little revenge as they lost to the Wildcats earlier this season.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 71, Kansas State 67
Game 10: No. 9 BYU vs. No. 1 TCU, 1:30 p.m., ESPN+
The Matchup: BYU (22-10) has won five straight games, and the Cougars are doing everything possible to interest the NCAA Tournament committee in inviting them to the Dance as an at-large team. The Cougars entered the Big 12 Tournament as a bubble team and have improved their odds of being selected. A win over TCU might put BYU over the top. Slowing down the Cougars means slowing down Delaney Gibb, who had 19 points in Thursday’s win over Utah.
TCU (27-4) Is the number one seed in the Big 12 Tournament for the second straight year. The Horned Frogs have already locked up their second straight regular season title and are seeking their second straight Big 12 tournament title. These are unprecedented times in Fort Worth. The transfer of guard Olivia Miles (20.1 ppg) and Marta Suarez (17.1 ppg) have positioned the Horned Frogs for another home sub-regional in the NCAA Tournament. Miles was the Big 12 Player of the Year.
Prediction: TCU 81, BYU 71
Game 11: No. 10 Arizona State vs. No. 2 West Virginia, 5:30 p.m., ESPN+
The Matchup: Arizona State (24-9) is on the verge of going from the wrong side of the bubble to the right side of the bubble, pending some early-morning reshuffling on Friday. The Sun Devils took care of their rival Arizona in the first round and then beat Iowa State on Thursday, a team they lost to by 26 points earlier this season. Gabby Elliott scored 22 points to lead Arizona State.
West Virginia (24-6) is one of the best defensive teams in the country and has the Big 12 defensive player of the year on the roster in Jordan Harrison, who also averaged 12.9 ppg. Don’t be surprised if the Mountaineers turn the Sun Devils over at least 20 times and get quality offensive games from players like Gia Cooke (14.9 ppg), Kierra Wheeler (13.7 ppg) and Sydney Shaw (11.9 ppg). WVU is trying to squeeze into the NCAA Tournament’s Top 16 teams and get a home sub-regional.
Prediction: West Virginia 67, Arizona State 61
Game 12: No. 6 Colorado vs. No. 3 Baylor, 8 p.m., ESPN+
The Matchup: Colorado (21-10) was one of the Last Four In for the NCAA Tournament going into its game against Kansas. The win probably solidified their hopes of getting in, but a win over a ranked Baylor team would most assuredly lock it in. The Buffs looked sluggish against Kansas but got it done. CU had 20 turnovers and only two players in double figures, both with 10 points. Jade Masogayo must avoid fouling out.
Baylor (24-7) hasn’t won the Big 12 Tournament since 2021, when the Bears defeated West Virginia when Kim Mulkey was still the head coach. The Bears have been to two title games since then, including last year’s loss to TCU in the final. The Bears have two of the most experienced players in the conference in Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (10.7 ppg, 10.1 rpg) and Bella Fontleroy (9.3 ppg). But transfer guard Taliah Scott (20.2 ppg) is going to set the pace on offense.
Prediction: Baylor 67, Colorado 64
Big 12 2026 Women’s Basketball Tournament
At T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Mo.
All times central
First Round (Wednesday, March 4)
Game 1: No. 12 Kansas State 91, No. 13 Cincinnati 66
Game 2: No. 9 BYU 76, No. 16 Houston 66
Game 3: No. 10 Arizona State 54, No. 15 Arizona, 51
Game 4: No. 11 Kansas 56, No. 14 UCF 35
Second Round (Thursday, March 5)
Game 5: No. 12 Kansas State 58, No. 5 Texas Tech 51
Game 6: No. 9 BYU 70, No. 8 Utah 52
Game 7: No. 10 Arizona State 77, No. 7 Iowa State 68
Game 8: No. 6 Colorado 55, No. 11 Kansas 48
Quarterfinals (Friday, March 6)
Game 9: No. 12 Kansas State vs. No. 4 Oklahoma State, 11 a.m., ESPN+
Game 10: No. 9 BYU vs. No. 1 TCU, 1:30 p.m., ESPN+
Game 11: No. 10 Arizona State vs. No. 2 West Virginia, 5:30 p.m., ESPN+
Game 12: No. 6 Colorado vs. No. 3 Baylor, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Semifinals (Saturday, March 7)
Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 3 p.m., ESPN+
Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 5:30 p.m., ESPN+
Championship (Sunday, March 8)
Game 15: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner, 4 p.m., ESPN
Note: if BYU advances to Game 15 title game will be played on Monday, March 9, at 3 p.m.
