Women's belt · Current holder · 4th reign
UCLA
Took the belt from South Carolina, 79–51, on April 5, 2026. Then won the 2026 national title with it. First defense Thu, Nov 12.
177Days held
0Defenses
4Reigns all-time
Chain of custody
All 224 reigns →- UCLABeat South Carolina 79–51Apr 5, 2026 –Holding
- South CarolinaBeat UConn 62–48Apr 3 – Apr 5, 20262 days · 0 def.
- UConnBeat UCLA 85–51Apr 4, 2025 – Apr 3, 2026364 days · 39 def.
- UCLABeat USC 72–67Mar 9 – Apr 4, 202526 days · 4 def.
- USCBeat UCLA 71–60Feb 13 – Mar 9, 202524 days · 6 def.
- UCLABeat South Carolina 77–62Nov 24, 2024 – Feb 13, 202581 days · 19 def.
How fast it moves
Thirty-plus games a year. The belt rarely sits still.
Football's belt can sit with one team for a season. In hoops, a Tuesday road trip in January can end a reign. In 2025–26 it changed hands 2 times.
Title changes per month, 2025–26
March
The belt versus the bracket
If the holder makes the NCAA tournament, the belt is guaranteed to finish with the national champion: whoever takes it keeps playing until someone knocks them out, and only the champion is never knocked out. If the holder misses the field, the belt can spend March at the WNIT or the WBIT.
Every March since 1987 →Entered March 2026 with itUConn
Lost it inFinal Four
Hands in the tournament2
Crowned in AprilUCLA
Most reigns
- 1. UConn18
- 2. Tennessee17
- 3. Stanford14
Most defenses in one reign
- 1. UConn, 2014–1574 def.
- 2. UConn, 2008–0952 def.
- 3. UConn, 2012–1342 def.
Sister belt · men's
Michigan holds the men's belt
Since April 4, 2026. The men's belt →