Bates and Bowdoin will represent the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) in the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

NCAA First Round Games - Friday, March 6

United States Merchant Marine Academy	Bates	7:15 P.M.	Lewiston, ME / NCAA First Round	Stats Video
Emmanuel College (Mass.)	Bowdoin	7:45 P.M.	Brunswick, ME / NCAA First Round	Stats Video

Bates (24-3) earned the NESCAC’s automatic bid by winning their second conference title in program history with a 61-56 victory at Bowdoin in the NESCAC Championship Game. The Bobcats are making their third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament and 10^th overall. Bates will host first and second round games at Alumni Gymnasium on March 6-7. The Bobcats will square off against the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. USMMA (23-4) earned its fifth trip to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Skyline Conference title.
 
Bowdoin (24-2) was also selected to host first and second round NCAA Tournament games at Morrell Gymnasium. The NESCAC Runners-Up are making their third straight appearance in the national tournament and 23rd in program history. The Polar Bears face Emmanuel (21-7) in the first round. The Saints are in the tournament for the first time since 2022 and 22nd overall. Emmanuel won the GNAC title to garner an automatic bid to the tournament.