Where champions are crowned: ESPN networks deliver comprehensive 2025-26 NCAA Winter Championships coverage in March and April
- ESPN will deliver 650+ hours of live coverage across 20 NCAA Championships this winter
- Multiple NCAA selection specials set for men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s ice hockey and women’s gymnastics
- Championship coverage starts with inaugural NCAA Women’s College Wrestling Championship on ESPN+
- Game On: Journey to the NCAA Championship continues with shows on Division I women’s basketball, Division I men’s ice hockey and the NC women’s gymnastics championship
ESPN will present more than 650 hours of live championship coverage surrounding 20 NCAA Winter Championships this March and April, including men’s & women’s indoor track & field, men’s & women’s swimming & diving, men’s & women’s wrestling, men’s & women’s basketball across all divisions – including international rights for Division I men’s basketball, plus fencing, men’s & women’s ice hockey, bowling, and men’s & women’s gymnastics. Various rounds of these championships are set for ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS and ESPN+, with all games available on the ESPN App.
Selection shows set the stage
ESPN networks will commence the championship season with multiple NCAA selection specials, providing fans with their first look at the tournament fields:
- NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Selection Special – Sunday, March 8 at 11:30 a.m. ET on ESPNU
- NCAA Women’s Basketball Selection Special – Sunday, March 15 at 8 p.m. on ESPN
- WBIT Selection Special – Sunday, March 15 at 9 p.m. on ESPN+
- NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Selection Special – Sunday, March 22 at 3 p.m. on ESPNU
- NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Selection Special – Monday, March 23 at noon on ESPNU
- NIT Preview Show – Tuesday, March 17 at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN2
Cue the confetti
The first titles captured this winter will be from Coralville, Iowa as the inaugural NCAA Women’s College Wrestling Championship takes center stage, March 6-7. Mat-by-mat coverage will be live on ESPN+ throughout the weekend. Trophy-lifting season continues through Saturday, April 18, with the NC Women’s Gymnastics Championship live on ABC at 4 p.m., and the NC Men’s Gymnastics Championship on ESPN2 at 7 p.m.
In addition to the NC Women’s Gymnastics National Championship, ABC will once again play host to select early and regional round matchups, as well as the title game on Sunday, April 5, of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship. All championship brackets and full details are available on NCAA.com. Both DI women’s basketball and women’s gymnastics will feature pre-championship studio programming on ABC leading into their respective title games, as well as a DI men’s ice hockey pre-championship studio show on ESPN.
Beyond presenting live events and studio programming, ESPN continues Game On: Journey to the NCAA Championship. The original documentary-style series showcases the most compelling journeys of athletes, coaches, and teams surrounding various NCAA Championships. DI women’s basketball is the first of three shows highlighting winter sports, followed by DI men’s ice hockey and NC women’s gymnastics:
- DI Women’s Basketball: Wednesday, March 18 at 6 p.m. on ESPN2
- DI Men’s Ice Hockey: Wednesday, March 25 at 4 p.m. on ESPN2
- NC Women’s Gymnastics: Monday, March 30 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2
In all, ESPN will produce eight, one-hour original content shows during the 2025-26 season, with men’s and women’s lacrosse, softball and baseball closing out the slate.
ESPN is now home to more than 40 NCAA Championships, with more than 2,350 hours of championship programming presented on ESPN’s linear and digital networks annually.
All of ESPN. All in One Place.
ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans on the ESPN App, providing more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, including more than 47,000 live events per year, on-demand replays, industry-leading studio shows and original programming, and more. The ESPN App gives fans a unique viewing experience that includes multiview and synchronized two-screen viewing options, swipe-able vertical video and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as integrated game stats, ESPN Fantasy sports, betting odds and information from DraftKings, sports merchandise, and more. These features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a pay TV package. Bundling options available for fans include a limited time offer for the ESPN DTC Unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. For more visit stream.espn.com.
2025‑26 NCAA Winter Championships Schedule on ESPN Networks
| Date(s) | Championship | Network(s) |
| Mar 6-7 | Women’s Wrestling | ESPN+ – First Round-Championship ESPNU – Championship (Tape Delay – Mar 8) |
| Mar 13-14 | Men’s & Women’s Indoor Track & Field | ESPN+ – Prelims/Finals ESPNU – Championship (Tape Delay – Mar 15) |
| Mar 18-21 | Women’s Swimming & Diving | ESPN+ – Prelims/Finals ESPNU – Championship (Tape Delay – Mar 25) |
| Mar 19-21 | Men’s Wrestling | ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU – First Round-Championship ESPN+ – Individual Mat Streams & MatCast |
| Mar 19-21 | Div. III Women’s Basketball | ESPN+ – Semifinals & Championship ESPNU – Championship (Tape Delay – Mar 24) |
| Mar 12-22 | Women’s Ice Hockey | ESPN+ – Regionals & Semifinals ESPNU – Semifinals (Tape Delay – Mar 21 & 22) ESPNU – Championship |
| Mar 20-22 | Fencing (Men’s & Women’s) | ESPN+ – Championships ESPNU – Championship (Tape Delay – Apr 1) |
| Mar 23-28 | Div. II Women’s Basketball | ESPN+ – Quarterfinals-Championship ESPNU – Championship (Tape Delay – Mar 29) |
| Mar 25-28 | Div. II Men’s Basketball | ESPN+ – Quarterfinals-Semifinals ESPNU – Semifinals (Tape Delay – Mar 28) |
| Mar 25-28 | Men’s Swimming & Diving | ESPN+ – Prelims/Finals ESPNU – Championship (Tape Delay – Mar 30) |
| Mar 19-Apr 1 | Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT) | ESPN+ – First Round, Second Round, Quarterfinals ESPNU – Semifinals ESPN2 – Championship |
| Mar 17-Apr 5 | National Invitation Tournament (NIT) | ESPN2/ESPNU/ESPN+ – Early Rounds ESPN – Semifinals ESPN2 – Championship |
| Mar 18-Apr 5 | NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship | ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU/ESPNEWS – Early Rounds ABC/ESPN – Regional Semifinals & Regional Finals ESPN/ESPN2– National Semifinals ABC/ESPN – National Championship Game |
| Mar 19-Apr 5 | Div. III Men’s Basketball | ESPN+ – Quarterfinals-Championship ESPNU – Championship (Tape Delay – Apr 5) |
| Mar 26-Apr 11 | Men’s Ice Hockey | ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU/ESPN+ – Regional Semifinals & Finals ESPN2 – Semifinals ESPN – Championship |
| Apr 11 | Women’s Bowling | ESPNU – Championship |
| Apr 1-18 | Women’s Gymnastics | ESPN+ – Regionals ESPN2/ESPN+ – Semifinals ABC/ESPN+ – Championship |
| Apr 17-18 | Men’s Gymnastics | ESPN+ – Semifinals ESPN2 – Championship |

