The NCAA women’s tennis season is coming to a close in Athens, Georgia, where the host team will hope to defend its NCAA Tournament title in front of a home crowd. Seven other teams could stand in the way, though, in three straight days of action on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Here’s what to look out for in each of Friday’s Elite Eight matchups, and don’t forget to check out our preview on the men’s side.
2026 NCAA Women’s Tennis Final Site: What to Watch For
No. 1 Georgia vs No. 8 NC State
Georgia has spent the entire tournament at home, but now the real home-court advantage kicks in as they’ll face the top teams. The Bulldogs have looked the part of the top seed so far, but NC State brings a new level for Georgia to overcome. NC State’s gritty Super Regional win over Texas highlights its depth, and it has the tools for a potential upset.
The Wolfpack have been stellar in doubles all season, but they dropped the doubles point to Texas and can’t afford a similar performance against Georgia. With top-tier doubles teams on both sides, it’ll come down to whichever team is playing better right out of the gate. At the top singles spot, Georgia’s Anastasiia Lopata can outhit anyone, but NC State’s Mia Slama has been playing her best tennis recently against high-quality opponents. Every spot down the lineup feels equally up for grabs, as both teams boast strong depth.
The two teams can find a path anywhere, but that’s looked different for them throughout the season. Georgia has had highs and lows, with different players peaking at different times, while NC State has steadily improved as a collective. Despite being the underdogs, the Wolfpack have a consistent baseline, while the Bulldogs have to raise theirs. But if Georgia’s lineup is all at its best, NC State’s consistency may not be enough.
No. 4 Texas A&M vs No. 5 North Carolina
After dropping the doubles point in their Super Regional match against USC, Texas A&M completely dominated in singles, winning five matches and in a favorable position in the unfinished sixth. North Carolina wasn’t as dominant, surviving a challenge from Michigan, but pulled through nonetheless. But to beat Texas A&M, the Tar Heels will need all the pieces to fall into place.
The Aggies’ doubles point loss to USC gives the edge to North Carolina in doubles, but that’s where the Tar Heels lose their certainty. The top singles spot is a highly anticipated clash between the top two players in NCAA women’s tennis, but Texas A&M’s Lucciana Perez has undoubtedly been the best player in the spring. Perez is 26-0, and beating her is a tall task for even North Carolina’s Reese Brantmeier, the NCAA singles champion.
The Tar Heels can’t count on a win from their top player, but other spots in their lineup have been solid and could fill the gap. Oby Kajuru, Tatum Evans, and Anna Frey notched impressive wins in the Super Regional and could trouble Texas A&M’s lineup.
The six-spot in singles is a crucial point for both teams. North Carolina’s Thea Rabman and Texas A&M’s Daria Smetannikov went unfinished in their respective Super Regional matches, and this is a matchup that could stretch well into a third set. One of these players managing a win would be massive for each team’s chances overall.
No. 3 Ohio State vs No. 11 Pepperdine
Pepperdine is the lone team at the final site not in the top 10, but they’ve had an impressive season nonetheless. One of their highlights was beating their Elite Eight opponent, Ohio State, earlier in the season in dominant fashion. But Pepperdine just scraped by Oklahoma in the Super Regional, and Ohio State will be looking to take advantage and flip the script, especially after their commanding win over Vanderbilt.
The Buckeyes’ doubles point has been up-and-down all season, but they still have more ranked pairs than the Waves and will need that point to immediately banish the demons of their previous matchup. If Pepperdine takes the doubles point, it could continue a tone that Ohio State certainly doesn’t want.
At the top singles spots, the Buckeyes have had nothing but consistency from NCAA women’s tennis veterans Teah Chavez and Luciana Perry, but Pepperdine managed to disrupt Oklahoma’s strong top two and could do some damage here. On the opposite end of the lineup, the six spot leans toward Pepperdine with standout Alexia Harmon, but the Buckeyes’ Hephzibah Oluwadare can draw out any match. With Ohio State’s Audrey Spencer a near-lock at five, the points up for grabs will likely be three and four.
The Buckeyes are playing better tennis now than they were when they went to Pepperdine earlier in the season, but it gives the Waves a certainty that they can complete the upset.
No. 2 Auburn vs No. 10 LSU
Auburn and LSU played each other just a few weeks ago in the SEC Tournament final, and it was Auburn that took a close 4-3 victory. At a neutral site in a big moment, the conditions will be strikingly similar and the matchup just as tight.
These teams have some of the best doubles pairings in NCAA women’s tennis, and LSU is coming off a win against one of the best doubles points in the country in the form of Virginia. Auburn is more consistent, but LSU has shown that they can beat anyone in doubles at their best. At the top singles spot, LSU’s Cadence Brace has been a dominant force, while Auburn’s DJ Bennett doesn’t have the best record against top players—but Bennett notched a surprise win over Brace in the SEC final, a result she’ll have to replicate.
Oftentimes, LSU’s success comes from the middle of the lineup with Ella McDonald, Addison Lanton, and Carolina Kuhl. The middle of Auburn’s lineup has been solid, but those LSU players have been securing their team’s biggest wins and have shown they can face the pressure.
In their last match, the clinch came down to the six spot, but in the NCAA Women’s Tennis Super Regional matches, the six spot for both teams was occupied by a different player. If this match is as close as their last one, the different matchup at this spot could be the deciding factor.
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