The NCAA Division III women’s soccer championship field will be announced during a selection show at 11:30 a.m. ET Monday, Nov. 9, beginning the 2026 postseason tournament’s transition from regular-season play to a 64-team, single-elimination bracket.
The selection show will stream on NCAA.com. The NCAA Division III Soccer Committee will announce first- and second-round locations after the teams are selected. Sectional sites are scheduled to be announced Sunday, Nov. 15, after the opening weekend of tournament play.
Championship schedule
The tournament will move quickly after the bracket is released. The first two rounds are scheduled for Nov. 14 and Nov. 15, followed by the sectional round on Nov. 21 and Nov. 22. The final stages will take place in December.
- Selection show: 11:30 a.m. ET Monday, Nov. 9
- First round: Saturday, Nov. 14
- Second round: Sunday, Nov. 15
- Sectionals: Saturday, Nov. 21, and Sunday, Nov. 22
- Semifinals: 3 p.m. ET and 6:30 p.m. ET Friday, Dec. 4
- Championship: noon ET Sunday, Dec. 6
The semifinals and championship will be played at the tournament’s final site. The NCAA has not identified the first- and second-round locations in the championship information released for the selection process, while sectional locations are set to follow six days after the bracket announcement.
Washington University enters as defending champion
Washington University in St. Louis won the 2025 Division III women’s soccer championship, finishing the season 21-0-3. The Bears defeated Emory 2-1 in the final, with Jim Conlon as coach. The championship was played in Salem, Virginia.
Washington University also won the 2024 title after a 3-0 victory over William Smith. That team finished 23-0-2. The recent championship history also includes Cal Lutheran in 2023, Johns Hopkins in 2022 and Christopher Newport in 2021.
The NCAA canceled the 2020 championship because of COVID-19. Before that interruption, Messiah won the 2019 title, while Williams captured the championship in 2017 and 2018. William Smith won in 2013, giving the tournament a recent history that includes several repeat champions and programs from across Division III.
The 2026 bracket will show which teams receive places in the field, their opening-round opponents and the sites assigned for the first weekend. The NCAA Division III championship is scheduled to conclude with the national final at noon ET Dec. 6.
