Before we get into the first round of the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament, we’ve got a handful of teams fighting for their chance to dance. Richmond and Nebraska open up the Women’s First Four matchups, with the Cornhuskers as 4.5-point favorites and a total set at 138.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Let’s dive into my prediction and pick for Wednesday’s First Four matchup, tipping off at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Richmond vs. Nebraska prediction
Nebraska rides into tonight’s matchup having struggled against fellow Big Ten competition (7–12), but the Cornhuskers were undefeated in non-conference play with an 11–0 record. Over their last 10 games, the Huskers averaged 73.4 points, 27.9 rebounds, and 8.5 steals per game while shooting 44% from the field. Richmond, meanwhile, averaged just 65.3 points per game and shot 43.5% from the field over its last 10 contests.
While Richmond may be the underdog, the Spiders operate efficiently from the perimeter, with two players ranking in the top 20 in three-point percentage. Rachel Ullstrom (41.3% from three) and Maggie Doogan (40.2% from three) lead the team in scoring, with Doogan logging an impressive 21.0 PPG in the regular season and Ullstrom adding 14.2 PPG. As for Nebraska, guard Britt Prince leads the charge with 17.4 PPG, 4.5 APG, and 1.5 steals, operating as a talented two-way player while shooting an impressive 45.2% from three. Forward Amiah Hargrove follows with 13.1 PPG and 5.4 RPG, also shooting over 40% from beyond the arc.
If one thing is clear, both teams like to shoot from deep. The Huskers have taken 1,848 field goal attempts this season, with over a third coming from beyond the arc, while the Spiders average 28.5 three-point attempts per game — the sixth-most in the NCAA. However, Richmond’s Maggie Doogan has been cold as of late, missing all six of her three-point attempts in her last outing and hitting just four of 12 attempts in two games prior. The Spiders will need both Doogan and Ullstrom to have a hot hand if they want to keep up with Prince’s consistent production. Defensively, Richmond allows 59.0 PPG, while Nebraska gives up 67.7 PPG, despite the Huskers averaging more steals and blocks over their last 10 games.
Richmond vs. Nebraska pick
Both squads have three players averaging double digits on the season, but with a ticket to the 64-team March Madness bracket on the line, I’m leaning toward the team that isn’t afraid to shoot from deep.
Lean: Richmond +4.5
