
How Wolves Women bounced back from promotion controversy
Wolves Women faced a shocking promotion controversy last season.
The 2026 NCAA beach volleyball championships will take place in Gulf Shores, featuring 16 collegiate programs. Southern California teams, particularly USC and UCLA, have historically dominated the tournament.
Mentioned in this story
NCAA beach volleyball logo
NCAA beach volleyball championships 2026 bracket, schedule, TV channel, live streams for college tournament originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As the weather warms up, it's time to play some beach volleyball. The 2026 NCAA championships return to Gulf Shores this week.
Started in 2016, the NCAA championships serve as a competitive end to the collegiate season for 16 programs every year. Southern California schools have typically reigned supreme in this tournament, with USC holding six titles, and UCLA snagging two in 2018-19.
Last year, TCU bucked the trend by defeating LMU 3-2 in the championship match and bringing the trophy to Texas. The Horned Frogs entered the bracket as a No. 2 seed, and fought past Loyola Marymount, which had beaten both UCLA and USC in the earlier rounds.
This year, Stanford holds the No. 1 spot, followed by Texas and UCLA. Who will win it all?
Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 NCAA beach volleyball championships, including TV channel and streaming options for the annual tournament.
For just the fourth year, the NCAA beach volleyball tournament will be single-elimination, rather than using an elimination bracket. So once a team loses a match, they're out.
After expanding to a 17-team playoff in 2024, the NCAA has reverted to its original 16-team format, without a play-in dual.
The schedule for the 2026 NCAA beach volleyball championships will be announced closer to the event date.
Sixteen collegiate programs will compete in the 2026 NCAA beach volleyball championships.
The 2026 NCAA beach volleyball championships will be held in Gulf Shores.
The championships will be broadcast on TV and available for live streaming, with specific channels to be confirmed closer to the event.

Wolves Women faced a shocking promotion controversy last season.
Kompany gives injury updates on Bischof and Karl ahead of matches
Mohamed Salah could return for Liverpool before leaving this summer, but not for the next match.

See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Watch |
| No. 4 USC vs. No. 13 Texas A&M Corpus-Christi | 10 a.m. | ESPN2, ESPN app, fubo |
| No. 5 Florida State vs. No. 12 Stetson | 11 a.m. | ESPN2, ESPN app, fubo |
| No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 16 Chattanooga | Noon | ESPN2, ESPN app, fubo |
| No. 8 California vs. No. 9 Long Beach State | 1 p.m. | ESPN2, ESPN app, fubo |
| No. 2 Texas vs. No. 15 Georgia State | 2 p.m. | ESPN2, ESPN app, fubo |
| No. 7 LMU vs. No. 10 TCU | 3 p.m. | ESPN2, ESPN app, fubo |
| No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 14 Tulane | 4 p.m. | ESPN2, ESPN app, fubo |
| No. 6 Cal Poly vs. No. 11 Grand Canyon | 5 p.m. | ESPN2, ESPN app, fubo |
Each round will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks. The first three rounds will be played on ESPN2, and the championship on ESPN. Every pair playing in each dual will be streamed on the ESPN app.
Cord-cutters can also find full coverage on fubo.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the ESPN app.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
California is queen of the beach. While many schools and conferences from around the country have made it to the tournament, only three have ever won.
USC and UCLA, based across town in Los Angeles, have taken the title the most times. TCU claimed its first championship in 2025.
| Year | School |
| 2025 | TCU |
| 2024 | USC |
| 2023 | USC |
| 2022 | USC |
| 2021 | USC |
| 2020* | – |
| 2019 | UCLA |
| 2018 | UCLA |
| 2017 | USC |
| 2016 | USC |
*Canceled due to COVID-19