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The Battle for the National Championship Begins
The moment we have all been eagerly anticipating is finally here. The NCAA Women's Tournament kicks off this Friday, with first-round matchups taking place across the country. A total of 64 teams have fought their way to this prestigious event, all with their sights set on the coveted national championship.
Top Contenders and No. 1 Seeds
The UCLA Bruins, led by standout players Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice, enter the tournament as the top overall seed in March Madness. However, their path to the title will be anything but easy. The defending champions, the South Carolina Gamecocks, are determined to hold onto their crown, while JuJu Watkins leads a formidable USC squad. Texas rounds out the list of No. 1 seeds after an impressive 31-win season.
The opening weekend promises thrilling action, as several underdog teams will look to pull off major upsets. Will any championship favorites suffer an early exit before reaching the Sweet 16?
Tournament Format and Hosting Locations
One key difference between the women's and men's tournaments is that the highest seed in each four-team pod serves as the host for the first two rounds. After that, the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight will take place in two predetermined cities—Birmingham and Spokane this year—before the remaining teams head to Tampa for the Final Four and the national championship showdown.
To keep up with the action, we've compiled all the key details for the tournament's first two days. Bookmark this page and check back regularly, as matchups and tip-off times will be updated throughout the next three weeks.
2025 NCAA Women's Tournament Schedule and Dates
First Round Matchups
Friday, March 21
| Time (ET) | Game | Location | TV / Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:30 a.m. | (11) Iowa State vs. (6) Michigan | Purcell Pavilion – South Bend, Ind. | ESPN2 |
| Noon | (13) Liberty vs. (4) Kentucky | Memorial Coliseum – Lexington, Ky. | ESPN |
| 1:30 p.m. | (9) Indiana vs. (8) Utah | Colonial Life Arena – Columbia, S.C. | ESPN2 |
| 2 p.m. | (14) Stephen F. Austin vs. (3) Notre Dame | Purcell Pavilion – South Bend, Ind. | ESPN |
| 2:30 p.m. | (12) Fairfield vs. (5) Kansas State | Memorial Coliseum – Lexington, Ky. | ESPNEWS |
| 3:30 p.m. | (15) Fairleigh Dickinson vs. (2) TCU | Schollmaier Arena – Fort Worth, Texas | ESPN2 |
| 3:30 p.m. | (13) Grand Canyon vs. (4) Baylor | Foster Pavilion – Waco, Texas | ESPNU |
| 4 p.m. | (16) Tennessee Tech vs. (1) South Carolina | Colonial Life Arena – Columbia, S.C. | ESPN |
| 5:30 p.m. | (13) Montana State vs. (4) Ohio State | Schottenstein Center – Columbus, Ohio | ESPN2 |
| 5:30 p.m. | (10) Oregon vs. (7) Vanderbilt | Cameron Indoor Stadium – Durham, N.C. | ESPNews |
| 6 p.m. | (12) Ball State vs. (5) Ole Miss | Schollmaier Arena – Fort Worth, Texas | ESPNU |
| 6 p.m. | (10) Nebraska vs. (7) Louisville | Schollmaier Arena – Fort Worth, Texas | ESPN |
| 7:30 p.m. | (9) Georgia Tech vs. (8) Richmond | Pauley Pavilion – Los Angeles | ESPNews |
| 8 p.m. | (15) Lehigh vs. (2) Duke | Cameron Indoor Stadium – Durham, N.C. | ESPNU |
| 8 p.m. | (12) South Florida vs. (5) Tennessee | Schottenstein Center – Columbus, Ohio | ESPN |
| 10 p.m. | (16) Southern vs. (1) UCLA | Pauley Pavilion – Los Angeles | ESPN |
Saturday, March 22
| Time (ET) | Game | Location | TV / Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noon | (6) Iowa vs. (11) Murray State | Lloyd Noble Center – Norman, Okla. | ESPN |
| 1 p.m. | (2) UConn vs. (15) Arkansas State | Gampel Pavilion – Storrs, Conn. | ABC |
| 1:30 p.m. | (5) Alabama vs. (12) Green Bay | XFINITY Center – College Park, Md. | ESPN2 |
| 2 p.m. | (2) NC State vs. (15) Vermont | Reynolds Coliseum – Raleigh, N.C. | ESPN |
| 2 p.m. | (6) West Virginia vs. (11) Columbia | Carmichael Arena – Chapel Hill, N.C. | ESPNews |
| 2:30 p.m. | (3) Oklahoma vs. (14) Florida Gulf Coast | Lloyd Noble Center – Norman, Okla. | ESPNU |
| 3 p.m. | (1) USC vs. (16) UNC Greensboro | Galen Center – Los Angeles | ABC |
| 3:30 p.m. | (7) Oklahoma State vs. (10) South Dakota State | Gampel Pavilion – Storrs, Conn. | ESPN2 |
| 4 p.m. | (4) Maryland vs. (13) Norfolk State | XFINITY Center – College Park, Md. | ESPN |
| 4:30 p.m. | (3) North Carolina vs. (14) Oregon State | Carmichael Arena – Chapel Hill, N.C. | ESPNU |
| 4:30 p.m. | (7) Michigan State vs. (10) Harvard | Reynolds Coliseum – Raleigh, N.C. | ESPNews |
| 5:30 p.m. | (8) Cal vs. (9) Mississippi State | Galen Center – Los Angeles | ESPN2 |
| 7:15 p.m. | (8) Illinois vs. (9) Creighton | Moody Center – Austin, Tex. | ESPNews |
| 7:45 p.m. | (6) Florida State vs. (11) George Mason | Pete Maravich Assembly Center – Baton Rouge, La. | ESPN2 |
| 9:45 p.m. | (1) Texas vs. (16) William & Mary | Moody Center – Austin, Tex. | ESPN2 |
| 10:15 p.m. | (3) LSU vs. (14) San Diego State | Pete Maravich Assembly Center – Baton Rouge, La. | ESPN |
Upcoming Rounds and Key Matchups
Second Round
- Sunday, March 23 & Monday, March 24 – Games begin at 12:10 p.m. ET across multiple locations.
Sweet 16 & Elite Eight
- March 28-31 – Hosted in Birmingham, AL & Spokane, WA.
Final Four & National Championship
- April 4 & 6 – Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida.
A Quick Review
The 2025 NCAA Women's Tournament is set to deliver an electrifying three weeks of basketball. With powerhouse teams, potential Cinderella stories, and fierce competition, every game matters. Whether you're following your favorite team or keeping an eye on potential upsets, this guide ensures you won’t miss a moment of the action. Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament unfolds.