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Ivy League Women’s Basketball: A Rising Power in NCAA 2025

ByCoach

February is almost over, so March Madness is just around the corner. College basketball fans are getting ready to dive into bracketology. Who is a lock to be in the NCAA Tournament? Who is definitely out of the 68-team field? Who is on the bubble? And which mid-major leagues might be multi-bid leagues?

Let’s address that last question and turn our attention toward the northeastern corridor of the country. The Ivy League once again looks like the best mid-major league in women’s basketball. This strong season for the Ivy comes off the heels of last year, when the league got multiple teams into the NCAA Tournament for just the second time ever. The first was in 2016, when Penn won the Ivy but Courtney Banghart’s Princeton earned an at-large bid.

One of Banghart’s assistants on that Princeton squad was Megan Griffith, who coached an Abbey Hsu-powered Columbia team to an at-large bid last season. This marked the first time ever the Lions made the NCAA Tournament. It’s possible we could see a multi-bid Ivy League for the third time this postseason.

Three teams from the conference – Harvard (32), Columbia (42), and Princeton (50) – all rank in the top 50 of the NCAA’s NET rankings. In his latest projections released Friday morning, ESPN’s Charlie Creme has the Ivy getting two teams in the field, Columbia as the automatic qualifier and Harvard getting an at-large bid, with Princeton just on the other side of the bubble as one of the first four teams out.

At HerHoopStats, Megan Gauer projects the same: Columbia as the league winner, Harvard as an at-large, and Princeton just on the outside. At The Athletic, Mark Schindler also projects the Crimson and Lions in the field of 68.

The Ivy are one of five conferences who have at least three teams ranked in the top 50 in NET in women’s college basketball. The others are all Power 4 leagues: the Big Ten, the Big 12, SEC and ACC.

Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton all find themselves in this situation, where they’re bucking the status quo for mid-majors, for two reasons. First, all three scheduled tough games – and won a few of them – during the non-conference slate. And second, the top of the Ivy League is really good, with these three squads leading the way.

The Crimson —led by Harmoni Turner and coached by another Banghart padawan, Carrie Moore — are a combined 6-3 in games against Quad 1, 2 and 3 opponents. Their most impressive victory was their second game of the season, a road overtime win at Indiana. Most recently, the Crimson beat Columbia on the road by six points.

Columbia, which is still coached by Griffith and paced on the court by Kitty Henderson and Riley Weiss, owns wins over Princeton and Harvard in addition to a victory over a fellow mid-major power in Florida Gulf Coast. The Lions are 4-5 in games against teams in the top three quads.

Princeton, coached by Carla Berube who took the reins from Banghart in 2019, have won three straight Ivy League tournaments and is eyeing what would be its 12th NCAA Tournament appearance in 15 seasons. Despite losing one star guard, Kaitlyn Chen, to UConn, and another in Madison St. Rose to an injury, the Tigers haven’t missed a beat.

Berube’s team owns wins over Villanova, Seton Hall, Rutgers, Rhode Island and Harvard, as well as NCAA Tournament regular Middle Tennessee State.

All of this brings us to Saturday, where Columbia and Princeton will meet for the second time this season at 5:30 p.m. ET in New Jersey in a game on ESPN+. If you’re invested in bracketology, or you care about the Ivy League, or if you simply want to watch some great college basketball, this game is a must-watch.

Next Friday, Princeton travels to Harvard in another consequential contest.

The Ivy League is making a name for itself in women’s college basketball. As February comes to a close, teams are gearing up for March Madness, and the Ivy League is poised to be a prominent player.

This season, the Ivy League boasts three teams in the top 50 of the NCAA’s NET rankings: Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton. This impressive feat highlights the league’s strength and potential for multiple bids in the NCAA Tournament.

Key Factors Behind the Ivy League’s Success

Several factors contribute to the Ivy League’s rise in women’s college basketball:

  • Challenging Non-Conference Schedules: Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton have all scheduled tough non-conference games and secured significant wins.
  • Strong Performances: The top teams in the Ivy League have consistently performed well, both in and out of conference play.

Harvard’s Impressive Season

Harvard, led by Harmoni Turner and coached by Carrie Moore, has had a standout season. The Crimson have a combined 6-3 record in games against Quad 1, 2, and 3 opponents. Their most notable victory came early in the season with a road overtime win against Indiana. Recently, Harvard secured a crucial win against Columbia, further solidifying their position.

Harvard’s Key Wins

  • Indiana: Road overtime win early in the season.
  • Columbia: Recent victory on the road by six points.

Columbia’s Strong Performance

Columbia, coached by Megan Griffith and led by Kitty Henderson and Riley Weiss, has also had a remarkable season. The Lions have secured wins against Princeton and Harvard, as well as a victory over Florida Gulf Coast. Columbia’s 4-5 record in games against top three quad teams showcases their competitiveness and potential for an NCAA Tournament bid.

Columbia’s Key Wins

  • Princeton: Significant victory over a strong conference rival.
  • Harvard: Another key win against a top Ivy League team.
  • Florida Gulf Coast: Victory over a fellow mid-major power.

Princeton’s Consistent Dominance

Princeton, under the leadership of Carla Berube, has maintained its dominance in the Ivy League. Despite losing star guard Kaitlyn Chen to UConn and Madison St. Rose to injury, the Tigers have continued to excel. Princeton has won three straight Ivy League tournaments and is eyeing its 12th NCAA Tournament appearance in 15 seasons. The team boasts impressive wins over Villanova, Seton Hall, Rutgers, Rhode Island, and Harvard.

Princeton’s Key Wins

  • Villanova: Notable victory against a strong opponent.
  • Seton Hall: Another significant win for the Tigers.
  • Rutgers: Demonstrating their strength within the region.
  • Rhode Island: Adding to their list of impressive victories.
  • Harvard: Key win against a top Ivy League rival.

Upcoming Key Matchups

The Ivy League’s top teams have crucial matchups ahead that will impact their NCAA Tournament prospects. This Saturday, Columbia and Princeton will face off for the second time this season. The game, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET in New Jersey, will be broadcast on ESPN+ and is a must-watch for fans invested in bracketology and Ivy League basketball. Next Friday, Princeton will travel to Harvard for another pivotal contest.

Why These Games Matter

These upcoming games are significant for several reasons:

  • Bracketology Implications: Wins in these matchups could solidify NCAA Tournament bids for the teams involved.
  • Conference Prestige: Strong performances in these games will further elevate the Ivy League’s reputation in women’s college basketball.

The Case for Multiple Ivy League Bids

The NCAA Tournament aims to feature the best 68 teams in the country, regardless of conference affiliation. Using various metrics, it’s clear that Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton belong in this elite group. These teams have demonstrated their capabilities through challenging schedules and impressive performances.

Rather than favoring Power 4 programs with softer schedules or near-.500 records in conference play, the selection committee should recognize the achievements of these Ivy League teams.

Supporting the Best Teams

Fans and analysts should advocate for the inclusion of the best basketball teams in the NCAA Tournament, regardless of conference affiliation. This includes:

  • Princeton, Harvard, and Columbia: Ivy League teams that have proven their worth.
  • Fairfield and South Florida: Teams that deserve consideration even if they don’t win their conference tournaments.
  • A-10 League: Another mid-major conference that should receive multiple bids.

As we approach March Madness, it’s essential to recognize and support the best teams in women’s college basketball.

The Ivy League’s Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton have shown they deserve a place in the NCAA Tournament.

By rooting for these teams and others like them, we can ensure that the best basketball talent is showcased on the national stage.

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