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Women’s March Madness 2025: Watch Selection Sunday and Top Seeds

ByCoach

The 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament is just around the corner, and the excitement is palpable. With 68 teams gearing up for college basketball’s biggest stage, this year’s tournament promises to be an unforgettable spectacle.

South Carolina, the reigning champions, are on a quest to defend their title. The field is wide open with no clear dominant team.

Bracket Reveal and Broadcast Details

The 68-team bracket for the Division I women’s tournament will be unveiled at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 14, live on ESPN.

The men’s basketball tournament bracket reveal will air just before the women’s show at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.

This year, all women’s tournament games will be broadcast across ABC, ESPN, and the ESPN family of networks, ensuring fans won’t miss a moment of the action.

First Rounds and Key Dates

The tournament kicks off with the First Four games on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by the first round on March 21-22.

The top 16 teams will host the first two rounds on their campus sites. This provides a home-court advantage for the highest seeds in each four-team pod.

The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds will take place from March 28-31, with half of the field heading to Birmingham, Ala., and the other half traveling to Spokane, Wash.

The Final Four begins on April 4, culminating in the championship game on April 6 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.

Teams to Watch

This year’s tournament features a diverse array of teams from various conferences, each with its own unique story and potential for a deep run. Here are some of the key teams to keep an eye on:

  • South Carolina: The Gamecocks are looking to become the first repeat champions since UConn in 2015-16. Despite three losses this season, they remain a formidable force with a balanced attack and depth.
  • UConn: After winning the Big East regular-season and conference tournament titles, the Huskies are poised to secure a No. 1 seed for the first time since 2020-21.
  • Star guard Paige Bueckers, the program’s all-time leading scorer, is determined to lead UConn to its first national title since 2015-16.
  • USC: The Trojans, led by Player of the Year Watkins, are aiming for their first national championship since 1984. Watkins has been a standout performer, averaging 24.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game during the regular season.
  • Texas: The Longhorns shared the SEC regular-season title with South Carolina and made a strong showing in the SEC tournament. They are contenders for a No. 1 seed and have the potential to make a deep run.

Bubble Teams and Last Four In

As always, the bubble teams add an extra layer of intrigue to the bracket reveal. This year’s last four in are:

  • Iowa State
  • Virginia Tech
  • Washington
  • Colorado

On the flip side, the first four out are:

  • Harvard
  • Arizona
  • Princeton
  • James Madison

Historical Context and Records

The 2024 women’s NCAA Tournament set numerous records, highlighting the growing popularity of women’s college basketball.

The championship game between South Carolina and Iowa drew more television viewers than the men’s title game. It averaged 18.9 million viewers and peaked at 24 million.

This made it the most-watched women’s college basketball game on record and the most-watched basketball game, men’s or women’s, since 2019.

Attendance and Viewership

Last year’s Final Four was the highest-viewed women’s Final Four to date, according to ESPN.

The tournament also set attendance records, with over 430,000 fans attending the event. This surpassed the previous record by more than 78,000 spectators.

Interest in women’s college basketball has remained high, with more games receiving 500,000-plus viewers this year compared to the 2023-24 season.

Key Players and Storylines

This year’s tournament is packed with compelling storylines and standout players who are sure to make headlines. Here are a few to watch:

  • Paige Bueckers (UConn): Bueckers has been a force for the Huskies, breaking the program’s all-time scoring record and aiming for her first national championship.
  • As the presumptive No. 1 pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft, all eyes will be on her performance.
  • Watkins (USC): The Athletic’s Player of the Year, Watkins, has been outstanding, averaging 24.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.
  • Her performance in the Big Ten tournament, where she averaged 25.8 points and 7.5 rebounds against top-10 opponents, has solidified her status as a top player.
  • South Carolina’s Depth: The Gamecocks are not just about star power; their depth makes them a formidable opponent. With elite players on both ends of the floor, South Carolina is a legitimate title contender.

Seeding Questions

Heading into Selection Sunday, several key seeding questions remain.

The overall No. 1 seed is likely to go to either Big Ten tournament champion UCLA or SEC tournament champion South Carolina.

Additionally, the battle for the fourth No. 1 seed is between Texas and UConn. The loser is likely to become the first No. 2 seed.

This season’s parity has made these decisions particularly challenging, adding to the anticipation.

Conclusion

The 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable in recent memory.

With a wide-open field, record-breaking viewership, and compelling storylines, fans are in for a treat.

Whether you’re rooting for a powerhouse like South Carolina or an underdog like Iowa State, this year’s tournament promises to deliver unforgettable moments.

For more detailed information, visit the New York Times article covering the event.

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