Women’s NCAA Tournament 2025 Schedule, Locations, and Bracket Announcement

The 2025 women’s NCAA basketball tournament is gearing up to be an exciting and competitive event. This year, the tournament will introduce a new quadrant-based system to evaluate the quality of wins and losses.

The tournament will feature 68 teams for the fourth consecutive year. The new system is similar to the one used by the men’s selection committee. The tournament will kick off with the First Four, followed by the first and second rounds.

The top 16 seeds will host the initial games. The regional semifinals and finals will take place in Birmingham, Alabama, and Spokane, Washington. The tournament will culminate in the Final Four at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

The women’s bracket will be revealed on March 16. All games will be broadcasted on ESPN and available for streaming via the ESPN App.

2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament Schedule

The 2025 women’s NCAA basketball tournament will begin with the First Four on March 19-20. The last four at-large teams, seeded 65 through 68, will compete in these games. The first and second rounds will follow, hosted by the top 16 seeds.

The regional semifinals and finals, known as the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, will be held in Birmingham and Spokane from March 28-31. The highly anticipated Final Four will take place on April 4 and April 6 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

Selection Sunday

Selection Sunday is set for March 16, when the women’s bracket will be revealed on ESPN. This is the day when teams find out their seeding and matchups for the tournament. The announcement will be broadcasted on ESPN and available for streaming on the ESPN App.

First Four

The First Four games will be held on March 19-20, featuring the last four at-large teams. These games are crucial as they determine which teams will advance to the first round of the tournament.

The top 16 seeds will host these initial games, providing a home-court advantage for the higher-seeded teams.

First and Second Rounds

The first round of the tournament will take place on March 21-22, followed by the second round on March 23-24. These rounds will also be hosted by the top 16 seeds, giving them the opportunity to play in front of their home fans.

This setup not only rewards the top teams for their performance throughout the season but also adds an extra layer of excitement for the fans.

Regional Semifinals and Finals

The regional semifinals and finals, also known as the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, will be held at two sites: Birmingham, Alabama, and Spokane, Washington. These games are scheduled for March 28-31, with eight teams competing at each location.

The winners of these regional matchups will advance to the Final Four, bringing them one step closer to the national championship.

Birmingham Regional

The Birmingham Regional will take place at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. This venue is known for its vibrant atmosphere and passionate fans, making it an ideal location for high-stakes tournament games.

Teams competing in this regional will face intense competition as they vie for a spot in the Final Four.

Spokane Regional

The Spokane Regional will be held at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington. This arena has a rich history of hosting major sporting events and is sure to provide an electric environment for the regional semifinals and finals.

Fans in Spokane can look forward to witnessing some of the best college basketball action of the season.

The Final Four in Tampa

The 2025 women’s NCAA basketball tournament will conclude with the Final Four on April 4 and April 6 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. This venue is no stranger to hosting marquee events, and it promises to deliver an unforgettable experience for players and fans alike.

The Final Four is the pinnacle of college basketball, where the remaining teams will compete for the national championship.

Amalie Arena, located in the heart of Tampa, offers state-of-the-art facilities and a seating capacity that ensures a lively and energetic atmosphere. Fans attending the Final Four can expect top-tier basketball action, as well as a range of entertainment options in the vibrant city of Tampa.

New Quadrant-Based System

This year, the women’s NCAA basketball tournament will implement a new quadrant-based system to evaluate the quality of wins and losses. This system, already used by the men’s selection committee, categorizes games into four quadrants based on the opponent’s ranking and the location of the game.

This method aims to provide a more accurate assessment of a team’s performance throughout the season.

How the Quadrant System Works

The quadrant system divides games into four categories:

• Quadrant 1: Home games against teams ranked 1-30, neutral games against teams ranked 1-50, and away games against teams ranked 1-75.
• Quadrant 2: Home games against teams ranked 31-75, neutral games against teams ranked 51-100, and away games against teams ranked 76-135.
• Quadrant 3: Home games against teams ranked 76-160, neutral games against teams ranked 101-200, and away games against teams ranked 136-240.
• Quadrant 4: Home games against teams ranked 161-353, neutral games against teams ranked 201-353, and away games against teams ranked 241-353.

This system will play a significant role in determining which teams make it to the 68-team bracket, as it provides a comprehensive evaluation of each team’s season performance.

Stay Updated with ESPN Bracketology

Throughout the 2024-25 season, fans can stay informed about the latest tournament projections by checking out Charlie Creme’s ESPN Bracketology.

This resource offers early projections of the tournament field, including teams that are currently considered to be on the bubble.

By following Bracketology, fans can get a sense of which teams are likely to make the tournament and which matchups to watch for.

For more information and updates on the 2025 women’s NCAA basketball tournament, visit ESPN’s official coverage.