HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – DECEMBER 21: JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans is defended by Paige … More Bueckers #5 of the Connecticut Huskies during the second half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at the XL Center on December 21, 2024 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
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Women’s March Madness is underway, showcasing elite basketball talent and thrilling matchups on the national stage. As the 2025 tournament progresses, here’s everything you need to know about its history, schedule, how to watch, top contenders, and this year’s Cinderella teams.
The First Women’s March Madness
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 03: Aliyah Boston #4 of the South Carolina Gamecocks holds the trophy after … More a win over the Connecticut Huskies in the championship game of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Target Center on April 3, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
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For years, the term “March Madness” was reserved exclusively for the men’s tournament, despite the women’s competition delivering just as much excitement and skill. That finally changed in 2022, following the 2021 Kaplan, Hecker & Fink Gender Equity Report, which exposed major disparities in marketing, funding, and overall visibility between the two tournaments.
The 40th installment of the tournament, marking the debut of Women’s March Madness, kicked off on March 16, 2022, and wrapped up with the championship matchup on April 3 at Target Center in Minneapolis. In the final, the South Carolina Gamecocks secured their second NCAA title with a 64–49 victory over the UConn Huskies, delivering UConn its first-ever loss in a championship game.
NCAA Vice President of Women’s Basketball, Lynn Holzman, emphasized that integrating the “March Madness” branding into the women’s tournament was a critical step in addressing gender equity. The move has since contributed to increased sponsorship, higher viewership, and greater overall recognition of the women’s game.
When And Where Is Women’s March Madness 2025?
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 09: JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans shoots the ball while defended … More by Kiki Rice #1 of the UCLA Bruins during the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament – Championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 09, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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The 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament will once again feature 68 teams, following the expanded format introduced in 2022. The tournament kicked off with Selection Sunday on March 16, followed by several rounds of high-stakes competition across different locations.
- First Four & First/Second Rounds: March 21-24 at the home arenas of the top 16 seeds
- Sweet 16 & Elite Eight: March 28-31 in Birmingham, Alabama, and Spokane, Washington
- Final Four & National Championship: April 4 & April 6 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida
The tournament culminates in Tampa, where the Final Four and championship game will be held at Amalie Arena.
Differences Between The Women’s And Men’s Tournaments
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 09: Rori Harmon #3 of the Texas Longhorns plays against the South … More Carolina Gamecocks during the championship of the SEC women’s basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 09, 2025 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
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While the women’s and men’s March Madness tournaments follow a similar structure, key differences remain:
- The women’s First Four games take place before the first two rounds.
- The women’s Regionals are held at two sites, while the men’s tournament has four regional locations.
- The women’s Final Four takes place on a Friday, while the men’s is held on a Saturday.
Women’s Tournament Schedule:
- Selection Sunday: March 16 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
- First Four: March 19-20
- First & Second Rounds: March 21-24
- Sweet 16: March 28-29
- Elite Eight: March 30-31
- Final Four: Friday April 4 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL
- Championship Game: Sunday April 6 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC
Men’s Tournament Schedule:
- Selection Sunday: March 16 at 6 p.m. ET on CBS
- First Four: March 18-19
- First & Second Rounds: March 20-23
- Sweet 16: March 27-28
- Elite Eight: March 29-30
- Final Four: Saturday April 5 at Alamodome in San Antonio, TX
- Championship Game: Monday April 7 at 8:50 p.m. ET on CBS
Where To Watch And Stream The Games
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – MARCH 21: Hannah Hidalgo #3 of the University of Notre Dame goes up for a … More layup during the First Round of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament game between the University of Notre Dame and Stephen F. Austin State University held at Purcell Pavilion on March 21, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Abigail Dean/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
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Every moment of the women’s tournament will be available across ESPN’s family of networks, ensuring maximum exposure and accessibility: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews. The final will air on ABC.
The men’s tournament will be broadcast across CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV. All CBS games are available for streaming on Paramount+. All TBS, TNT and TruTV games can be streamed on Max.
Who Won The 2024 Women’s March Madness Tournament?
CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 7: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks cuts down the net … More after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyesduring the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament National Championship at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 7, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
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The 2024 Women’s March Madness Tournament featured a thrilling showdown between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the South Carolina Gamecocks. On April 7, 2024, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, South Carolina secured their third national championship with an 87–75 win over Iowa.
Caitlin Clark, in her final collegiate season, led Iowa to a second straight runner-up finish, while South Carolina’s commanding performance furthered their dominance as one of the nation’s top women’s basketball programs under head coach Dawn Staley.
The championship game drew an estimated 18.9 million viewers on ABC and ESPN, according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, with viewership peaking at 24.1 million during the final minutes of the game (5:00 – 5:14 PM ET). This was a 90% increase over the 9.9 million viewers who tuned in for the 2023 final and an astonishing 288% jump from 2022.
In a historic first, the women’s championship game outdrew the men’s final in 2024. The Men’s College Basketball National Championship on April 8, which featured UConn and Purdue, attracted 14.8 million viewers, nearly 4 million fewer than the women’s game.
2025 Women’s March Madness Odds And Predictions
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 09: Madison Booker #35 of the Texas Longhorns dribbles against … More Tessa Johnson #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second quarter during the championship of the SEC women’s basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 09, 2025 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
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Heading into the 2025 tournament, several teams have emerged as strong contenders:
- Texas (1 seed): The Longhorns surged to the top of the rankings late in the season, proving themselves as a serious title threat. Sophomore forward Madison Booker leads Texas on the floor. The SEC Player of the Year, Booker is the Longhorns’ top scorer with 16.2 points per game and also ranks second in rebounds (6.6 per game), assists (2.8 per game), and steals (1.6 per game). Booker and senior guard Rori Harmon, a member of the SEC All-Defensive Team and a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, are key contributors to Texas’ status as one of the top defensive teams in the tournament.
- UCLA (Overall 1 seed): A dominant force throughout the season, though they suffered a crucial loss to USC in early March. The Bruins rank among the top rebounding teams in Division I, with Lauren Betts, arguably the most powerful post player in the country, on their roster. Betts leads her team in scoring with 19.7 points per game, shooting an impressive 63.2% from the field. She’s just shy of a double-double, averaging 9.9 rebounds per game, and ranks in the nation’s top five for blocks, with 2.9 per contest.
- Notre Dame (3 seed): The Irish continue to be a strong contender, driven by Hannah Hidalgo, who averages 23.3 points and 4.2 steals per game. With Olivia Miles (16.2 PPG, 5.8 APG) and Sonia Citron (13.8 PPG), they boast a formidable perimeter game, with both guards capable of altering the course of a game.
- South Carolina (1 seed): Despite some setbacks, the defending champions are still a formidable presence in the tournament. Although South Carolina is the No. 2 overall seed behind the Bruins, it is the top choice to win the 2025 title, according to nearly two dozen women’s college basketball analysts, writers, and commentators surveyed at ESPN. South Carolina features a deep and talented roster, with their guard unit—MiLaysia Fulwiley, Te-Hina Paopao, Tessa Johnson, Bree Hall, and Raven Johnson—providing versatility and strength across all areas.
- USC (1 seed): USC secured the Big Ten Championship with an impressive performance. Sophomore guard JuJu Watkins (24.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.5 APG) has solidified her position as a leading contender for national player of the year, while senior forward Kiki Iriafen is also capable of dominating games. With a combination of standout players and strong team unity, USC is well-equipped to capture the NCAA title.
- UConn (2 seed): The Huskies dominated with four consecutive NCAA titles from 2013 to 2016, but have not captured the championship since. As Paige Bueckers enters her final college season, there’s a strong resolve to guide UConn back to the top. Bueckers is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Cinderella Teams:
- LSU (3 seed): With Angel Reese’s departure, LSU is reloading but remains dangerous. Flau’Jae Johnson is averaging 18.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
- TCU (2 seed): With Hailey Van Lith averaging 17.9 points and 5.3 assists per game, TCU is going into the tournament as a contender.
- Tennessee (5 seed): With a 22-9 record, the Lady Vols proved their ability to defeat top-ranked talent by taking down UConn in the regular season.
