For the first time in recent memory, the women’s NCAA Tournament boasts at least six contenders with a legitimate shot at winning the title. As March Madness approaches, reigning champions South Carolina remain in top form. Unlike their previous undisputed season, the Gamecocks enter the NCAAs with three defeats, including a notable loss to UCLA. This UCLA team, only twice bested this season by rival Southern California and its standout guard JuJu Watkins, secured victory over the Trojans to claim the Big Ten title.
Alongside UCLA and South Carolina, teams like Notre Dame, Texas, and UConn present formidable challenges for the national championship. South Carolina is slightly favored over UConn to defend their title, as suggested by BetMGM Sportsbook heading into the weekend. The fate of all contenders largely hinges on their positions in the tournament bracket, which the NCAA will disclose on Sunday night.
This year’s paths to triumph won’t be easy, given the increased parity in women’s basketball. Notably, this NCAA Tournament becomes only the second instance in the past 19 years featuring no teams with a record of zero or one loss at season’s end. The other occurrence was in 2022.
Financial incentives make history in this tournament. For the first time, women’s teams will gain monetary rewards for participation, mirroring what men’s teams have received. These “performance units” will allocate revenue based on each team’s success. For example, a team reaching the Final Four could secure nearly $1.26 million for its conference across three years, thanks to performance rewards.
This development follows a historic moment when last year’s women’s championship, where South Carolina triumphed over Caitlin Clark and Iowa, achieved higher television ratings than the men’s final.
The tournament’s early stages will feature the top 16 seeds hosting first- and second-round games. For the third consecutive year, regional rounds will occur at neutral venues. Spokane, Washington, and Birmingham, Alabama, are set to host these thrilling Sweet 16 matches. Meanwhile, the culmination of the tournament, the Final Four, will unfold in Tampa, Florida, on April 4, with the championship game taking place two days beyond.
While much anticipation surrounds the tournament, one notable absence is Stanford, which would end their impressive 36-year streak of NCAA Tournament appearances. This would mark their first miss since 1987. However, Tennessee continues its unmatched tradition as the only program to compete in every tournament since its inception in 1982.
