Kristian Ferrell
Women's basketball has had brackets since the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began in 1982. The tournament has grown in popularity over the years, with a record-high average of 556,184 viewers per game during the 2023 season. In 2022, the NCAA began using the 'March Madness' branding for the women's tournament, which led to increased coverage and viewership of female athletes. The tournament follows the same format and selection process as the men's tournament, with 32 automatic bids and 36 at-large bids awarded to teams.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year women's basketball was included in NCAA Division I basketball tournament | 1982 |
| Number of teams in the tournament from 1982-1985 | 32 |
| Number of teams in the tournament in 1983 | 36 |
| Number of teams in the tournament from 1986-1988 | 40 |
| Number of teams in the tournament from 1989-1993 | 48 |
| Number of teams in the tournament from 1994-2021 | 64 |
| Number of teams in the tournament from 2022 | 68 |
| Number of teams that are automatically entered into March Madness | 32 |
| Number of teams selected by the Division I Women's Basketball Committee | 34 |
| Number of automatic bids awarded to champions of Division I conferences | 32 |
| Number of "at-large bids" extended by the NCAA Selection Committee | 36 |
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What You'll Learn
Women's basketball tournaments have existed since 1971
Women's basketball tournaments have existed since the 1970s, with the first official Women's NCAA March Madness Tournament taking place in 1982. The road to establishing this tournament was not without challenges and competition.
The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) had been governing women's collegiate sports since 1971 and played a pivotal role in the passage of Title IX in 1972, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs or activities. Despite the AIAW's efforts, women's sports championships were notably absent from the NCAA's agenda until the 1981-1982 school year.
In 1981, the all-male-led NCAA introduced women's sports to its championship program for the first time, marking a significant shift in the landscape of women's collegiate athletics. This move sparked a battle with the AIAW for governance, with both organizations conducting championship programs in basketball and 11 other sports during the 1981-1982 school year.
The NCAA, with its greater power and resources, ultimately prevailed, and the AIAW disbanded in 1982. The first NCAA women's basketball tournament in 1982 consisted of 32 teams, with the number of participating teams expanding over the years to match the size of the D-I men's tournament.
Today, the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament follows a similar format to its male counterpart, with 32 automatic bids awarded to conference champions and 36 "at-large bids" determined by the NCAA Selection Committee. The tournament is a highly anticipated event in women's sports, with approximately 350 Division I women's teams vying for a spot in the bracket each year.
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The NCAA included women's basketball in 1982
The first NCAA women's basketball tournament was held in 1982, with 32 teams participating. This inaugural tournament was a significant moment in the sport's history, as it established the NCAA's commitment to women's basketball and set the stage for its future growth and development. The 1982 tournament also marked the beginning of the post-season tournament being organised by the NCAA, which has since become an annual tradition.
It's worth noting that the AIAW, the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, had been organising a women's basketball tournament since 1972. However, in 1982, most of the top teams, including the defending AIAW champion Louisiana Tech, chose to participate in the NCAA tournament instead. This led to the AIAW tournament losing its prominence, and it eventually disbanded after the 1982 season.
The inclusion of women's basketball by the NCAA in 1982 was just the beginning of the sport's journey within the association. Over the years, the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship has gained immense popularity, with the UConn Huskies holding the record for the most championships as of 2022. The tournament has evolved, with adjustments to the number of participating teams and the introduction of a smaller ball for women's NCAA play in 1984. The women's game continues to grow in popularity, with the 2025 Women's NCAA tournament being the second most-viewed tournament in history.
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The number of teams in the tournament has increased over time
The first NCAA women's basketball tournament was held in 1982, with 32 teams competing. This inaugural tournament coincided with another championship organised by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). The AIAW had been governing women's collegiate sports since 1971 and played a pivotal role in passing Title IX in 1972, which prohibits gender-based discrimination in federally funded education programmes and activities. However, when the NCAA added women's sports to its championship programme in the 1981–82 academic year, it sparked a battle for control of women's collegiate athletics.
The number of teams in the NCAA women's basketball tournament has indeed expanded over the years. From 1982 to 1985, the tournament featured 32 teams (with 36 teams competing in 1983 specifically). The tournament expanded to 40 teams from 1986 to 1988, and then to 48 teams from 1989 to 1993. The field grew even further in 1994, reaching 64 teams, and this number remained constant until 2021.
In 2022, the tournament expanded once more, this time to 68 teams, matching the size of the Division I men's tournament. This increase signifies a step towards parity between the men's and women's competitions. The tournament format includes 32 automatic bids awarded to the champions of the Division I conferences, with the remaining 36 bids being "at-large" bids extended by the NCAA Selection Committee. These bids are placed into four regional divisions, with teams seeded from 1 to 16 within each region.
The growth in the number of teams participating in the NCAA women's basketball tournament reflects the increasing popularity and significance of women's collegiate basketball. It also demonstrates a gradual shift towards valuing women's sports more equally with their men's counterparts, although there is still progress to be made in this regard.
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The tournament format and selection process is similar to the men's
The first NCAA women's basketball tournament was held in 1982, the same year women's basketball was added to the NCAA championship program. This inaugural tournament consisted of 32 teams, with 36 teams participating in 1983, 40 teams from 1986 to 1988, and 48 teams from 1989 to 1993. The tournament expanded to 64 teams from 1994 to 2021. In 2022, the tournament expanded further to 68 teams, matching the size of the Division I men's tournament.
The tournament format and selection process are similar to the men's. The tournament begins with four opening-round games, known as the First Four. The First Four involves the four lowest-ranked conference champions competing for 16 seeds in the round of 64, along with the four lowest-ranked at-large teams vying for their spots in the same round. The at-large bids are granted by the NCAA Selection Committee, which also seeds the teams. The tournament is then divided into four regional tournaments, each comprising 16 teams seeded from 1 to 16. The committee aims to ensure that each region is as balanced as possible.
The 32 automatic bids are awarded to the champions of the Division I conferences, while the remaining 36 are "at-large bids" chosen by the NCAA Selection Committee. The selection process considers various factors, including the strength of schedule and season-long indicators like NET and team-sheet data.
The women's tournament usually takes place before the men's tournament. From 1982 to 1990, 1996 to 2002, 2017 to 2019, and since 2021, the Women's Final Four is typically played on the Friday before the Men's Final Four or the day before the final Saturday of the tournament. The final, as of 2023, is held on the Sunday afternoon following the Men's Final Four.
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The top seeds in the 2026 bracket are expected to be the same as 2025
Women's basketball has had brackets since the first NCAA women's basketball tournament in 1982. The tournament was held alongside another championship tournament by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), which had been governing women's collegiate sports since 1971. The NCAA tournament consisted of 32 teams from 1982 to 1985, 40 teams from 1986 to 1988, and 48 teams from 1989 to 1993. From 1994 to 2021, 64 teams competed in each tournament.
The NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament follows the same format and selection process as the men's tournament, with 32 automatic bids awarded to the champions of the Division I conferences, and 36 "at-large bids" extended by the NCAA Selection Committee. The four lowest-seeded automatic bids and the four lowest-seeded at-large bids compete in the First Four games to advance to the 64-team bracket in the first round.
The top seeds in the 2026 bracket are expected to be the same as in 2025, with South Carolina, UConn, UCLA, and Texas predicted to be the top four seeds. This consistency is anticipated despite each team losing important personnel. The 2026 tournament is expected to maintain the current system, with 64 teams and 32 automatic bids, before the Pac-12 returns for the 2026-27 season, bringing the tournament back to 32 automatic bids.
The success of women's basketball teams varies over time, with the UConn Huskies holding the record for the most NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championships, with 12 national titles. The Tennessee Lady Volunteers are the only team to have appeared in every tournament since its founding in 1982. The sport has gained more attention in recent years, with the 2022 NCAA women's basketball tournament being one of the most conspicuous examples of the NCAA beginning to value women's sports more highly.
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Frequently asked questions
The first NCAA women's basketball tournament was held in 1982, marking the first time women were included in the Division I basketball tournament since its start in 1939.
From 1994 to 2021, 64 teams competed in each tournament. From 2022 onwards, the tournament will involve 68 teams, matching the size of the D-I men's tournament.
32 teams are automatically entered into the tournament, with the remaining teams selected by the Division I Women's Basketball Committee, based on how the teams performed during the regular season.
