Helena Frye
The LSU women's basketball team won the 2023 NCAA Division I National Championship, defeating Iowa in the final. The game was held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, and was the 41st edition of the tournament. LSU's victory marked head coach Kim Mulkey's fourth national championship and her first with LSU, having previously won three during her time at Baylor.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tournament Name | NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament |
| Other Names | Women's March Madness, March Madness |
| Number of Teams | 68 |
| Years with 68 Teams | 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026 |
| Previous Number of Teams | 32 (1982-1985), 36 (1983), 40 (1986-1988), 48 (1989-1993), 64 (1994-2021) |
| Selection Process | 32 automatic bids for Division I conference champions, 36 "at-large bids" selected by NCAA Selection Committee |
| Tournament Format | Divided into four regional divisions, seeded from 1 to 16, with the lowest-seeded teams competing in "First Four" games to advance to the 64-team bracket |
| Champion Determination | Single-elimination tournament, with regional winners advancing to the Final Four and then the national semifinals and final |
| Most Championships | UConn Huskies (11 or 12) |
| Other Frequent Champions | Tennessee (8), Baylor (3), Stanford (3), South Carolina (3), Notre Dame (1) |
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What You'll Learn
- UConn Huskies: the most NCAA women's basketball championship wins
- The 2024 women's championship: the first to receive higher viewership than the men's
- Women's March Madness: the single-elimination tournament format
- The AIAW women's basketball tournament: the predecessor to the NCAA tournament
- The Big East Conference: the original conference for UConn's eight championship wins
UConn Huskies: the most NCAA women's basketball championship wins
The UConn Huskies are the most successful women's basketball programme in the nation, with a record 12 NCAA Division I National Championships. The team has participated in every NCAA tournament since 1989, and from 2008 to 2022, they made it to a record 14 consecutive Final Fours.
The Huskies hold the record for the longest winning streak in college basketball history, with 111 straight wins. This streak started with a victory against Creighton University on November 23, 2014, and ended on March 31, 2017, when they lost in the NCAA Final Four to Mississippi State.
UConn won its first national championship in 1995, with a perfect 35-0 record. This undefeated season sparked increased interest in women's basketball and the team was celebrated with a parade in Hartford, CT, that drew over 100,000 spectators.
The Huskies' success continued in the following years, with four more championships in a span of five years from 2000 to 2004. During this period, UConn achieved a three-peat from 2002 to 2004, led by star players such as Sue Bird, Swin Cash, and Diana Taurasi.
The team added back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010 with notable players like Renee Montgomery, Maya Moore, and Tina Charles. UConn then made history again by winning an unprecedented four consecutive championships from 2013 to 2016, led by the talented Breanna Stewart.
In total, the UConn Huskies have won an impressive 12 NCAA women's basketball championships, solidifying their place as the most successful women's basketball programme in the nation.
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The 2024 women's championship: the first to receive higher viewership than the men's
The 2024 Women's Championship was a historic event, marking the first time that the women's tournament received higher viewership than its male counterpart. This was a significant milestone, given that the tournament had often been overshadowed by the men's competition in the past. The increased popularity of the women's game can be attributed to a variety of factors, including the growing interest in women's sports globally and the gender equality review conducted following the 2021 tournament, which led to expanded coverage and branding opportunities.
The NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, also known as Women's March Madness, is a highly anticipated annual event in the United States. The single-elimination tournament, featuring 68 of the top women's college basketball teams from Division I, determines the national championship. The road to the championship is intense and exciting, with teams battling it out on the court to secure their place in the final rounds.
The 2024 tournament showcased the incredible talent and skill of the athletes, with thrilling games that captured the attention of fans and sports enthusiasts across the country. The increased viewership can also be attributed to the expanded format, which, starting in 2022, mirrored the men's tournament with 32 automatic bids going to conference champions and 36 "at-large bids" selected by the NCAA Selection Committee. This format ensured a diverse range of teams and created a more competitive environment, elevating the excitement and engagement of viewers.
While the 2024 Women's Championship broke new ground in terms of viewership, it continued to face challenges in other areas. Funding from broadcast rights and sponsorship deals remained lower than for the men's tournament, highlighting ongoing disparities. Despite these obstacles, the tournament's success represented a significant step forward in recognising and celebrating the achievements of female athletes.
The University of Connecticut Huskies, or UConn, has dominated the women's game, holding the record for the most NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championships. As of 2025, they have won 12 national titles, including an impressive four consecutive championships from 2013 to 2016. Their success has helped elevate the profile of women's college basketball and inspired a new generation of athletes.
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Women's March Madness: the single-elimination tournament format
The NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, sometimes referred to as Women's March Madness, is a single-elimination tournament played each spring in the United States. The tournament features 68 women's college basketball teams from the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and determines the national championship. The tournament bracket is made up of champions from each Division I conference, which are automatic bids. The remaining slots are at-large bids, with teams chosen by an NCAA selection committee. The selection process and tournament seedings are based on several factors, including team rankings, win-loss records, and NET data.
The tournament was preceded by the AIAW women's basketball tournament, which was organized by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) from 1972 to 1982. Basketball was one of 12 women's sports added to the NCAA championship program for the 1981-82 school year, as the NCAA engaged in a battle with the AIAW for sole governance of women's collegiate sports. The first NCAA women's basketball tournament was held in 1982, featuring 32 teams. The tournament expanded to 40 teams from 1986 to 1988, and 48 teams from 1989 to 1993. From 1994 to 2021, 64 teams competed in each tournament. The tournament expanded to 68 teams in 2022, matching the size of the D-I men's tournament.
The term "March Madness" was first used to refer to basketball by an Illinois high school official, Henry V. Porter, in 1939, but it did not become associated with the NCAA tournament until 1982, when CBS broadcaster Brent Musburger used it during coverage of the tournament. "March Madness" has since become synonymous with the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. In 2022, in response to protests from players in the 2021 women's tournament about differing facility quality and branding, the NCAA adopted the "March Madness" branding for the women's tournament as well.
The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, also known as March Madness, is a single-elimination tournament played in the United States to determine the men's college basketball national champion of the Division I level in the NCAA. The tournament consists of 68 teams and was first conducted in 1939. The 68-team format was adopted in 2011, expanding from the previous format of 64 teams, which had been in place since 1985. The tournament has become one of the greatest annual sporting events in the US, with a current contract for broadcast rights worth $891 million annually.
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The AIAW women's basketball tournament: the predecessor to the NCAA tournament
The AIAW women's basketball tournament was a national tournament for women's collegiate basketball teams in the United States. It was held annually from 1972 to 1982, with the winners recognised as the national champions for those years. The AIAW tournament was the predecessor to the NCAA women's collegiate basketball tournament, which began in 1982.
The AIAW tournament was preceded by a tournament sponsored by the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (CIAW), held from 1969 to 1971. Sixteen teams were invited to the AIAW tournament following qualifying rounds played on college campuses. The number of invited teams increased to 24 for the 1980 and 1981 tournaments. Ten of the sixteen teams were the winners of regional tournaments. The country had nine regions, but the Eastern region was subdivided into Region 1A and Region 1B.
Beginning in 1975, the AIAW divided its teams into divisions and held separate tournaments for Division II and Division III teams. The AIAW tournament featured some notable rivalries and talented athletes. For example, the 1982 AIAW final four included regional rivals such as the Lady Knights and Villanova, as well as the Longhorns and Wayland Baptist.
The AIAW played a significant role in the battle for women's sports and Title IX rights. The AIAW proved that women's sports were a viable TV commodity, with the 1980 women's basketball title game attracting better ratings than that year's NBA playoff action. However, there was resistance to the idea of the NCAA staging its own women's tournaments due to concerns that women's athletics would not be a priority for the predominantly male leadership.
Ultimately, the AIAW tournament was discontinued after the NCAA began sponsoring a women's collegiate basketball tournament in 1982. Despite the discontinuation of the AIAW tournament, it paved the way for the recognition and development of women's collegiate basketball in the United States.
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The Big East Conference: the original conference for UConn's eight championship wins
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletic conference that competes in NCAA Division I across 10 men's and 12 women's sports. The conference was officially recognised in 2013, and member schools have since won national championships in various sports.
UConn, a charter member of the Big East Conference, has an impressive basketball record. The UConn Huskies men's basketball team has won six NCAA tournament championships, with their first in 1999 and the most recent in 2024. They have also won eight Big East tournament championships, the most in conference history, and 11 Big East regular-season championships, also a conference record. UConn's women's basketball team holds the NCAA record for the most women's college basketball championships with 12 wins.
UConn's emergence as a national powerhouse in basketball began after joining the Big East Conference in 1979. The Huskies built on their early success, winning multiple conference championships and appearing in the NCAA tournament numerous times. In 2023, UConn set a new NCAA record by winning its 24th straight non-conference game by double digits. The following year, they became the eighth school in NCAA Division I history to win back-to-back national championships.
UConn's success in the Big East Conference extends beyond basketball. In women's swimming and diving, UConn was a charter member of the original Big East, and the team has competed in prestigious pools across the United States. Additionally, UConn's men's swimming and diving team was a charter member of the 1979 incarnation of the Big East Conference.
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Frequently asked questions
I cannot find the winner of the 2023 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. However, the tournament was held between March 15, 2023, and April 2, 2023, and was televised by ESPN and ABC.
The University of Connecticut Huskies (UConn) holds the record for the most women's college basketball championships with 12 wins, followed by the University of Tennessee with 8 wins.
I cannot find the second-place team of the 2023 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. However, the tournament's semi-finals included Iowa, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Ohio State.
The University of Tennessee has won the second-most women's college basketball championships with 8 wins.
