Helena Frye
The 2023 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 68 teams to determine the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college basketball national champion for the 2022–23 season. The tournament began on March 15, 2023, and concluded on April 2 with the championship game at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. LSU, representing Louisiana State University, won the tournament, with their head coach Kim Mulkey becoming the first coach to win a Division I women's basketball national championship at two different schools.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2024 |
| Winner | South Carolina |
| Runner-up | Iowa |
| Score | 87-75 |
| Tournament name | NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament |
| Other names | Women's March Madness |
| Number of teams | 68 |
| Previous winners | UConn (12 times), Tennessee (8), Baylor (3), Stanford (3) |
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What You'll Learn
UConn Huskies: the most NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championships
The University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies have dominated the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championships, lifting the trophy a record 12 times. The Huskies' most recent championship win was in 2025, where they defeated South Carolina to claim their 12th title. This victory added to their impressive record, which includes four consecutive championship wins from 2013 to 2016.
The NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, also known as Women's March Madness, is a highly anticipated annual event in the sports world. The single-elimination tournament is held each spring in the United States and currently features 68 women's college basketball teams from Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The tournament format consists of four opening-round games, known as the First Four, followed by regional tournaments, leading up to the highly anticipated national championship game.
The UConn Huskies' remarkable success in the tournament has solidified their place in women's basketball history. Their 12 championship titles are followed by notable performances from other top schools, including Tennessee with eight titles, and Baylor, Stanford, and South Carolina, each with three titles. UConn's achievements have set a high bar for excellence in women's college basketball.
The Huskies' dominance in the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championships can be attributed to their strong team dynamics, exceptional coaching, and talented players. Their consistent performance and unwavering determination have established UConn as a powerhouse in the world of women's college basketball, inspiring future athletes and fans alike.
While the tournament has historically been overshadowed by its male counterpart, recent years have seen a shift towards greater gender equality. Following a review in 2021, the NCAA took steps to address this issue by expanding the tournament format to match that of the men's tournament, with 68 teams competing. This change, along with the extension of the "March Madness" branding, has helped elevate the profile of the women's game and attract a wider audience.
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Caitlin Clark: Iowa's star player
Caitlin Clark, born on January 22, 2002, is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Clark is regarded as one of the greatest collegiate players and is the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer. She played college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was a two-time national player of the year with the Hawkeyes.
Clark grew up in West Des Moines, Iowa, and began playing basketball at age five in boys' recreational leagues as there were no girls' leagues for her age group. She also played softball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, and golf as a child before focusing on basketball. At age 13, she started playing several years ahead of her age group in girls' leagues. In sixth grade, she joined All Iowa Attack, an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball program based in Ames, Iowa.
Clark has had a significant impact on women's basketball, with her influence likened to that of Stephen Curry in the men's game. She has been credited with popularizing women's basketball since her college career, a trend known as the "'Caitlin Clark' effect". Clark is the first Division-I player to record 3,700+ points, 1,000+ assists, and 850+ rebounds in a career. She holds several other records, including being the Big Ten all-time leader in points and assists, and the first Division-I player to notch back-to-back 1,000-point seasons.
In the 2023 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, Clark made history by becoming the first player to score a 40-point triple-double, with 41 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists. This remarkable achievement helped the Hawkeyes advance to their first Final Four since 1993. Clark's performance in the tournament further solidified her status as Iowa's star player and one of the greatest women's college basketball players of all time.
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NCAA Division I: 68 women's college basketball teams compete
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) to determine the national championship. The 2023 tournament, which ran from March 15 to April 2, was the 41st edition of the tournament and saw a total of six upsets.
The tournament bracket is made up of 32 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. In 2023, 36 "at-large" bids were extended by the NCAA Selection Committee. The last four at-large teams and teams seeded 65 through 68 overall played in First Four games, whose winners advanced to the 64-team first round.
The 2023 tournament was historic for several reasons. It was the second time the women's Final Four was played in Dallas (the first being in 2017). It also saw Virginia Tech's Georgia Amoore hit 24 3-pointers, setting a new record for the most three-pointers in a single tournament. Iowa's Caitlin Clark also set numerous NCAA tournament records, including most points scored (191) and most assists (60). Clark became the first player in tournament history to post back-to-back 40-point games.
The championship game was between LSU and Iowa. LSU won 102-85, with Iowa's 85 points marking the most points ever scored by the losing team in a women's championship game. LSU's head coach Kim Mulkey also made history by becoming the first coach to win a Division I women's basketball national championship as the head coach at two different schools. The game was broadcast on ABC and broke records for the highest viewership for a women's college basketball game at 9.9 million viewers.
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Women's March Madness: the single-elimination tournament
The NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, often referred to as Women's March Madness, is a single-elimination tournament played each spring in the United States. The tournament currently features 68 women's college basketball teams from Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The teams compete to determine 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.
Women's March Madness has often been overshadowed by the more prominent men's tournament. However, after a gender equality review following the 2021 tournament, the NCAA expanded the tournament to the current 68-team format of the men's tournament and extended the "March Madness" branding to the women's tournament.
In 2024, the South Carolina Gamecocks were crowned national women's champions, defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75. In 2025, UConn took home their 12th title, defeating South Carolina in the championship game. UConn holds the record for the most NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championships.
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1982: the first NCAA women's basketball tournament
The 1982 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament was the first of its kind, marking the beginning of a new era for women's basketball. Held from 1972 to 1982, the previous national tournaments for Division I schools were organised by the AIAW. This shift to NCAA auspices was a significant change, and the tournament included 32 teams, with twelve conferences eligible for an automatic bid.
The Louisiana Tech team, also known as the Lady Techsters, were the favourites to win. They had a strong record in previous AIAW tournaments, having reached the Final Four in 1979, 1980, and 1981, and winning the National Championship with an undefeated record in 1981. The team was led by two Kodak All-Americans, Pam Kelly and Angela Turner, with Pam Kelly going on to win the Wade Trophy as the nation's top Division I women's player. The team also included Janice Lawrence and Kim Mulkey, who would later win gold at the Olympics in 1984.
The Final Four of the 1982 tournament was held at the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia, and hosted by Old Dominion University. Louisiana Tech faced Tennessee, also known as the Lady Vols, in the semi-finals, winning 69-46. In the other semi-final, Cheyney State, on a 23-game winning streak and coached by future Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian Stringer, beat Maryland. Cheyney State and Louisiana Tech then faced off in the final, with Louisiana Tech claiming the first-ever NCAA Women's National Championship with a score of 76-62. Janice Lawrence of Louisiana Tech was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
The Louisiana Tech team's success in the 1982 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament was a testament to their skill and determination. With a mix of talented players and experienced coaches, they dominated the competition and secured their place in sports history. This victory also set the stage for future tournaments, inspiring and empowering women's basketball teams across the nation.
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Frequently asked questions
South Carolina won the 2024 NCAA women's basketball tournament, beating Iowa 87-75.
Caitlin Clark was the star player of the Iowa Hawkeyes team.
The UConn Huskies hold the record for the most championship wins at 12, including four straight championships from 2013 through 2016.
