For the first time in program history, UCLA has secured the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. The Bruins lead the group of top seeds, which also includes South Carolina, USC, and Texas, as revealed by the NCAA on Sunday night.
Despite UCLA’s impressive season, head coach Dawn Staley of South Carolina believed her team had a strong case for the top spot. However, with three losses—including a head-to-head defeat against UCLA—the Gamecocks were edged out. The NCAA Selection Committee Chair, Derita Dawkins, explained that South Carolina’s 29-point loss to UConn was another key factor in their ranking behind the Bruins.
South Carolina, the reigning national champions, are aiming to become the first team since UConn (2013-2016) to win back-to-back titles. Staley admitted she was surprised by the decision but remained focused on the bigger picture. “We built our schedule with the goal of being the No. 1 overall seed,” she told ESPN. “Winning a championship is tough enough—we don’t need extra motivation.”
UConn, led by star guard Paige Bueckers, landed as a No. 2 seed and will likely face a challenging road in the West Region. If they advance to the Elite Eight, a highly anticipated rematch against USC and freshman sensation JuJu Watkins could be on the horizon.
USC Coach Calls Seeding “Disrespectful”
USC, which secured the fourth and final No. 1 seed, was not entirely satisfied with its placement. Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb expressed frustration, saying, “I never thought I’d be a No. 1 seed and feel disrespected. Sometimes, I don’t understand the decisions made in women’s college basketball.”
Regardless of the seeding debates, this year’s tournament is shaping up to be highly competitive. For only the second time in nearly two decades, no team enters March Madness with fewer than two losses. The last time this happened was in 2022, a testament to the growing parity in the sport.
“Fans want to see great basketball, and they will,” Dawkins said. “The teams were seeded based on their performances all season, and we believe the bracket reflects that.”
Big Ten Makes History with 12 Teams in the Tournament
The Big Ten Conference is sending a record-breaking 12 teams to the NCAA tournament, the most of any conference. The SEC follows closely with 10, the ACC has eight, and the Big 12 will send seven teams to compete.
Additionally, the Ivy League secured three tournament bids for the first time ever. Columbia, which made history last season with just the second at-large bid in league history, returns alongside Princeton and Harvard. Both Princeton and Columbia are No. 11 seeds, while Ivy League tournament champion Harvard is a No. 10 seed.
Notable Tournament First-Timers and Snubs
Several programs will be making their first-ever NCAA Women’s Tournament appearances this year, including William & Mary, Arkansas State, Fairleigh Dickinson, George Mason, Grand Canyon, and UC San Diego. William & Mary (15-18) became the first sub-.500 team since Incarnate Word (2022) to earn a spot in the tournament.
However, not every team received good news. Virginia Tech, James Madison, Saint Joseph’s, and Colorado were the first four teams left out of the bracket, narrowly missing an at-large bid.
Women’s Teams Will Now Receive Financial Performance Bonuses
For the first time in NCAA history, women’s teams will be compensated based on tournament performance, similar to the long-standing structure on the men’s side. Schools will receive financial performance units, with a Final Four run potentially bringing their conference around $1.26 million over a three-year period.
This move comes one year after the 2023 NCAA women’s championship game, in which South Carolina’s victory over Caitlin Clark and Iowa drew higher TV ratings than the men’s title game—a significant moment in the continued growth of women’s basketball.
As the Road to Tampa begins, all eyes will be on whether UCLA can capitalize on their historic top seed, if South Carolina can defend their title, and whether a dark horse team can shake up the tournament. The madness is about to begin.
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