Big Ten Conference Sets Record with 12 Programs Headed to the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament
First time in conference history that 12 teams have earned bids
ROSEMONT, Ill. – A record-setting 12 Big Ten Conference schools received berths into the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, the NCAA announced Sunday night.
For the first time in conference history, 12 programs earned their way into the NCAA Tournament, led by No. 1 overall seed UCLA and No. 4 overall seed USC. The 12 berths was the top mark among all Division I conferences, followed by the SEC (10), ACC (8) and Big 12 (7).
This marks the third and fourth times, respectively, a Big Ten program has garnered a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament in the last three years. Iowa had been a top seed the past two years and reached consecutive national championship games.
The 12 selections are a conference record for most teams chosen in one season. It is the 20th time in the past 24 years and 27th time in Big Ten history that at least six current conference members have been selected to compete in the NCAA Tournament.
The First four will be played Wednesday-Thursday (March 19-20) at four of the top 16 host sites, with the first-and second-round games being played on the campuses of the top 16 seeds from March 21-24. Tournament play then shifts to two eight-team regional sites in Birmingham, Ala. and Spokane, Wash., from March 28-31. The four regional winners will advance to the NCAA Final Four, which will take place April 4 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., before the NCAA Championship Game on Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
The 2025 NCAA Tournament will be televised live on the ESPN family of networks and can also be seen on the ESPN app.
For the first time in conference history, UCLA is the Big Ten’s automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament after the Bruins won their first-ever Big Ten Tournament title. UCLA is the overall No. 1 seed for the first time in program history and earned a spot in the Spokane 1 Region. The Bruins will take on the winner of Wednesday’s First Four contest between No. 16 seeds UC San Diego and Southern inside Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Friday. The Bruins are making their 20th entry into the NCAA Tournament and own a 25-19 record in the postseason event.
USC, the Big Ten regular-season champion, claimed the No. 4 overall seed and No. 1 seed in the Spokane 4 Region. The Trojans are hosting the opening rounds and will face No. 16 seed UNC Greensboro at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. USC is headed to its 19th NCAA Tournament, having won a pair of national titles in 1983 and 1984. The Trojans advanced to the Elite Eight a season ago and have a 32-16 mark in NCAA Tournament action.
Ohio State is making its 29th NCAA Tournament appearance after claiming the No. 4 seed in the Birmingham 3 Region. The Buckeyes are set to host in Columbus at the Schottenstein Center and challenge No. 13 seed Montana State in the first round. Ohio State also has a 32-28 postseason record.
Maryland earned the No. 4 seed in the Birmingham 2 Region and is heading into its 32nd overall and 14th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Terrapins will be hosting at XFINITY Center in College Park, Md., and will take on No. 13 seed Norfolk State.
Michigan garnered the No. 6 seed in the Birmingham 3 Region as it embarks on its 13th NCAA Tournament appearance. The Wolverines are slated to play the winner of the First Four matchup between No. 11 seeds Iowa State and Princeton in Notre Dame, Ind. and hold a 11-12 mark in the tournament.
Iowa is coming off back-to-back showings in the national championship game in 2023 and 2024. The Hawkeyes, who gained entry into their 31st NCAA Tournament, secured the No. 6 seed in the Spokane 4 Region. Iowa will face No. 11 seed Murray State in the first round in Norman, Okla.
Michigan State will travel to Raleigh, N.C. as the No. 7 seed in the Spokane 1 Region to meet No. 10 seed Harvard. The Spartans are looking to improve on their 19-19 record as they embark on their 19th overall appearance.
Illinois, the No. 8 seed in the Birmingham 3 Region, begins its journey against No. 9 seed Creighton in Austin, Texas. The Fighting Illini are back in the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time, first since 2023, and hold an 8-9 record in the event.
Indiana is making its 11th venture in the NCAA Tournament and maintains a 11-10 record. The Hoosiers earned the No. 9 seed in the Birmingham 2 Region and will prepare to meet No. 8 seed Utah in Columbia, SC.
Nebraska is heading to its 17th NCAA Tournament after notching the No. 10 seed in the Birmingham 3 Region. The Huskers will see No. 7 seed Louisville in Fort Worth, Texas as they look to build on their 9-16 tournament mark.
Oregon is back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2021-22 season with its 18th overall appearance. The No. 10-seeded Ducks will open action in Durham, N.C. in the Birmingham 2 Region against No. 7 seed Vanderbilt and are 17-17 in tournament play.
For the first time since the 2016-17 campaign, Washington has earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament as part of the Birmingham 2 Region. The 16-seeded Huskies, in their 20th appearance, are set to clash with No. 16 seed Columbia in Chapel Hill, N.C. as part of the First Four. Washington is hoping to improve their 21-19 record.
Game times will be announced in the coming days.
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