Fri Mar 21 18:50:00 UTC 2025: **UCLA and South Carolina Headline Star-Studded 2025 Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament**
**BIRMINGHAM, AL/SPOKANE, WA —** The 2025 Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament is set to begin, with 64 teams vying for the championship title. UCLA, boasting a perfect 30-2 record and a 12-week reign at #1 in the AP poll, secured the top seed. Defending champion South Carolina, led by coach Dawn Staley, aims for a repeat victory. USC and Texas round out the number one seeds.
The tournament features a mix of returning stars and promising newcomers. Paige Bueckers leads UConn in her final season, while TCU, Notre Dame, and NC State are also considered strong contenders. The absence of notable players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese opens opportunities for rising stars such as Juju Watkins and Kiki Iriafen of USC and UConn’s rookie Sarah Strong.
The opening rounds promise exciting matchups, with several games featuring close point spreads. ESPN BET provided pre-game lines and totals for several key games, indicating tight competition in various regions. The games will air across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPNEWS.
The full bracket, including the complete schedule and detailed odds from ESPN BET, are available online. The tournament promises high-stakes basketball and intense competition from the First Four to the Final Four.
First Piper 