UCLA Earns First-Ever No. 1 Overall Seed in NCAA Women’s Tournament

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For the first time in school history, UCLA earned the top overall seed in the 68-team field for the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship.

The NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee awarded No. 1 seeds to UCLA (30-2), South Carolina (30-3), Texas (31-3) and Southern California (28-3).

The First Four opening-round games will take place March 19-20 on the campuses of four teams seeded in the top 16. First- and second-round games will be held March 21-24 at the sites of the top 16 seeds.

Regional play is set for March 28-31 in Birmingham, Alabama, at Legacy Arena, and Spokane, Washington, at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Each site will host two regional semifinal games March 28 and two March 29, followed by one regional championship game each on March 30 and March 31.

The 2025 NCAA Women’s Final Four will take place April 4 and 6 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

UCLA, the top overall seed, leads Spokane Regional 1. The Bruins, who won the Big Ten Tournament in their first season in the league, are seeking their first national championship.

Defending national champion South Carolina is the No. 1 seed in Birmingham Regional 2. The Gamecocks, who went undefeated to win the 2024 national title, shared the Southeastern Conference regular season championship with Texas before defeating the Longhorns 64-45 in the SEC Tournament final.

Texas is the No. 1 seed in Birmingham Regional 3. The Longhorns won their only national championship in 1986.

Southern California, the Big Ten regular season champion, is the No. 1 seed in Spokane Regional 4. The Trojans previously won national championships in 1983 and 1984.

Tennessee extended its streak as the only school to appear in all 43 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championships since the tournament’s inception in 1982. Meanwhile, Arkansas State, UC San Diego, Fairleigh Dickinson, George Mason, Grand Canyon and William & Mary are making their tournament debuts.

Thirty-one conferences received automatic bids, with the remaining 37 teams selected at large.

In the tournament’s 42-year history, 16 schools have won a national title. UConn leads with 11 championships, followed by Tennessee with eight. South Carolina, the reigning champion, has won three national titles, including its most recent at the 2024 Women’s Final Four in Cleveland.

Tournament Bracket Summary:

• Spokane Regional 1: UCLA (30-2) leads the region, facing UC San Diego/Southern U. in the first round.
• Birmingham Regional 2: South Carolina (30-3) faces Tennessee Tech (26-5) in the opening round.
• Birmingham Regional 3: Texas (31-3) plays the winner of High Point/William & Mary.
• Spokane Regional 4: Southern California (28-3) meets UNC Greensboro (25-6) in the first round.
• Notable first-round matchups:
  • UConn (31-3) vs. Arkansas State (21-10)
  • Notre Dame (26-5) vs. Stephen F. Austin (29-5)
  • LSU (28-5) vs. San Diego State (25-9)
  • Duke (26-7) vs. Lehigh (27-6)
• First-time tournament participants: Arkansas State, UC San Diego, Fairleigh Dickinson, George Mason, Grand Canyon, William & Mary.
• Tournament dates:
  • First Four: March 19-20
  • First and second rounds: March 21-24
  • Regionals: March 28-31
  • Women’s Final Four: April 4 and 6 in Tampa, Florida.