The 2025 women's NCAA basketball tournament is officially underway, with 68 teams vying for the coveted national championship title. This year's event opens with the highly anticipated First Four games on March 19 and 20, leading to a series of nail-biting matchups that fans have come to expect during March Madness. The stage is set, and excitement fills the air as players prepare to showcase their skills across various venues.
Clinching the overall No. 1 seed, the UCLA Bruins have displayed dominance throughout the season, capping it off with a victorious performance in the Big Ten tournament. Their impressive run saw them spending a remarkable 12 consecutive weeks at the top of the AP poll. As they gear up to defend their position, the Bruins are viewed as the team to beat this year.
Not far behind are the reigning champions, the South Carolina Gamecocks, who are determined to repeat their success from last year. Head coach Dawn Staley leads this powerhouse team, hoping to secure her fourth national title. Additionally, the USC Trojans and Texas Longhorns round out the top four seeds, showcasing impressive capabilities on the court.
Among the notable players looking to make an impact this tournament is UConn's Paige Bueckers, who is determined to lead her team to glory in her final season as a Husky. Meanwhile, several other talented teams, including TCU, Notre Dame, and NC State, bring their A-game to the tournament, each hopeful for a deep run in the competition.
With big names like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese leaving the NCAA, the tournament also heralds a new wave of fresh talent. For instance, newcomers like JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen are eager to lead USC toward potential victory, while UConn's Sarah Strong and South Carolina's Joyce Edwards aim to leave their mark.
The betting lines for the opening round matchups show the stakes are high. For instance, the Iowa State Cyclones come in as 4.5-point favorites against Princeton. This contest, set for March 19 at 7 p.m. at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana, is just one of many highlighted games during these first few days of the tournament. The UC San Diego Tritons face Southern U. at Pauley Pavilion at 9 p.m. the same night.
As the excitement builds, the matchups for the following days reveal more thrilling conflicts. On March 20, Columbia will compete against Washington, with the latter holding the moneyline at -130. Teams like High Point and William & Mary will also face off in another intriguing matchup.
Throughout the tournament, the anticipation for games on March 21 and 22 is palpable, as the First Round will feature intense battles including Michigan State taking on Harvard and Kentucky squaring off against Liberty. The action continues with April 4 marking the Final Four, followed by the championship game on April 6, hosted at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Evaluating the landscape, Ole Miss, seeded No. 6, looks to kick off their journey against a competitive No. 11 North Carolina squad on March 21. After losing a close match to Auburn in the SEC quarterfinals, Ole Miss is eager to seize their opportunity. Conversely, North Carolina enters with momentum following a decisive 95-68 win over San Diego State. With the Tar Heels favored as 1.5-point underdogs, this game is expected to draw considerable attention from bettors and fans alike.
As the tournament unfolds, every game is ripe with possibilities. Teams will fight not just for the win, but for a place in history, and there's no telling which Cinderella stories will emerge this year. Can UCLA uphold their top seed, or will an underdog rise to the occasion?
With the first matchups about to begin, fans are ready for what promises to be an exhilarating journey through March Madness.
