As the UConn Huskies gear up for their Sweet 16 clash against the Oklahoma Sooners, head coach Geno Auriemma has voiced serious concerns regarding the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament's current structure. This year's tournament has shifted to two regional sites, with the semifinals and finals hosted in Birmingham, Alabama, and Spokane, Washington. Each regional site is now home to eight teams, a change that Auriemma believes has negatively impacted the game.
During a press conference, Auriemma didn’t hold back, stating, "It ruined the game." He lamented that the new format restricts access for fans, saying, "Half the country has no chance to get to a game in person. But you're making billions off of TV. Well, actually, you're not. That would be the men's tournament." His frustration highlights a broader issue within women's sports, where visibility and accessibility remain pressing challenges.
UConn, a perennial powerhouse in women's basketball, is entering this tournament as the No. 2 seed, while Oklahoma holds the No. 3 seed. The teams are set to tip off on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. ET. Auriemma pointed out the logistical difficulties the Huskies face, especially with their travel schedule. After wrapping up their home games at the Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut, on March 24, the team is now headed to Spokane for the next round. If they advance, they will then fly to Tampa for the Women’s Final Four.
Auriemma elaborated on the challenges posed by the tournament's structure, noting that the team will need to wake up at 5 a.m. for a half-hour shootaround scheduled for 7:30 p.m. local time. This hectic schedule is not new for the Huskies; they have faced similar travel issues in previous tournaments. Last year, they transitioned from Storrs to the Portland regional before heading to the Women’s Final Four in Cleveland. In 2023, they went from Storrs to Seattle, only to lose in the regional semifinals.
Beyond Auriemma's concerns, other coaches have echoed similar frustrations. Texas coach Vic Schaefer expressed his discontent with the two-site regional format during a press conference on March 30, 2025, ahead of Texas’ Elite Eight game against TCU. He remarked, "We’re trying to have a press conference right now, and it sounds like there is a daggum party next door." Schaefer's comments highlight the chaotic atmosphere surrounding the tournament, with overlapping events at the Spokane Arena causing distractions and logistical challenges for teams.
LSU coach Kim Mulkey also chimed in, agreeing with Auriemma's assessment regarding the prohibitive costs for fans traveling to the regional sites. Mulkey's Tigers faced UCLA in the Spokane 1 regional final, which they lost. She stated, "We sold our soul too early. This game has gotten better, and man, if you still had four regionals, can you imagine the attendance?" Mulkey's comments reflect a shared sentiment among coaches that the tournament's current format could be improved to enhance fan engagement and accessibility.
The players are feeling the impact of the compressed schedule as well. LSU star Flau’jae Johnson noted that teams only receive half an hour for their pregame shootarounds, which forces them to rush through their warm-up routines. Johnson expressed her concerns, saying, "It’s so many teams in one gym. I feel like that’s one little downfall … It’s really the warmup time for me. Like nah, 30 minutes? We normally take 10 minutes to start warming up." This sentiment underscores the challenges players face in adapting to the tournament's demands.
The ramifications of the two-site schedule extend beyond the current round. The winner of the upcoming Elite Eight matchup between UConn and USC in Spokane 4 will have to travel on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, and will have just two days to prepare for a national semifinal on Friday, April 4, 2025. In contrast, teams competing in Birmingham can reach Tampa in under two hours via direct flights, giving them a significant advantage in terms of recovery time.
Auriemma pointed out the disparity, saying, "God bless whoever wins Monday night and they have got to fly cross country … then they have two days, Wednesday and Thursday, to play the biggest game of their life." His comments suggest that the current setup not only affects the teams' performance but also raises questions about fairness in the tournament structure.
As the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament continues, the debate over its format is likely to gain traction. Auriemma's criticisms, along with those from his peers, highlight the need for a reevaluation of how the tournament is organized. With the commitment to the two-site structure lasting until at least 2028, it remains to be seen how these concerns will be addressed.
As the Sweet 16 matchup approaches, all eyes will be on UConn and Oklahoma as they battle for a spot in the Elite Eight. Fans and analysts alike will be keen to see how the tournament unfolds, especially in light of the ongoing discussions surrounding its format. The stakes are high, and the pressure is mounting as teams vie for a chance to compete in the Women’s Final Four in Tampa next month.
