March Madness Begins With Women's And Men's NCAA Tournament Brackets

As March descends upon the sports world, fans are gearing up for one of the most anticipated times of the year: the NCAA Tournament. The fields for both men's and women's basketball have been finalized, setting the stage for a fierce battle to crown the next champion. The women's field consists of 68 teams, equally packed with talent and excitement, promising a competitive tournament in a year that finds no clear dominant team. This is in stark contrast to the previous season when South Carolina entered as the overwhelming favorite, carrying an undefeated record.

This year, the prestigious No. 1 seeds include UCLA, South Carolina, Texas, and USC, with UCLA claiming the top overall seed. The historical odds have shown that since the tournament's expansion in 1994, No. 1 seeds have won the championship a total of 23 times, while No. 2 seeds have claimed the title four times and No. 3 seeds thrice, the latter including LSU, which triumphed as a No. 3 seed just last year.

However, not everyone is satisfied with their seeding. Dawn Staley, the highly respected coach of South Carolina, expressed her disappointment regarding her team’s bracket placement. Staley believes the Gamecocks deserve more recognition for their stellar performance. "We're going to play it, [but] obviously it's disappointing," she stated. "I'd like to get some feedback on how they came to that conclusion because we put together, we manufactured a schedule that if done right, it should produce the overall No. 1 seed. But I will say this, we're going to make adjustments to our schedule in the future if the standard is the standard. If that's the standard, we can play any schedule and get the No. 1 seed."

The tournament brings even more excitement as UConn, the winningest program in women's basketball history with 11 national titles, enters the competition as a No. 2 seed. Under the guidance of legendary coach Geno Auriemma, who made history earlier this season by becoming the winningest coach in basketball history, UConn has reached 15 of the last 16 Final Fours, demonstrating consistent excellence.

As the tournament unfolds, fans are encouraged to get involved in the brackets and friendly competitions. CBS Sports is preparing extensive coverage of the Madness, featuring the latest news, results, and detailed analyses of the biggest matchups. With brackets viewable and printable for all participants, March Madness also fosters a spirit of camaraderie as friends, family, and co-workers come together for this thrilling event.

The 2025 NCAA Men's Tournament bracket has also been released, with the first games taking place on March 19, the day after Selection Sunday, which occurred on March 16 at 6 p.m. ET on CBS. The first round is slated from March 20-21, and gradually, the anticipation will build as teams vie for a place in the Finals at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, scheduled for April 5-7.

The first round of both the men's and women's tournaments will occur across several key venues. For the men's tournament, cities include Dayton, Ohio, where the First Four will be hosted at UD Arena, and other sites such as Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY, and the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA. Meanwhile, the women's tournament will have its own venues, promising exciting matchups across the country.

This year’s Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds will take fans to regional venues, with the East Regional in Newark, NJ, at the Prudential Center, and the South Regional in Atlanta, GA, at State Farm Arena, among others. Beyond the competitive spirit, the tournament embodies the joy of shared experiences, underscoring why many consider it a hallmark of American sports culture.

As fans eagerly anticipate the thrill of NCAA Tournament basketball, now is the time to prepare, join bracket groups, and immerse themselves in the unforgettable March Madness experience. As teams gear up to unleash their skills on the court, the journey to find out who will be crowned the next champion is about to commence, sparking excitement across the nation and beckoning fervent support for competing teams.

Ultimately, heading into the NCAA tournaments, from the competitive matches to the thrilling atmosphere, the 2025 NCAA Men's and Women's Tournaments promise to deliver a riveting showcase of talent, passion, and sportsmanship that fans won't want to miss.