Women's Bracketology: 2023 NCAA tournament
One year after the field expanded from 64 to 68 teams, the women's NCAA tournament will undergo another major change in 2023. Instead of the customary four regional sites, next year's field will have two: Greenville and Seattle. Travel and game schedules are sure to look different, but exactly how is something we will see play out in the coming months. The top-16 teams will continue to host first- and second-round games, but the First Four games are expected to move to a separate, pre-determined site. What hasn't changed is South Carolina as the favorite. The reigning NCAA champion will look to become the first to repeat since UConn in 2016.
Bracket Watch
Three of the four No. 1 seeds -- South Carolina, UConn and Stanford -- have been on the top line each of the past two years and return so much talent it's hard to imagine them not being there again next March. Texas, which has made consecutive Elite Eight appearances, might be ready to get to the next level as the final No. 1 seed. Led by the Gamecocks, the SEC has nine teams in the way-too-early field, but the ACC looks to be deeper at the top. Five teams from that ACC made the top-16, and the conference could be the most competitive and compelling race in the country. Notre Dame, Louisville and NC State all have much to replace but still look to be very good. North Carolina should continue its ascent and Virginia Tech returns the conference's Player of the Year in Liz Kitley.
On the Bubble
Last Four Byes
Last Four In
First Four Out
Next Four Out
68-Team Bracket
Greenville
Columbia
Blacksburg
- 5 Maryland
Norman
South Bend
- 7 Arkansas
- 10 Belmont - aq
- 15 Maine - aq
Seattle
Austin
- 8 Michigan
Raleigh
Tucson
- 11 Duke
- 3 Arizona
- 14 Hawaii - aq
Iowa City
Greenville
Storrs
- 9 Georgia
Bloomington
Chapel Hill
Knoxville
- 7 Baylor
Seattle
Stanford
- 9 Alabama
Columbus
Louisville
- 6 Nebraska
- 11 Oregon State
Ames
- 10 LSU
Photo illo by ESPN Illustration, additional photos courtesy of Getty Images, Associated Press, Imagn, Icon Sportswire, EPA/Shutterstock