UCLA Earns Coveted Top Seed in NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament

Following a historic season, the UCLA Bruins have been awarded the coveted No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, marking the first time in school history the program has achieved this honor, The Associated Press reports.

The NCAA revealed the tournament bracket Sunday night, with South Carolina, Southern California (USC), and Texas joining the Bruins as the other top seeds.

UCLA’s stellar season, featuring only two losses – both to crosstown rivals USC – culminated in the program’s first-ever top seed. However, the Gamecocks’ coach, Dawn Staley, openly questioned the seeding, suggesting her team deserved the top spot and the associated extra day of rest should they advance to the Final Four. Despite having three losses this season compared to last year’s undefeated championship run, Staley’s South Carolina team is aiming to be the first repeat champion since UConn’s dominant run from 2013-2016.

Speaking of UConn, the Huskies, led by star Paige Bueckers, secured a No. 2 seed and are eager to end their championship drought. Their path could potentially lead them out west for a Sweet Sixteen matchup and a possible Elite Eight showdown against JuJu Watkins and the USC Trojans.

This year’s tournament is notable for its parity. It marks only the second time in the past 19 years that no teams enter March Madness with either zero or only one loss, echoing a similar situation in 2022.

Adding to the excitement, both USC and UCLA, newcomers to the Big Ten conference this season, will be vying to win the first national championship for the conference since Purdue’s victory in 1999. A record 12 teams from the Big Ten earned bids to the tournament, followed by the SEC with 10, the ACC with eight, and the Big 12 with seven.

The Ivy League also made history, receiving three bids to the tournament for the first time. Columbia, Princeton, and Harvard will all be representing the conference in this year’s field.

Duke, TCU, and N.C. State join UConn as No. 2 seeds, while Notre Dame, despite wins over Texas, USC, and UConn, landed a No. 3 seed after a late-season slump.

Six teams are set to make their debut in the women’s NCAA Tournament: William & Mary, Arkansas State, Fairleigh Dickinson, George Mason, Grand Canyon, and UC San Diego. William & Mary (15-18) notably becomes the first sub-.500 team since Incarnate Word in 2022 to make the tournament.

Virginia Tech, James Madison, Saint Joseph’s, and Colorado were the first four teams left out of the field.