2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown

Right now I feel confident in my decisions, but it’s March, which means busted brackets are a given. I’m looking forward to that as well, because chaos is what makes the Tournament so special.

Let’s dance.

Spokane 1

• UCLA’s win over rival USC in the Big Ten championship was its biggest victory of the season for several reasons. First, it means the Bruins secured the No. 1 overall seed and a relatively favorable path to the Final Four. Second, it means the Bruins can go into the tournament knowing they’ve defeated everyone they’ve come across this season. That importance of that kind of confidence can’t be understated. Now that UCLA has gotten over the mental block that was their cross-town rival, I also feel confident in its ability to run the table. There isn’t a player in this region that can contend with 6-foot-7 junior center Lauren Betts, and UCLA’s shooters started to heat up in the Big Ten tournament. 

• The most difficult potential matchup for UCLA is LSU, a team the Bruins lost to in last season’s Sweet Sixteen. The Tigers boast one of the best trios in the country in Flau’jae Johnson, Mikaylah Williams and Aneesah Morrow. The 6-foot-1 Morrow is an elite rebounder, grabbing 13.6 boards per game, and she shines particularly bright on the offensive glass, where she secures 5.2 rebounds per contest. Her motor can be the difference in a close game. Injuries are a concern for the Tigers, as Johnson missed her team’s last three games with shin inflammation and Morrow is battling a foot-sprain that dates back to February 16th. Both have been cleared to play, but just how healthy they are remains to be seen.

• Led by 6-foot-2 senior guard Madison Scott, Ole Miss has a path to its second Sweet Sixteen in the last three years. Scott is a matchup problem due to her length and athleticism. She can shoot over smaller guards in the midrange and fly past bigs off the bounce. Scott is a player who I could see having a long WNBA career if given the right opportunity. Playing well in March would certainly impress pro scouts.

• Don’t miss the opportunity to watch Florida State’s prolific scorer, 5-foot-9 junior guard Ta’Niya Latson, as the Seminoles play first-time tournament team George Mason in the first round. Latson is averaging 24.9 points per game, which leads the nation. She’s also the only player in the country that I’ve seen consistently get past Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, who is regarded as the best on-ball defender in the NCAA. That should give you an idea of just how good Latson is. Her team will be hard-pressed to get past LSU in the second round, so make sure to watch Latson while you can.

• Speaking of talented guards, NC State has three of them in seniors Saniya Rivers, Aziaha James and Zoe Brooks. Rivers is a consistent shot-creator, James was last year’s March Madness breakout star, and Brooks led NC State past Notre Dame a few weeks ago with 33 points. The Wolfpack have a lethal backcourt, but if they’re going to make a run it will come down to the team’s young bigs. For much of the season, post play was a glaring weakness for NC State, but coach Wes Moore managed to develop freshmen Tilda Trygger, Lorena Awou and sophomore Mallory Collier into players who can hold their own. Trygger will get the most time, but expect Awou and Collier to play impact minutes as well.

• If you’re looking for a potential Cinderella, the No. 7 seed Michigan State Spartans fit the bill. The Spartans like to create turnovers and run the floor, which can lead to chaos for their opponents. It’s the kind of defense that is difficult to replicate in practice and with the added pressure of a one-loss elimination tournament, mistakes can compound against the Spartans. If they can get past Harmoni Turner and Harvard, who are in the field for the first time since 2007, then the Spartans will be a difficult out for NC State.

Spokane 2

• USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said she felt “disrespected” after the NCAA Tournament Committee selected her Trojans as the fourth No. 1 seed. I understand her frustration — mostly because no one wants UConn as its No. 2 seed — but it’s hard to argue the legitimacy of UCLA and South Carolina receiving the top two 1-seeds. UCLA lost to USC twice but beat the Trojans in the most important game of the season, the Big Ten Championship. Meanwhile, South Carolina defeated a slew of ranked opponents on the way to an SEC championship. Texas is the only team in the 1-seed group that USC could have usurped, but the two have comparable resumes in terms of wins. The only difference is USC’s confusing bad loss to Iowa, which is perhaps how the committee differentiated the two teams. 

• Despite the frustrations from Gottlieb, USC shouldn’t have any trouble getting to the Elite Eight. But once there, a rematch with UConn looms. The Trojans won their previous meeting this season 72-70 on December 21 behind a 25-point performance from 6-foot-2 sophomore guard JuJu Watkins. She will once again be difficult to stop, but I like UConn in this matchup. The Huskies turned a corner in the tail end of the season, finally playing to their potential and even knocking off South Carolina 87-58 on February 16. Paige Bueckers will be hungry to win a title in her senior campaign and with a healthy Azzi Fudd finding her offense late in the season, it looks possible. Plus, 6-foot-2 freshman forward Sarah Strong will be a matchup problem for USC with her ability to stretch the floor. This game will also be a rematch of last season’s Elite Eight contest, which UConn won 80-73.

• If 6-foot-6 senior center Ayoka Lee is actually healthy enough to play for Kansas State, the Wildcats could advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2002. She has been practicing, but with an injury-riddled career, it’s hard to count on Lee’s presence. Without her, I don’t see Kansas State advancing past the first round. 

• In his first season at the helm, Kenny Brooks coached his Kentucky team to a No. 4 seed, which means the Wildcats are hosting a first-round matchup against Liberty. Fifth-year senior guard Georgia Amoore is exactly the kind of player anyone would want leading their team into March Madness. She’s had an All-American-type season, averaging 19.1 points and 6.9 assists per game. Plus, the Australian point guard has NCAA Tournament experience after guiding her previous team, Virginia Tech, to a Final Four in 2023. Sophomore center Clara Strack has also developed nicely for Brooks this season, averaging 15.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. But if she has to play Lee, Strack might have trouble. Lee is 6-foot-6 and Strack is 6-foot-5, but Lee has a serious strength advantage over Strack. She could struggle to defend the Kansas State center.

• Oklahoma boasts a solid center of its own in 6-foot-4 Raegan Beers, who is averaging 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Beers’ biggest strength is her efficiency, as the Oregon State transfer shoots 66 percent from the field. Oklahoma is a team that can really thrive in the tournament setting because of its depth. Coach Jennie Baranczyk routinely goes nine deep, with experienced seniors like second-leading scorer Payton Verhulst and Skylar Vann looking to get the Sooners to their first Sweet Sixteen since 2013. Oklahoma is going to be a tough out.

• I’m simultaneously thrilled and disappointed that No. 7 Oklahoma State and No. 10 South Dakota State are matched up in the first round. I’m thrilled because it has the potential to be the best first-round game of the tournament. South Dakota State is a mid-major powerhouse playing in its third straight NCAA Tournament, while Oklahoma State experienced a drastic turnaround, going 14-16 last season to 25-6 this season. Both teams have underrated stars. OK State’s Stailee Heard is about to become a household name and South Dakota State’s Brooklyn Meyer is the reigning conference player of the year. Which brings me to the disappointment of this matchup. Before the bracket was announced I had these two teams circled as potential Cinderella squads. It’s a shame that one will knock out the other. 

Birmingham 1

• South Carolina should be thrilled with its region. The Gamecocks have by far the easiest path to the Final Four. In the Sweet Sixteen, the Gamecocks will either meet an injury-plagued Maryland team or an Alabama squad that they beat by 20 earlier in the season. South Carolina also defeated No. 2 seed Duke this season, 81-70 back on December 5. Of course, the Blue Devils are a much better team than they were in December, but so are the Gamecocks. In fact, after the disappointing double-digit loss to UConn on February 16, South Carolina played better than anyone in the country for the last month of the season. I’d be surprised if we don’t see the Gamecocks playing in their fifth-straight Final Four.

• The biggest surprise of this region is Maryland hosting. The Terrapins struggled to end the season, losing six of their last 13 games. They’ve also battled injuries throughout the year, losing Bri McDaniel to an ACL tear, while key players like point guard Shyanne Sellers and leading rebounder Saylor Poffenbarger have missed time as well. If Maryland is to make a run, it will fall on Sellers to make it happen. The senior point guard is the most experienced player on the team and she runs the show, averaging 14.1 points, 4.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game.

• Facing West Virginia in the second round is a terrible draw for North Carolina. First, their guard duo of JJ Quinerly and Jordan Harrison is near-impossible to defend. UNC can likely contend with one of them, but stopping both is another story. Then, there’s West Virginia’s defense. The Mountaineers challenged Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the second round last season, before the Hawkeyes escaped with a 10-point win that felt a lot closer. They play fullcourt defense, pressure ballhandlers and create 23.7 turnovers per game, which leads the country. UNC’s advantage in this game will be in the paint with 6-foot-3 senior forward Maria Gakdeng. She will likely be defended by 6-foot-3 freshman forward Jordan Thomas, who lacks experience in a tournament setting. But, if the Tar Heels can’t get her the ball before they turn it over, then the advantage will be neutralized. The Mountaineers have never been to the Elite Eight, but I think that changes this season.

• Columbia and Washington snuck into the tournament, which is great, because their first round matchup is an intriguing one. I have my eyes on a guard from each team. Columbia’s 5-foot-10 sophomore Riley Weiss is an excellent shooter, making 36.9 percent of her three-point attempts and leading the Lions with 17.8 points per game. Washington’s 5-foot-11 junior Elle Landine scores at a similar clip, averaging 17.1 points per game and making 39.3 percent of her threes this season. They also both had career-highs this year, with Landine recording 40 points in a win against Northwestern and Weiss scoring 34 in a win over Princeton. 

• I’m intrigued by the potential West Virginia and Duke matchup in this region. They are two defensive-minded teams who rely on pressing and creating turnovers. So, theoretically, both should be able to handle playing against an intense defense. Either that or we will see which team is best at playing their collective style. West Virginia’s guards make the difference in this matchup for me, but I could also see 6-foot-3 senior forward Kylee Blacksten having an impact as she stretches the defense with her shooting abilities. For Duke, Toby Fournier needs to dominate. The 6-foot-2 freshman forward has improved dramatically from the beginning of the season until now and West Virginia doesn’t have anyone who can match up with her speed and athleticism in the paint. Still, I think West Virginia has more talent and experience overall. I like the Mountaineers in a close one. 

Birmingham 2

• Texas has one of the best roster constructions in the country, The team’s only real weakness is a lack of three-point shooting, but barring the SEC Championship loss to South Carolina, the Longhorns don’t typically have trouble playing around that weakness. A lot of that is thanks to 6-foot-1 sophomore point forward Madison Booker and her ability to score in the midrange, and 5-foot-6 senior guard Rori Harmon, who is quick to the rim, while creating for her teammates (6.1 assists per game). The Longhorns also have an excellent post tandem in 6-foot-4 senior Taylor Jones and 6-foot-6 junior Kyla Oldacre. They combine for 21.4 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. 

• The Longhorns will likely face No. 4 seed Ohio State in the Sweet Sixteen and I like Texas in that matchup because of its size. Freshman Jaloni Cambridge is an elite shot creator and junior forward Cotie McMahon has developed into a three-level scorer who can still overpower most defensive matchups. But overall, the sheer size of Booker, Jones, Oldacre and 6-foot-2 junior Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda will likely overwhelm the Buckeyes, who will have to call on McMahon to help out 6-foot-3 senior forward Ajae Petty in the paint.

• Tennessee has been one of the most volatile teams in the country all season, largely due to their chaotic style of play. The Volunteers sub five at a time in order to play a fullcourt defense that forces 22.4 turnovers per game. They also shoot 30.9 three-pointers per game, which is the most in the country. Tennessee is the kind of team that can beat anyone, but also lose to anyone. An off shooting night, or an opponent that doesn’t get rattled on offense is almost a guaranteed loss for Tennessee. Which is why I picked South Florida to pull off the first-round upset. The Bulls already upset Duke this season, behind a 23-point effort from 6-foot-1 sixth-year guard Sammie Puisis. But the biggest key to that game came on defense, where the Bulls held Duke to just 23.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc. 

• Michigan is one of the most interesting teams in this region, simply because I don’t know what the Wolverines are going to do. Three of the team’s top four scorers, Olivia Olson (16.2 points per game), Syla Swords (16.1 points per game) and Mila Holloway (9.8 points per game) are freshmen. That means inexperience could take over and cause them to lose in the first round. Or, the Wolverines could go the opposite way and be unafraid due to the ignorance of youth. Michigan is certainly talented enough to make a run and it’s not a second-round matchup I’d want if I was Notre Dame.

• Speaking of the Irish, they fell to a No. 3 seed after losing three of their last five games of the season. Since the early exit in the ACC Tournament, there has been a lot of chatter around Notre Dame. Specifically the question, “Should we be worried about Notre Dame?” My answer is no. The Irish stumbled to end the season because they started to play one-on-one ball rather than relying on the team game that has propelled them for most of the season. They lost to Duke in the ACC Tournament on March 8, which means they will have had two weeks off by the time they play their first-round matchup. That’s a lot of time to regroup and a lot of time to sit with mistakes. Notre Dame is one of the country’s most talented teams from top to bottom and if they go back to sharing the ball like they did early in the season, the Irish’s balance can take them far. Like to the Final Four far.  Notre Dame beat Texas once this season, and if the Irish play the same way they did in that December matchup, I think they can do it again.

• But Texas won’t be Notre Dame’s only rematch of the tournament. The Irish could also meet TCU in the Sweet Sixteen. The Horned Frogs defeated Notre Dame 76-68 on November 29, handing the Irish their first loss of the season. They did it thanks to 20 points and 20 rebounds from 6-foot-7 senior center Sedona Prince and 21 points and seven assists from 5-foot-9 senior guard Hailey Van Lith. They will need to have similar performances in the rematch in order to get the same results. Otherwise, Notre Dame simply has too many weapons, especially with the return of 6-foot-3 senior guard Maddy Westbeld, who missed the first meeting with a foot injury.

Final Four

• My Final Four consists of three established programs in UConn, South Carolina and Notre Dame and one up-and-comer in UCLA. UConn has the most National Championships with 11 and Notre Dame has two to go along with nine Final Fours. As for South Carolina, the Gamecocks have been dominant in recent years with three titles and six Final Fours in the last decade. All three teams could add to their legacy by winning another title, but UCLA is looking to start its own. The Bruins have never won a championship or been to a Final Four in the NCAA era. But this year, they finally have the roster to do so. Betts is the best center in the game and UCLA has surrounded her with an elite point guard in Kiki Rice and a roster full of shooters to complement her skillset. Juniors Janiah Barker and Timea Gardner were starters and stars on their previous teams, but now provide a spark off the bench for the Bruins. One of them could be the difference maker in this tournament.

• In order to win their first title, I have UCLA beating UConn in the Final Four and South Carolina for the second time this season in the National Title game. It feels poetic that the Bruins would have to defeat two of the game’s most dominant programs in order to hoist their first trophy.

Eden's Bracket

Spokane 1

Los Angeles (UCLA)

1 UCLA

16 UC San Diego / Southern

8 Richmond

9 Georgia Tech

Waco

5 Ole Miss

12 Ball State

4 Baylor

13 Grand Canyon

Baton Rouge

6 Florida State

11 George Mason

3 LSU

14 San Diego State

Raleigh

7 Michigan State

10 Harvard

2 NC State

15 Vermont

1 UCLA

8 Richmond

5 Ole Miss

4 Baylor

6 Florida State

3 LSU

7 Michigan State

2 NC State

1 UCLA

5 Ole Miss

3 LSU

2 NC State

1 UCLA

3 LSU

Spokane 4

Los Angeles (So. Cal)

1 USC

16 UNC Greensboro

8 California

9 Mississippi State

Lexington

5 Kansas State

12 Fairfield

4 Kentucky

13 Liberty

Norman

6 Iowa

11 Murray State

3 Oklahoma

14 Florida Gulf Coast

Storrs

7 Oklahoma State

10 South Dakota State

2 UConn

15 Arkansas State

1 USC

9 Mississippi State

5 Kansas State

4 Kentucky

6 Iowa

3 Oklahoma

7 Oklahoma State

2 UConn

1 USC

5 Kansas State

3 Oklahoma

2 UConn

1 USC

2 UConn

Tampa

1 UCLA

2 UConn

Championship

Tampa

1 UCLA

1 South Carolina

2025

Champions

Tampa

1 South Carolina

3 Notre Dame

Birmingham 2

Columbia

1 South Carolina

16 Tennessee Tech

8 Utah

9 Indiana

College Park

5 Alabama

12 Green Bay

4 Maryland

13 Norfolk State

Chapel Hill

6 West Virginia

11 Columbia / Washington

3 North Carolina

14 Oregon State

Durham

7 Vanderbilt

10 Oregon

2 Duke

15 Lehigh

1 South Carolina

8 Utah

5 Alabama

4 Maryland

6 West Virginia

3 North Carolina

7 Vanderbilt

2 Duke

1 South Carolina

5 Alabama

6 West Virginia

2 Duke

1 South Carolina

6 West Virginia

Birmingham 3

Austin

1 Texas

16 High Point / William & Mary

8 Illinois

9 Creighton

Columbus

5 Tennessee

12 Southern Florida

4 Ohio State

13 Montana

Notre Dame

6 Michigan

11 Iowa State / Princeton

3 Notre Dame

14 SFA

Fort Worth

7 Louisville

10 Nebraska

2 TCU

15 FDU

1 Texas

8 Illinois

12 Southern Florida

4 Ohio State

6 Michigan

3 Notre Dame

7 Louisville

2 TCU

1 Texas

4 Ohio State

3 Notre Dame

2 TCU

1 Texas

3 Notre Dame

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