Current:Home > InvestFirst Four launches March Madness 2024. Here's everything to know about women's teams. -Secure Growth Academy
First Four launches March Madness 2024. Here's everything to know about women's teams.
View
Date:2025-04-19 07:04:28
For the women, March Madness ramps up one day after the men with their own First Four matchups.
The expanded field is fairly new to the women's game, which started the First Four round in 2022. It was one of a handful of changes that the NCAA began making in the wake of a gender equity report showing vast disparities between the men's and women's basketball tournaments.
Unlike the men, who stage all four games in one place, the women play each game at a different location, picking four sites out of the top 16 national seeds.
Here is what you need to know about the women's teams in this year's First Four.
First Four teams for women's March Madness
- Arizona (17-15): Went into the Pac-12 tournament as the No. 7 seed and was eliminated by top-seeded USC in the conference quarterfinals.
- Auburn (20-11): Finished in a sixth-place tie with Mississippi State in the SEC and was routed by LSU in the conference quarterfinals.
- Columbia (23-6): Finished tied with Princeton for the top seed in the Ivy League before going on to beat the Tigers 75-58 in the conference championship game.
- Holy Cross (20-12): Was the top seed in the Patriot League and went on to win the conference championship against Boston University 61-55.
- Presbyterian (20-14): Finished in a tie for fourth place in the Big South, but went on to beat Radford in the conference title game.
- Sacred Heart (24-9): Only lost one game in the NEC and ran away with the conference championship. The Pioneers have won 15 consecutive games.
- UT Martin (16-16): Was one of three teams to finish in second place in the OVC and made it to the conference championship game before losing to top-seeded Southern Indiana.
- Vanderbilt (22-9): Finished the regular season as the No. 6 seed in the SEC tournament, where they were ousted by Florida in the first round.
IT'S BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY's NCAA tournament bracket contest for a chance at $1 million prize.
When is First Four for women?
The women's First Four will take place with two games on Wednesday, March 20 and two games on Thursday, March 21.
First Four games for women
Wednesday, March 20
- Sacred Heart (24-9) vs. Presbyterian (20-14), 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The winner will be the No. 16 seed in Albany Regional 1 and face No. 1 South Carolina.
- Vanderbilt (22-9) vs. Columbia (23-6), 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The winner will be the No. 12 seed in Portland Regional 3 and face No. 5 Baylor.
Thursday, March 21
- Auburn (20-11) vs. Arizona (17-15), 7 p.m. on ESPN2. The winner will be the No. 11 seed in Portland Regional 3 and face No. 6 Syracuse.
- Holy Cross (20-12) vs. UT Martin (16-16), 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The winner will be the No. 16 seed in Albany Regional 2 and face No. 1 Iowa.
Where is First Four for women?
The sites of the women's First Four games will be: Blacksburg, Virginia; Columbia, South Carolina; Storrs, Connecticut; and Peoria, Illinois.
How to watch women's First Four
The women's First Four games will be broadcast on ESPNU and ESPN2.
Have any First Four teams won the women's national championship?
No, in fact Mississippi State is the only team to ever win a first-round game after advancing out of the First Four. Last season the Bulldogs beat Creighton in the Round of 64 before losing to Notre Dame 53-48 in the second round.
USA TODAY Sports' Steve Gardner contributed to this report.
veryGood! (127)
Related
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- Patrick Mahomes on pregame spat: Ravens' Justin Tucker was 'trying to get under our skin'
- AP Decision Notes: What to expect in South Carolina’s Democratic presidential primary
- Fisher-Price restocking baby 'Stanley cup' toy after parents bought up inventory
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- Do you know these famous Pisces? 30 celebs with birthdays under the 'intuitive' sign.
- Massachusetts man shot dead after crashing truck, approaching officer with knife
- Tampa road rage shooting leaves 4-year-old girl injured, man faces 15 charges
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- Wray warns Chinese hackers are aiming to 'wreak havoc' on U.S. critical infrastructure
Ranking
- Residents worried after ceiling cracks appear following reroofing works at Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks
- Alexandra Park Shares Her Thoughts on Ozempic as a Type 1 Diabetic
- Which Grammy nominees could break records in 2024? Taylor Swift is in the running
- Accused killer of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay can't have his lyrics used against him, judge rules
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Exclusive: Kris Jenner on her first Super Bowl commercial and future of 'Kardashians' show
- Stolen Jackie Robinson statue found dismantled and burned in Wichita, Kansas
- Democratic field set for special election that could determine control of Michigan House
Recommendation
Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
Investigator describes Michigan school shooter’s mom as cold after her son killed four students
Biden will visit Ohio community that was devastated by a fiery train derailment nearly a year ago
Student, dad arrested after San Diego school shooting threat; grenades, guns found in home
Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
How U.S. Marshals captured pro cyclist Moriah Mo Wilson's killer
Biden will visit Ohio community that was devastated by a fiery train derailment nearly a year ago
Alaska governor pitches teacher bonuses as debate over education funding dominates session