March Madness is more than just a catchy phrase — it’s a feeling, a buzz in the air that signals it’s time for bracket-building and underdog dreaming. For the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, Selection Sunday marks the pivot point from weeks of heated speculation to the real deal: which 68 teams will earn the right to dance?

Women’s hoops has taken tremendous leaps over the past few seasons, in large part thanks to stars like Kaitlyn Clark, who’s drawn tons of new eyes to the game. But Clark is hardly the only name pushing the women’s side into the spotlight — there’s a deep roster of talented players across the country, and the competitiveness on the court is every bit as fierce as what you see on the men’s side.

When and Where to Watch the Women’s Selection Show

Circle your calendars: the Women’s Selection Show airs Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 8 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. Pacific) on ESPN. If you’re away from a TV, don’t worry  — you can stream it on the ESPN app. 

This broadcast is your chance to catch the bracket reveal in real-time, with the always-spirited Elle Duncan hosting. She’ll be joined by analysts Andraya Carter, Rebecca Lobo, Carolyn Peck, and bracket guru Charlie Creme, not to mention on-the-ground updates from reporter Holly Rowe.

Once the bracket is revealed, you can expect an avalanche of commentary, from immediate hot takes on who got snubbed to in-depth breakdowns of potential dream matchups. ESPN will keep the coverage rolling with special Bracketology shows on both ESPN and ESPN2, so if you’re itching for a deep dive on every region, you’ll be well-covered.

Automatic Bids Secured (as of March 14, 2025)

Half the thrill of Selection Sunday is figuring out which teams locked up their place in the Big Dance by winning their conference tournaments. This year, 31 programs can punch their ticket that way, and 16 of them are already through. Here’s who we know so far:

• American Athletic: South Florida

• Atlantic 10: George Mason

• ACC: Duke

• Big 12: Texas Christian

• Big East: Connecticut

• Big Sky: Montana State

• Big Ten: UCLA

• Horizon League: Wisconsin Green Bay

• Mountain West: San Diego State

• Ohio Valley: Tennessee Tech

• SEC: South Carolina

• Southern: North Carolina Greensboro

• Summit League: South Dakota State

• Sun Belt: Arkansas State

• West Coast: Oregon State

A few more conference tournaments will wrap up between now and Sunday afternoon, so keep an eye out for those final automatic bids. It’s a huge reward for teams that fought tooth and nail through their respective conference schedules, and it’s exactly why March is so electrifying — anything can happen.

Predicting the Top Seeds

Now, let’s talk about who’s potentially snagging the coveted No. 1 seeds. While these projections are always a little fluid, several teams have made strong cases:

• South Carolina: They dominated the SEC tournament, which is no small feat. Their blend of depth and balance has them looking like the favorite for the top overall seed.

• UCLA: Despite being a newcomer to the Big Ten, they snagged the conference championship with a win over their crosstown rival, USC, and had an impressive regular season. Some experts think they could even jump to that top overall spot if the committee values their resume enough.

• USC: It’s hard to overlook how well USC has played, especially considering their own wins against UCLA. The star duo of JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen can go toe-to-toe with any team in the country on a good day.

• UConn: Every year, UConn finds a way to make noise. They closed out the regular season on a high and took the Big East title. Plus, the return of a healthy Azzi Fudd to join forces with Paige Bueckers has fans buzzing about another deep tournament run.

• Texas: They were riding high in the NCAA’s Top 16 reveal not too long ago, but a tough loss to South Carolina in the SEC tournament might have dented their top-seed hopes. Even so, they’re definitely still in the mix if things fall their way.

When the selection committee sits down, they’ll scrutinize metrics like NET ranking, strength of schedule, quality wins, and even the timing of big losses. So if you see a curveball or two in those top seeds, don’t be shocked — this is March, after all.

Potential Sleeper and Cinderella Teams

Everyone loves a good underdog story, and the women’s tournament has had its fair share of bracket chaos. These squads are flying a bit under the radar, but they have the tools to disrupt someone’s championship dreams:

• Iowa: Yes, they lost the superstar presence of Caitlin Clark, but they’ve shown flashes of being a scrappy, upset-minded group. Give them an opening, and they can shake up any bracket.

• Virginia Tech: This might be a “rebuilding” year on paper, but you’d be surprised how often a team like this sneaks into the field and does damage. Keep a cautious eye on them.

• Iowa State: Sitting on the right side of the bubble, they have a spark in Audi Crooks, who’s drawing plenty of excitement. Don’t sleep on them if they land a favorable matchup early.

• Murray State: They’ve got one of the highest-scoring offenses in the country and a chip on their shoulder. The chance to make the Big Dance is huge motivation, and they can score in bunches.

• Harvard: Defense wins championships — or at least a few games in March. Harvard’s top-tier defense could make them a bracket-buster if they nab that Ivy League bid.

The Madness is Just Beginning

This is the official kickoff to bracket season for women’s basketball, and it’s impossible not to get swept up in the possibilities — big upsets, last-second heroics, and season-defining moments.

So mark your calendars for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and get ready to see who’s heading to the Big Dance. Grab your friends, fire up the group chat, and start dissecting the bracket the second it drops. Because once the pairings are announced, the only thing left to do is wait for the first whistle and enjoy every edge-of-your-seat moment that makes March the best month on the sports calendar.