Back-to-back action packed days of men’s and women’s basketball. It’s like Christmas in March! The gift being several games on several different stations all at once, with different matchups bringing different intensities of competition. The only letdown is likely the performance of your bracket when all is said and done.
Last year, Dawn Staley and her South Carolina team managed to rip the crown from the longstanding queens at UConn. This year, the Gamecocks made it through the regular season and conference tournament untouched, a perfect 32-0 record with the tournament’s top-seed as their first accomplishment in March. If they win it all, they’ll be the fifth ever school to have a completely undefeated season. The only other schools to do so are UConn, six times (1994-95, 2001-02, 2008-09, 2009-2010, 2013-14, 2015-16); and Tennessee (1997-98), Baylor (2011-12) and Texas (1985-86) all once.
Which powerhouse program will be the winner this year? Who will unseat who for a shocking advance toward glory?
The Sporting News has you covered on how to watch all of it unfold in 2023, including start and end dates, TV schedule, streaming options, venues, updated betting odds and more.
Women’s March Madness bracket 2023
The March Madness bracket will be set on March 12 during the Selection Sunday showing on ESPN. 32 teams will already have automatic bids, awarded for winning their conference tournament, and 36 others will receive an invitation, or at-large bid, if they’ve proved their pedigree to be up to committee standards for the competition.
MORE: Download a printable Women’s March Madness bracket here
NCAA Women’s Tournament schedule 2023
- Start date: Wednesday, March 15-16 (First Four)
- End date: Sunday, April 2 (national championship)
The 2023 NCAA Women’s Tournament is compromised of the First Four; Rounds 1 and 2; Sweet 16; Elite Eight; Final Four and the national championship games. The First Four begins Wednesday, March 15. The national championship game will take place on Sunday, April 2.
Here is the full schedule for women’s March Madness 2023:
| Round | Date |
| First Four | March 15-16 |
| Round 1 | March 17-18 |
| Round 2 | March 19-20 |
| Sweet 16 | March 24-25 |
| Elite Eight | March 26-27 |
| Final Four | March 31 |
| National championship | April 2 |
When is the Women’s First Four?
The 2023 NCAA Tournament begins with the First Four games, which will take place over the course of two days: on Wednesday, March 15 and Thursday, March 16.
A field of eight teams, compromised of the four lowest-seeded automatic and at-large bids will partake in the First Four games. The teams that come out victorious are granted a bid with access to the tournament’s proper 64-team field. The at-larges are fighting for two 11 seeds and the automatics are fighting for two 16 seeds.
When is the Women’s Final Four?
The 2023 NCAA Tournament ends with the Final Four and a championship game, which will also take place over the course of two-days: on Friday, March 31 and Sunday, April 2.
- Date: Sunday, April 2
- Time: 3:30 p.m.
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: Sling TV
**More specific information will be released after Selection Sunday.
First Four
Wednesday, March 15
| Results |
|---|
| (16) Sacred Heart 57, (16) Southern 47 |
| (11) Mississippi State 70, (11) Illinois 56 |
Thursday, March 16
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| (16) Tennessee Tech vs. (16) Monmouth | 7 p.m. | ESPNU |
| (11) Purdue vs. (11) St. John’s | 9 p.m. | ESPNU |
Round 1
Friday, March 17
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| (9) Marquette vs. (8) South Florida | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| (10) West Virginia vs. (7) Arizona | Noon | ESPN |
| (10) Georgia vs. (7) Florida State | 1:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| (16) Norfolk State vs. (1) South Carolina | 2 p.m. | ESPN |
| (15) Holy Cross vs. (2) Maryland | 2:30 p.m. | ESPNews |
| (11) UNLV vs. (6) Michigan | 3 p.m. | ESPNU |
| (14) Southern Utah vs. (3) Notre Dame | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| (15) SE Louisiana vs. (2) Iowa | 4 p.m. | ESPN |
| (14) Hawaii vs. (3) LSU | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| (16) Chattanooga vs. (1) Virginia Tech | 5:30 p.m. | ESPNU |
| (11) Mississippi State vs. (6) Creighton | 6 p.m. | ESPNews |
| (16) Sacred Heart vs. (1) Stanford | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| (15) Gardner-Webb vs. (2) Utah | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU |
| (9) South Dakota State vs. (8) USC | 8 p.m. | ESPNews |
| (10) Princeton vs. (7) NC State | 10 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| (9) Gonzaga vs. (8) Ole Miss | 10 p.m. | ESPNU |
Saturday, March 18
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| (16) Tennessee Tech/Monmouth winner vs. (1) Indiana | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| (13) Saint Louis vs. (4) Tennessee | 1 p.m. | ABC |
| (14) James Madison vs. (3) Ohio State | 1:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| (9) Miami (Fla.) vs. (8) Oklahoma State | 2 p.m. | ESPN |
| (12) Florida Gulf Coast vs. (5) Washington State | 2:30 p.m. | ESPNU |
| (15) Vermont vs. (2) UConn | 3 p.m. | ABC |
| (12) Toledo vs. (5) Iowa State | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| (11) Purdue/St. John’s winner vs. (6) North Carolina | 4 p.m. | ESPN |
| (13) Cleveland State vs. (4) Villanova | 5 p.m. | ESPNU |
| (10) Alabama vs. (7) Baylor | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| (11) Middle Tennessee vs. (6) Colorado | 7 p.m. | ESPNews |
| (12) Drake vs. (5) Louisville | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| (12) Portland vs. (5) Oklahoma | 9 p.m. | ESPNU |
| (14) Iona vs. (3) Duke | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| (13) East Carolina vs. (4) Texas | 10 p.m. | ESPN |
| (13) Sacramento State vs. (4) UCLA | 11:30p.m. | ESPN2 |
Round 2
Round 2 times will be finalized following the completion of Round 1 on Friday and Saturday.
Sunday, March 19
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | 1 p.m. | ABC |
| TBD | 3 p.m. | ABC |
| TBD | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| TBD | 5 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| TBD | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| TBD | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| TBD | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| TBD | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Monday, March 20
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | 4 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| TBD | 6 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| TBD | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| TBD | 7 p.m. | ESPNU |
| TBD | 8 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| TBD | 9 p.m. | ESPN |
| TBD | 9 p.m. | ESPNU |
| TBD | 10 p.m. | ESPN2 |
Sweet 16
Friday, March 24
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| TBD | 5 p.m. | ESPN |
| TBD | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| TBD | 10 p.m. | ESPN |
Saturday, March 25
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | 11:30 a.m. | ESPN |
| TBD | 2 p.m. | ABC |
| TBD | 4 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| TBD | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
Elite Eight
Sunday, March 26
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| TBD | 9 p.m. | ESPN |
Monday, March 27
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| TBD | 9 p.m. | ESPN |
Final Four
Friday, March 31
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| TBD | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
National championship
Sunday, April 2
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
How to watch Women’s March Madness games in 2023
The ESPN family of networks (ABC, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNews) will split the duty of broadcasting the 2023 NCAA Women’s Tournament.
| Round | TV channel |
| First Four | ESPNU, ESPN2 |
| Round 1 | ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, ABC |
| Round 2 | ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ABC |
| Sweet 16 | ESPN, ESPN2, ABC |
| Elite Eight | ESPN |
| Final Four | ESPN |
| National championship | ABC |
The 2023 NCAA Women’s Tournament can be streamed via SlingTV.
MORE: Watch NCAA Women’s Tournament games live with SlingTV
Where is Women’s March Madness 2023?
The 2023 NCAA Women’s Tournament is more secluded than the men’s side in terms of travel.
The First Four, as well as the first and second rounds will be hosted by the top 16 seeded teams at their home arenas.
The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight will take place in two cities on opposite ends of the country; and the Final Four and national championship game will be held at American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas.
Below is a full rundown of the sites and locations of the NCAA Women’s Tournament:
| Round | Location | Site |
| First Four | Top 16 seeds host | TBD |
| Round 1 | Top 16 seeds host | TBD |
| Round 2 | Top 16 seeds host | TBD |
| Sweet 16/Elite Eight | Greenville, South Carolina | Bon Secours Wellness Arena |
| Seattle, Washington | Climate Pledge Arena | |
| Final Four | Dallas, Texas | American Airlines Arena |
Odds to win Women’s March Madness 2023
Below are the teams most likely to win the 2023 NCAA Women’s Tournament (as of Friday, March 10), via BetMGM:
- South Carolina (-145)
- Stanford (+700)
- UConn (+700)
- Indiana (+1000)
- LSU (+2000)
- Iowa (+2500)
- Maryland (+2500)
- North Carolina (+3000)
- Ohio State (+3000)
- Texas (+4000)
- Utah (+4000)
- Notre Dame (+5000)
- Louisville (+6000)
- Michigan (+6000)
- Arizona (+8000)
- NC State (+8000)
- Oregon (+8000)
- Baylor (+10000)
- Iowa State (+10000)
- Tennessee (+10000)
- Arkansas (+10000)
- Creighton (+12500)
- Oklahoma (+15000)
- Kansas (+20000)
- Miami (FL) (+20000)
- Florida (+25000)
- Mississippi State (+25000)
- Florida State (+100000)
- UCF (+100000)
- USC (+100000)
Future Women’s March Madness locations, Final Four host sites
Below are the host sites for future Women’s Final Fours in ensuing seasons:
| Year | City | Final Four host site |
| 2024 | Cleveland | Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse |
| 2025 | Tampa Bay | Amalie Arena |
| 2026 | Phoenix | Footprint Center |
| 2027 | Columbus (OH) | Nationwide Arena |
| 2028 | Indianapolis | Gainbridge Fieldhouse |
| 2029 | San Antonio | Alamodome |
| 2030 | Portland (OR) | Moda Center |
| 2031 | Dallas | American Airlines Arena |
NCAA Women’s Tournament 2023 tickets
You can buy regional tournament session tickets through resale markets like Ticketsmarter.
2023 Final Four ticket prices
As of Friday, March 10, Final Four tickets are going for a minimum of $185.
MORE: Buy Women’s March Madness tickets from Ticketsmarter
Most NCAA Women’s Tournament winners
South Carolina won the NCAA Women’s Tournament in 2022, securing it’s second win in program history by beating UConn 64-49.
There are only three schools in history who have won back-to-back championships and South Carolina is heavily favored to become the fourth this go around, joining elite ranks with UConn, who won consecutively from 2002-04; Tennessee, who won consecutively from 1996-98; and USC, who won consecutively in 1983 and 1984.
UConn leads the charge with 11 national championships under its belt. Below is a complete list of how many titles each school holds, since the tournament’s inauguration in 1982.
| School | National titles | Most recent |
| UConn | 11 | 2016 |
| Tennessee | 8 | 2008 |
| Baylor | 3 | 2019 |
| Stanford | 3 | 2021 |
| Louisiana Tech | 2 | 1988 |
| Notre Dame | 2 | 2018 |
| South Carolina | 2 | 2022 |
| USC | 2 | 1984 |
| Maryland | 1 | 2006 |
| North Carolina | 1 | 1994 |
| Old Dominion | 1 | 1985 |
| Purdue | 1 | 1999 |
| Texas | 1 | 1986 |
| Texas A&M | 1 | 2011 |
| Texas Tech | 1 | 1993 |