Women's Bracketology: 2025 Women's NCAA Tournament prediction

Now into February, the women’s college basketball season is marching on. With only a handful of games left in the regular season, teams are jockeying for position in the bracketology for the Women’s NCAA Tournament.

Right now, the Big Ten is the dominant team in ESPN’s bracketology for the Women’s NCAA Tournament. As of now, the Big Ten has 12 teams set to make the field. The SEC is only a little bit behind them with 10 teams set to make the field. Meanwhile, the seven teams for the Big 12 is the worst number among the Power Four conferences while the ACC is sitting at nine teams. The Atlantic 10, Big East, and Ivy League, with two teams set to make the field, are then leading the mid-majors.

With that, here is the latest bracketology from ESPN for women’s college basketball ahead of the Women’s NCAA Tournament:

ESPN Bracketology: On the Bubble

Last Four Byes: Minnesota, Indiana, Oregon, Iowa State
Last Four In: Harvard, Saint Joseph’s, Nebraska, Virginia Tech
First Four Out: Washington, Princeton, George Mason, Arizona
Next Four Out: USF, Colorado, Seton Hall, USF (listed twice)

There are still several Power Four programs sitting on the bubble. That includes two schools from the Big 12 that are listed either on the First Four Out or the Next Four Out. In that grouping of the Next Four Out, it’s also worth noting ESPN had a slight mistake, listing the USF Bulls twice. They’re one of six mid-majors battling on the bubble.

No conference has more teams listed on the bubble than the Big Ten. That includes four schools listed either in the Last Four Byes or the Last Four In. Washington is also just on the outside looking in on the Women’s NCAA Tournament. So, depending on the last few weeks of the season, those teams could either solidify their spots or slip to the outside looking in.

Region 1 – Spokane

The UCLA Bruins headline the first region for the Women’s NCAA Tournament, sitting unbeaten and at the top of the Big Ten standings. In the coming days, the Bruins will have a chance to solidify their position at the of this region too, playing rival USC and Michigan State in their next two games, which are both going to be AP-ranked opponents.

There was also some interesting movement in this region. Tennessee moved up after a good week, beating a good UConn team. However, other teams in this region did struggle, and with that California, Ball State, and Minnesota all dropped a bit. That’s particularly important to the Golden Gophers, who are currently sitting on the bubble.

1. UCLA vs. 16. Radford/Texas Southern
8. California vs. 9. South Dakota State
5. Georgia Tech vs. 12. Middle Tennessee State
4. Tennessee vs. 13. Ball State

6. Vanderbilt vs. 11. Nebraska/Virginia Tech
3. TCU vs. 14. Gonzaga
7. Baylor vs. 10. Minnesota
2. Duke vs. 15. Lehigh

Region 2 – Birmingham

The defending national champions, South Carolina, headline Region 2. The Gamecocks are maintaining that No. 1 seed despite dropping a game to the Texas Longhorns last week. That’s, perhaps, not overly surprising given that the Gamecocks previously did beat Texas, and their only two losses are to teams ranked in the top five of the AP Poll. So, while the loss makes things tighter in the final weeks of the season, South Carolina is in good shape.

Region 2 has several teams moving up this week too. Illinois, Richmond, Belmont, and Oklahoma State are all on the way up to help shape the region into the way it looks now. That includes having UConn sitting at the second seed here, which could potentially lead to a marquee matchup between the Huskies and South Carolina down the road.

1. South Carolina vs. 16. UNCG/NC A&T
8. Illinois vs. 9. Richmond
5. Maryland vs. 12. Belmont
4. Oklahoma vs. 13. Grand Canyon

6. West Virginia vs. 11. Harvard/Saint Joseph’s
3. North Carolina vs. 14. SE Louisiana
7. Oklahoma State vs. 10. Oregon
2. UConn vs. 15. Albany

Region 3 – Birmingham

Notre Dame has been one of the best teams in women’s college basketball all season long. Now, the bracketology has the Irish in line for a number one seed in the Women’s NCAA Tournament. The Irish only have two losses this season, both of which came in a row. Since then, they’ve won 16 games in a row. That includes dominating ACC play, where the Irish are 12-0 on the season.

In Region 3, Utah is moving up in the current seeding. That has made the new Big 12 school feel more comfortable in making the Women’s NCAA Tournament after what has been an inconsistent season for that conference. Meanwhile, a couple of Power Four schools, Mississippi State and Florida State, have dropped a bit. So, there is room for continued movement in the final weeks of the season here.

1. Notre Dame vs. 16. Fairleigh Dickinson
8. Creighton vs. 9. Mississippi State
5. Michigan State vs. 12. James Madison
4. Kentucky vs. 13. UTSA

6. Utah vs. 11. Columbia
3. Ohio State vs. 14. Norfolk State
7. Florida State vs. 10. Indiana
2. LSU vs. 15. Purdue – Fort Wayne

Region 4 – Spokane

The Texas Longhorns earned one of the biggest wins of the season, knocking off South Carolina on Sunday. Already one of the top teams in the country, it helped solidify their ranking as one of the best teams in the country and deserving of a number one seed in the Women’s NCAA Tournament, according to ESPN’s bracketology. Still, the schedule ahead is tricky, with Kentucky and LSU coming up in their next couple of games.

The teams a step behind Texas in the seeding are interesting here. Tennessee Tech is new to the bracket as a projected automatic qualifier. Meanwhile, Michigan is moving up a bit after winning three straight games. However, Kansas State and Louisville slipped up, which is interesting given that Kansas State is still projected as the automatic qualifier out of the Big 12.

1. Texas vs. 16. Tennessee Tech
8. Louisville vs. 9. Iowa
5. Ole Miss vs. 12. Fairfield
4. NC State vs. 13. Florida Gulf Coast

6. Alabama vs. 11. UNLV
3. Kansas State vs. 14. Montana State
7. Michigan vs. 10. Iowa State
2. USC vs. 15. Hawaii