Division 1 Women's Basketball makes change to tournament format

March Madness on the women’s side is set to expand. For the past 28 years, the Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament’s field has been set on 64 teams. On Wednesday, the Division I Women’s Basketball Committee and the Division I Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee announced it would move up to 68.

“This immediate expansion of the women’s basketball championship reinforces the fact that leaders within Division I are committed to strengthening aspects of the women’s basketball championship that directly impact student-athletes,” Council chair Shane Lyons, athletics director at West Virginia said in a statement on Wednesday. “We look forward to the positive change this will have for the student experience at the championship, especially as it relates to equal team opportunities to compete in the tournament.” 

According to a release, the final four teams selected for the tournament will compete in a round to be included in the full bracket. For the 2022 tournament only, they will be played on college campuses. Starting the following year, they will be played at a neutral location.

ESPN continues to broadcast women’s tournament

In addition, the selection show has been moved up a day as well for the 2022 edition of the tournament. ESPN will broadcast the unveiling of the bracket on March 13.

“The expanded bracket and championship opportunities for Division I women’s basketball student-athletes are paramount,” said Lisa Campos, chair of the Division I Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee and director of athletics at UTSA. “While the 2022 championship will be conducted at top-16 seed campus sites, this is a transition year for the tournament, and strong consideration will be given for other improvement areas, including opening-round games taking place at a predetermined site, in order to improve the championship experience in 2023 and beyond.” 

For the 19th consecutive year, ESPN will broadcast every single game of the tournament. ESPN VP of Programming and Acquisitions Nick Dawson said they are looking “forward to highlighting even more student-athletes and teams in pursuit of their championship dreams” with the field now moving up to 68 teams.

Other expansions

To add on, the Divison I Women’s Basketball Committee has been expanded to 12 members. In previous years, only 10 people were a part of the committee but the change “reflects” the increase of 32 at large teams to 36.

Even with all of the changes, the Final Four location has remained the same. On April 1, the semifinal games are to take place at the Target Center in Minneapolis, while the national championship will be held two days later on April 3.