68 teams on the big stage, one goal: win a national championship.

The 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness, is here, and teams are ready to make a splash. Everything from the beginning of the season to now, wins/losses, countless hours in the gym, blood, sweat, and tears, comes down to these next couple of weeks.

The tournament will kick off March 19-20 with the First Four, followed by the First Round March 21-22, Second Round March 23-24, Sweet 16 March 28-29, Elite Eight March 30-31, Final Four April 4, and finally the National Championship April 6 on ABC. This year, the Final Four + Championship will be played at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. 

The #1 seeds are: UCLA (Spokane 1), South Carolina (Birmingham 1), Texas (Birmingham 2), and USC (Spokane 4). I want to dive into these four teams and what they bring to the table as far as competition. 

UCLA

The Bruins (30-2) have had an extraordinary season in Westwood, achieving their first-ever 30-win record and securing their first No. 1 ranking in the Associated Press poll, a position they held for 12 consecutive weeks. Their performance in finishing second in the regular-season Big Ten and capturing their first conference tournament title since 2006 has been nearly flawless. UCLA’s only defeats came at the hands of crosstown rival USC, but they avenged those losses in the Big Ten tournament final. Notably, the Bruins dominated South Carolina with a 15-point victory on Nov. 24, a win that was far more decisive than the final score suggested and marked their first-ever win over a No. 1-ranked team. Additionally, UCLA strung together a remarkable 22-game winning streak from November to mid-February, with every victory coming by double digits.

Lauren Betts has been the team’s two-way standout and a candidate for national player of the year, averaging close to 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Kiki Rice has made significant strides in her development, boosting her shooting efficiency by 5 percentage points. Depth has been a key strength for the Bruins, with major contributors like Timea Gardiner and Janiah Barker coming off the bench, and seven players averaging at least seven points per game. In their Big Ten tournament semifinal win over Ohio State, for example, Londynn Jones, Gabriela Jaquez, and Angela Dugalic were among four players who scored in double figures.

“After two straight Sweet 16 exits, anything short of a Final Four berth — what would be the program’s first in the NCAA era — would be a disappointment for the Bruins. And they have the pieces to aim even higher.”, Alexa Philippou with ESPN said. 

South Carolina

The Gamecocks entered the past two NCAA tournaments undefeated and are currently 30-3, which remains an elite record. Their three losses came against UCLA in November, along with UConn and Texas in February. However, they also defeated SEC regular-season co-champion Texas twice, including in the league tournament final.

Despite the departure of center Kamilla Cardoso, No. 3 pick in the WNBA draft, and forward Ashlyn Watkins, who suffered a knee injury in January, the Gamecocks continue to thrive in the post. Chloe Kitts, Sania Feagin, and Joyce Edwards, who collectively average over 31 points and 17 rebounds per game, lead the frontcourt. MiLaysia Fulwiley, Te-Hina Paopao, Tessa Johnson, Bree Hall, and Raven Johnson lead the Gamecocks’ guard group, with each playing a key role on last year’s national championship team.

“South Carolina doesn’t have one or two key players for opponents to focus on to stop, which is part of why the defending champions are so hard to guard. The Gamecocks ranked fifth in scoring offense (80.5 PPG) in the SEC and second in scoring defense (57.8 PPG). South Carolina, which has become the dominant program in women’s college basketball, seeks its fourth NCAA championship, and its third in the past four seasons.”, Michael Voepel with ESPN said.

Texas

In their debut season in the SEC, the 31-3 Longhorns made an impressive mark by sharing the regular-season championship with South Carolina. The team also made a strong run in the league tournament, advancing to the title game, where they were ultimately defeated by the Gamecocks. This outstanding performance came alongside another major achievement for the program: for two weeks, Texas held the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll, marking their first time at the top since 2004. Their remarkable season was fueled by stellar individual performances, especially from sophomore forward Madison Booker, who averaged 16.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Her dynamic play earned her the prestigious SEC Player of the Year award, highlighting her impact on both ends of the floor. The Longhorns’ success also included notable contributions from other key players who played pivotal roles in the team’s rise to prominence in their first season in the conference.

Senior forward Taylor Jones emerged as a critical leader for the Longhorns, anchoring the team in the paint with 7.0 rebounds per game and 1.8 blocks per game, all while contributing 12.1 points per game. Her ability to dominate both offensively and defensively gave Texas a strong presence in the frontcourt. Alongside her, transfer Kyla Oldacre, junior center from Miami, proved to be an asset, leading the team in field goal percentage at an impressive 60.7%. Her efficiency on offense, coupled with her solid 9.3 points per game, gave Texas an added offensive weapon in the post. Another key figure was senior guard Rori Harmon, who despite missing much of the 2023-24 season due to a knee injury, still played a vital role as the team’s primary playmaker. She averaged 5.9 assists per game, showcasing her ability to facilitate and set up her teammates for success. With these contributions, the Longhorns established themselves as a formidable force in their first season in the SEC, and their future looks incredibly bright with the development of their young stars and returning veterans.

“The Longhorns don’t shoot 3-pointers well: They tied for last in the SEC with just 110 total and were second to last in percentage (29.6). They try to make up for that by being one of the best defensive teams in the country, holding foes to 55.9 PPG, lowest in the SEC.”, Voepel said.

USC

The Trojans (28-3, 16-1 B1G) have largely met expectations in superstar guard JuJu Watkins’ sophomore year. With key victories over Ole Miss and UConn, and only a single loss to Notre Dame, they started the season 19-1, marking their best start since 1981-82. They secured their first regular-season conference title since 1994 after sweeping UCLA, which also delivered the school’s first win over a No. 1 team since 1983. As a result, the Trojans climbed to their highest Associated Press ranking, reaching No. 2 for the first time since 1984.

Watkins has been outstanding in Year 2 and is the frontrunner for National Player of the Year. Her supporting cast has seen significant changes from last season, notably with transfer forward Kiki Iriafen stepping up as the Trojans’ No. 2 scorer (18.2 PPG). Additionally, the freshman class has lived up to its No. 1 ranking, with guard Kennedy Smith standing out for her defensive intensity, toughness, and clutch 3-pointers. While Watkins is capable of dropping 30 or 40 points on any given night, the team’s foundation rests on its defense, which holds opponents to just 36.3% shooting and averages 6.8 blocks per game.

“Even though last season marked the program’s best NCAA tournament finish in 30 years, Watkins was devastated after losing in the Elite Eight. This year, the Trojans eye not just a Final Four berth, but winning the national championship for the first time since 1984.”, Philippou said.

Summary

This year’s NCAA Women’s Tournament will definitely be one to remember and for the history books. Every season, the intensity gets turned up even more, and there are way more insane upsets. March is a time where everything, starting from the very beginning of the season, comes down to these next few weeks. When all is said and done, one national champion will be crowned in San Antonio on April 6.

For the Final Four, I’m predicting UCLA, South Carolina, UConn, and to be in there. From there, I’m picking the National Championship to be South Carolina vs UConn, with South Carolina being crowned champion.