Coaches, players and fans must be prepared for constant change in the 2020-21 women’s college basketball season. Games will be canceled, moved and rescheduled. It’s unlikely that every team will play a full complement of games, which will alter conference races and the NCAA tournament evaluation process.
That could also mean changes to the 2021 NCAA tournament format. Since no one knows exactly what the season will look like come Selection Monday, anything is on the table. With that in mind, this edition of Bracketology projects not only a 64-team field, but also condensed 48- and 16-team versions, as determined .
Bracket Watch
Missouri State grabbing the Missouri Valley’s automatic bid opened up another at-large spot, which Wake Forest snagged. Florida Gulf Coast, the heavy favorite in the Atlantic Sun, still isn’t the league’s automatic qualifier, so Liberty currently holds a spot in the bracket that might ultimately open up to another at-large team. The SEC might not have to worry about the bubble at all; it has eight teams in the field this week and Alabama, with a No. 8, is the worst seed.
On the Bubble
First Four Out
Last Four In
Next Four Out
64-Team Bracket
Region 1
Region 4
Region 2
Region 3
Bracket Watch
Texas now classifies as the toughest team in the country to figure out. After beating an Iowa State team that was good enough to win at Baylor by 15 points two weeks ago, the Longhorns were blown out by West Virginia and lost at Texas Tech, a team outside of the NET rankings top 100. Another stumble or two like that and Texas might need the field to remain at 64 teams to reach the NCAA tournament.
On the Bubble
Last Four In (at-large)
Last Four In (auto qualifiers)
First Four Out (at-large)
First Four Out (auto qualifiers)
48-Team Bracket
Region 1
Region 4
Region 2
Region 3
Bracket Watch
Georgia might have had the best week of any team in this (or any other) field. The Lady Bulldogs’ huge comeback win at Tennessee on Thursday was made even stronger when the Lady Vols dominated Alabama on Sunday. All the while Mississippi State was losing twice, allowing Georgia to move into the 16-team field. The Lady Bulldogs are tied for second in the SEC with a meeting with league-leader South Carolina looming this Thursday.
