Postponed games, long COVID-19 pauses for some programs and few nonconference contests have made this season different than any we have ever seen. Yet the 2021 women’s NCAA tournament is coming into focus, and is expected to be contested by 64 teams. After last season’s tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, getting to this point feels like a mission accomplished even if the journey was unlike any other.
The NCAA tournament also will look different. The entire tourney will be played at a single destination — the San Antonio region — with multiple venues, limited fans and an adjusted schedule. The Women’s Final Four will be held at the Alamodome on April 2 and 4. The road to the Lone Star State begins with Selection Monday on March 15. Along the way, and as automatic bids are won, we will continue to update Bracketology and the projected tournament field.
Bracket Watch
The battle for the No. 1 seeds heats up substantially this weekend. South Carolina can continue to hold the final spot on the top line with a win over Tennessee in the SEC tournament semifinals on Saturday. NC State is next in line should the Gamecocks trip up. UConn begins play in the Big East tournament, hoping to stay No. 1 overall, and Stanford firmed up its spot as the No. 2 overall by reaching the Pac-12 finals Sunday against UCLA.
