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.
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Bracket Watch
The final eight automatic bids to the women’s NCAA tournament were won Sunday, and though there were a few minor changes on the final day of Bracketology, nothing substantially impacted the field. West Virginia, which lost to Baylor in the Big 12 title game, remains on the No. 4 seed line but fell to No. 16 overall behind Kentucky and Arkansas, which also remained No. 4 seeds. A final assessment of Wake Forest put the Demon Deacons ahead of DePaul for the Last Four In. Both remain in the field, and their placement in the bracket was also unchanged. Bradley (MVC) and Lehigh (Patriot) moved into the field, which includes eight ACC teams and seven apiece from the SEC and Big Ten. North Carolina (No. 9 seed to a No. 10) and Michigan State (No. 10 to a No. 9) were adjusted one seed line to accommodate bracketing principles and procedures.
