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The women's NCAA Tournament starts a couple of days earlier than it did in the past.
While March Madness for the women's side has traditionally started with first-round games, like the men's side, it has added a play-in game since 2022, which has boosted the field of NCAA Tournament teams from 64 to 68. The men's NCAA Tournament added play-in games in 2011.
REQUIRED READING: March Madness bracket release date: Selection Sunday start time, how to watch, more
Since adding the extra NCAA Tournament game, only 11-seed Mississippi State has made it past the first round. The Bulldogs defeated No. 6 Creighton 81-66 in the first round but fell to No. 3 seed Notre Dame in the second round.
However, with the competition in women's college basketball picking up over the last couple of years, this game could have more of an impact later in the tournament. So, who will play in the First Four in 2025?
We will get an answer when the entire 68-team field is announced on CBS during the Selection Sunday bracket reveal show later today.
In the meantime, here's what you need to know about the First Four for the women's NCAA Tournament, including a history of the First Four and more:
The first set of the 2025 women's NCAA Tournament's First Four games will consist of two games on Wednesday, March 19, and two more on Thursday, March 20.
The play-in teams are technically in the NCAA Tournament but would play an extra game more than everyone else if they were to make a deep run in the tournament. Winners from the First Four games would play in a first-round game two days after their initial play-in.
While the men's tournament First Four once again will be played on the campus of the University of Dayton at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, the location for the women's First Four is to be determined. The home courts of four of the top 16 national seeds will be used as the neutral court for the women's First Four games.
The 2025 NCAA Tournament will be the fourth time that the women's First Four will take place.
The First Four consists of the four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams, according to The Enquirer, which is part of the USA TODAY Network. While it is considered the "first round of the NCAA Tournament," it does not count as the first round.
In the past, four teams played for the No. 16 seed and the other four for an 11 seed. However, the 12th seed lines have also been on the line in the past.
Here's a full list of how past First Four games have gone since it began in 2022:
2022
2023
2024
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Women's First Four dates, locations in 2025 March Madness bracket
Continue reading...
While March Madness for the women's side has traditionally started with first-round games, like the men's side, it has added a play-in game since 2022, which has boosted the field of NCAA Tournament teams from 64 to 68. The men's NCAA Tournament added play-in games in 2011.
REQUIRED READING: March Madness bracket release date: Selection Sunday start time, how to watch, more
Since adding the extra NCAA Tournament game, only 11-seed Mississippi State has made it past the first round. The Bulldogs defeated No. 6 Creighton 81-66 in the first round but fell to No. 3 seed Notre Dame in the second round.
However, with the competition in women's college basketball picking up over the last couple of years, this game could have more of an impact later in the tournament. So, who will play in the First Four in 2025?
We will get an answer when the entire 68-team field is announced on CBS during the Selection Sunday bracket reveal show later today.
In the meantime, here's what you need to know about the First Four for the women's NCAA Tournament, including a history of the First Four and more:
When is the First Four for women's March Madness?
- Women's NCAA Tournament First Four dates: Wednesday, March 19 to Thursday, March 20
The first set of the 2025 women's NCAA Tournament's First Four games will consist of two games on Wednesday, March 19, and two more on Thursday, March 20.
The play-in teams are technically in the NCAA Tournament but would play an extra game more than everyone else if they were to make a deep run in the tournament. Winners from the First Four games would play in a first-round game two days after their initial play-in.
Where is the First Four for women's March Madness?
- Women's NCAA Tournament First Four location: TBD
While the men's tournament First Four once again will be played on the campus of the University of Dayton at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, the location for the women's First Four is to be determined. The home courts of four of the top 16 national seeds will be used as the neutral court for the women's First Four games.
The 2025 NCAA Tournament will be the fourth time that the women's First Four will take place.
Who plays in the First Four? Explaining NCAA Tournament play-in games
The First Four consists of the four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams, according to The Enquirer, which is part of the USA TODAY Network. While it is considered the "first round of the NCAA Tournament," it does not count as the first round.
In the past, four teams played for the No. 16 seed and the other four for an 11 seed. However, the 12th seed lines have also been on the line in the past.
First Four history
Here's a full list of how past First Four games have gone since it began in 2022:
2022
- (16): Howard 55, Incarnate Word 51
- (11): Dayton 88, DePaul 57
- (16): Longwood 74, Mount St. Mary's 70
- (11): Missouri State 61, Florida State 50
2023
- (16): Sacred Heart 57, Southern 47
- (11): Mississippi State 70, Illinois 56
- (16): Tennessee Tech 79, Monmouth 69
- (11): St. John's 66, Purdue 64
2024
- (16): Presbyterian 49, Sacred Heart 42
- (11): Arizona 69, Auburn 59
- (16): Holy Cross 72, UT Martin 45
- (11): Vanderbilt 62, Columbia 58
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Women's First Four dates, locations in 2025 March Madness bracket
Continue reading...
