When is Women's March Madness 2023? Dates, TV schedule, locations, odds & more for the NCAA Tournament

When is Women's March Madness 2023? Dates, TV schedule, locations, odds & more for the NCAA Tournament

Back-to-back action packed days of men’s and women’s basketball. It’s like Christmas in March! The gift being several games on several different stations all at once, with different matchups bringing different intensities of competition. The only letdown is likely the performance of your bracket when all is said and done.

Last year, Dawn Staley and her South Carolina team managed to rip the crown from the longstanding queens at UConn. This year, the Gamecocks made it through the regular season and conference tournament untouched, a perfect 32-0 record with the tournament’s top-seed as their first accomplishment in March. If they win it all, they’ll be the fifth ever school to have a completely undefeated season. The only other schools to do so are UConn, six times (1994-95, 2001-02, 2008-09, 2009-2010, 2013-14, 2015-16); and Tennessee (1997-98), Baylor (2011-12) and Texas (1985-86) all once.

Which powerhouse program will be the winner this year? Who will unseat who for a shocking advance toward glory?

The Sporting News has you covered on how to watch all of it unfold in 2023, including start and end dates, TV schedule, streaming options, venues, updated betting odds and more.

Women’s March Madness bracket 2023

The March Madness bracket will be set on March 12 during the Selection Sunday showing on ESPN. 32 teams will already have automatic bids, awarded for winning their conference tournament, and 36 others will receive an invitation, or at-large bid, if they’ve proved their pedigree to be up to committee standards for the competition.

2023 Women's March Madness bracket blank

(SN illustration)

MORE: Download a printable Women’s March Madness bracket here

NCAA Women’s Tournament schedule 2023

  • Start date: Wednesday, March 15-16 (First Four)
  • End date: Sunday, April 2 (national championship)

The 2023 NCAA Women’s Tournament is compromised of the First Four; Rounds 1 and 2; Sweet 16; Elite Eight; Final Four and the national championship games. The First Four begins Wednesday, March 15. The national championship game will take place on Sunday, April 2.

Here is the full schedule for women’s March Madness 2023:

RoundDate
First FourMarch 15-16
Round 1March 17-18
Round 2March 19-20
Sweet 16March 24-25
Elite EightMarch 26-27
Final FourMarch 31
National championshipApril 2

When is the Women’s First Four?

The 2023 NCAA Tournament begins with the First Four games, which will take place over the course of two days: on Wednesday, March 15 and Thursday, March 16.

A field of eight teams, compromised of the four lowest-seeded automatic and at-large bids will partake in the First Four games. The teams that come out victorious are granted a bid with access to the tournament’s proper 64-team field. The at-larges are fighting for two 11 seeds and the automatics are fighting for two 16 seeds.

When is the Women’s Final Four?

The 2023 NCAA Tournament ends with the Final Four and a championship game, which will also take place over the course of two-days: on Friday, March 31 and Sunday, April 2.

  • Date: Sunday, April 2
  • Time: 3:30 p.m.
  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Live stream: Sling TV

**More specific information will be released after Selection Sunday.

First Four

Wednesday, March 15

Results
(16) Sacred Heart 57, (16) Southern 47 
(11) Mississippi State 70, (11) Illinois 56

Thursday, March 16

MatchupTime (ET)TV
(16) Tennessee Tech vs. (16) Monmouth7 p.m.ESPNU
(11) Purdue vs. (11) St. John’s9 p.m.ESPNU

Round 1

Friday, March 17

GameTime (ET)TV
(9) Marquette vs. (8) South Florida11:30 a.m.ESPN2
(10) West Virginia vs. (7) ArizonaNoonESPN
(10) Georgia vs. (7) Florida State1:30 p.m.ESPN2
(16) Norfolk State vs. (1) South Carolina2 p.m.ESPN
(15) Holy Cross vs. (2) Maryland2:30 p.m.ESPNews
(11) UNLV vs. (6) Michigan3 p.m.ESPNU
(14) Southern Utah vs. (3) Notre Dame3:30 p.m.ESPN2
(15) SE Louisiana vs. (2) Iowa4 p.m.ESPN
(14) Hawaii vs. (3) LSU5:30 p.m.ESPN2
(16) Chattanooga vs. (1) Virginia Tech5:30 p.m.ESPNU
(11) Mississippi State vs. (6) Creighton6 p.m.ESPNews
(16) Sacred Heart vs. (1) Stanford7:30 p.m.ESPN2
(15) Gardner-Webb vs. (2) Utah7:30 p.m.ESPNU
(9) South Dakota State vs. (8) USC8 p.m.ESPNews
(10) Princeton vs. (7) NC State10 p.m.ESPN2
(9) Gonzaga vs. (8) Ole Miss10 p.m.ESPNU

Saturday, March 18

GameTime (ET)TV
(16) Tennessee Tech/Monmouth winner vs. (1) Indiana11:30 a.m.ESPN2
(13) Saint Louis vs. (4) Tennessee1 p.m.ABC
(14) James Madison vs. (3) Ohio State1:30 p.m.ESPN2
(9) Miami (Fla.) vs. (8) Oklahoma State2 p.m.ESPN
(12) Florida Gulf Coast vs. (5) Washington State2:30 p.m.ESPNU
(15) Vermont vs. (2) UConn3 p.m.ABC
(12) Toledo vs. (5) Iowa State3:30 p.m.ESPN2
(11) Purdue/St. John’s winner vs. (6) North Carolina4 p.m.ESPN
(13) Cleveland State vs. (4) Villanova5 p.m.ESPNU
(10) Alabama vs. (7) Baylor5:30 p.m.ESPN2
(11) Middle Tennessee vs. (6) Colorado7 p.m.ESPNews
(12) Drake vs. (5) Louisville7:30 p.m.ESPN2
(12) Portland vs. (5) Oklahoma9 p.m.ESPNU
(14) Iona vs. (3) Duke9:30 p.m.ESPN2
(13) East Carolina vs. (4) Texas10 p.m.ESPN
(13) Sacramento State vs. (4) UCLA11:30p.m.ESPN2

Round 2

Round 2 times will be finalized following the completion of Round 1 on Friday and Saturday.

Sunday, March 19

GameTime (ET)TV
TBD1 p.m.ABC
TBD3 p.m.ABC
TBD3:30 p.m.ESPN
TBD5 p.m.ESPN2
TBD5:30 p.m.ESPN
TBD7 p.m.ESPN2
TBD7:30 p.m.ESPN
TBD9:30 p.m.ESPN

Monday, March 20

GameTime (ET)TV
TBD4 p.m.ESPN2
TBD6 p.m.ESPN2
TBD7 p.m.ESPN
TBD7 p.m.ESPNU
TBD8 p.m.ESPN2
TBD9 p.m.ESPN
TBD9 p.m.ESPNU
TBD10 p.m.ESPN2

Sweet 16

Friday, March 24

GameTime (ET)TV
TBD2:30 p.m.ESPN
TBD5 p.m.ESPN
TBD7:30 p.m.ESPN
TBD10 p.m.ESPN

Saturday, March 25

GameTime (ET)TV
TBD11:30 a.m.ESPN
TBD2 p.m.ABC
TBD4 p.m.ESPN2
TBD6:30 p.m.ESPN2

Elite Eight

Sunday, March 26

GameTime (ET)TV
TBD7 p.m.ESPN
TBD9 p.m.ESPN

Monday, March 27

GameTime (ET)TV
TBD7 p.m.ESPN
TBD9 p.m.ESPN

Final Four

Friday, March 31

GameTime (ET)TV
TBD7 p.m.ESPN
TBD9:30 p.m.ESPN

National championship

Sunday, April 2

GameTime (ET)TV
TBD3:30 p.m.ABC

How to watch Women’s March Madness games in 2023

The ESPN family of networks (ABC, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNews) will split the duty of broadcasting the 2023 NCAA Women’s Tournament.

RoundTV channel
First FourESPNU, ESPN2
Round 1ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, ABC
Round 2ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ABC
Sweet 16ESPN, ESPN2, ABC
Elite EightESPN
Final FourESPN
National championshipABC

The 2023 NCAA Women’s Tournament can be streamed via SlingTV.

MORE: Watch NCAA Women’s Tournament games live with SlingTV

Where is Women’s March Madness 2023?

The 2023 NCAA Women’s Tournament is more secluded than the men’s side in terms of travel.

The First Four, as well as the first and second rounds will be hosted by the top 16 seeded teams at their home arenas.

The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight will take place in two cities on opposite ends of the country; and the Final Four and national championship game will be held at American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas.

Below is a full rundown of the sites and locations of the NCAA Women’s Tournament:

RoundLocationSite
First FourTop 16 seeds hostTBD
Round 1Top 16 seeds hostTBD
Round 2Top 16 seeds hostTBD
Sweet 16/Elite EightGreenville, South CarolinaBon Secours Wellness Arena
 Seattle, WashingtonClimate Pledge Arena
Final FourDallas, TexasAmerican Airlines Arena

Odds to win Women’s March Madness 2023

Below are the teams most likely to win the 2023 NCAA Women’s Tournament (as of Friday, March 10), via BetMGM:

  • South Carolina (-145)
  • Stanford (+700)
  • UConn (+700)
  • Indiana (+1000)
  • LSU (+2000)
  • Iowa (+2500)
  • Maryland (+2500)
  • North Carolina (+3000) 
  • Ohio State (+3000)
  • Texas (+4000)
  • Utah (+4000)
  • Notre Dame (+5000)
  • Louisville  (+6000)
  • Michigan (+6000)
  • Arizona (+8000) 
  • NC State (+8000) 
  • Oregon (+8000) 
  • Baylor (+10000)
  • Iowa State (+10000)
  • Tennessee (+10000)
  • Arkansas (+10000)
  • Creighton (+12500)
  • Oklahoma (+15000)
  • Kansas (+20000)
  • Miami (FL) (+20000)
  • Florida (+25000)
  • Mississippi State (+25000)
  • Florida State (+100000)
  • UCF (+100000)
  • USC (+100000)

Future Women’s March Madness locations, Final Four host sites

Below are the host sites for future Women’s Final Fours in ensuing seasons:

YearCityFinal Four host site
2024ClevelandRocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
2025Tampa BayAmalie Arena
2026PhoenixFootprint Center
2027Columbus (OH)Nationwide Arena
2028IndianapolisGainbridge Fieldhouse 
2029San AntonioAlamodome
2030Portland (OR)Moda Center
2031DallasAmerican Airlines Arena

NCAA Women’s Tournament 2023 tickets

You can buy regional tournament session tickets through resale markets like Ticketsmarter.

2023 Final Four ticket prices

As of Friday, March 10, Final Four tickets are going for a minimum of $185.

MORE: Buy Women’s March Madness tickets from Ticketsmarter 

Most NCAA Women’s Tournament winners

South Carolina won the NCAA Women’s Tournament in 2022, securing it’s second win in program history by beating UConn 64-49.

There are only three schools in history who have won back-to-back championships and South Carolina is heavily favored to become the fourth this go around, joining elite ranks with UConn, who won consecutively from 2002-04; Tennessee, who won consecutively from 1996-98; and USC, who won consecutively in 1983 and 1984.

UConn leads the charge with 11 national championships under its belt. Below is a complete list of how many titles each school holds, since the tournament’s inauguration in 1982.

SchoolNational titlesMost recent
UConn112016
Tennessee82008
Baylor32019
Stanford32021
Louisiana Tech21988
Notre Dame22018
South Carolina22022
USC21984
Maryland12006
North Carolina11994
Old Dominion11985
Purdue11999
Texas11986
Texas A&M12011
Texas Tech11993