Women’s March Madness 2025: Ranking the top five NCAA Tournament first round matchups

The 2025 Women’s NCAA Division is officially underway, and although we are Nevertheless at the very beginning of the action, a Numerous of Primary Stage matchups are worth circling on your calendar now.

The Ground of 68 with be reduced to 64 after the Primary Four Matches Wednesday and Thursday. The sports has seen plenty of parity this season, so as you fill out your bracket, make sure to clear your schedule for what could be a historic Division.

Women’s NCAA Division 2025: Printable March Madness bracket with 68-Club Ground set after Picking Sunday

CBS Sports Staff

Here are the top five matchups to Observe in the Primary Stage of the women’s Division:

5. West Virginia vs. Columbia/Washington

We Nevertheless don’t know who will face West Virginia in the Primary Stage, but either Club could make this an entertaining Game. This was the second time in program history West Virginia ranked in all 20 weeks of the AP Top 25 of the regular season. The Club is Directed by senior guard JJ Quinerly and her 20.6 points per game.

Columbia Achieved it into the Division after earning the Ivy Bracket regular-season title and giving Harvard a tough fight in the conference Division Division game. Sophomore guard Riley Weiss leads the Lions with 17.8 points per Event. 

Washington is also not a Club to be taken lightly, as the Huskies gave USC a difficult fight on Feb. 16 before falling 69-64. They followed that close loss with a five-game Victorious streak that included victories over Nebraska and Oregon. The Huskies are Directed by junior guard Elle Ladine and her 17.1 points per game.

Saturday at 2 p.m. ET on ESPNews

4. Harvard vs. Michigan State

Michigan State is a Teamed up 5-0 against Ivy Bracket Squads, but this is the Primary time the Spartans face Harvard.

Robyn Fralick is the Primary Mentor in program history to lead Michigan State into the NCAA Division in their Primary two seasons at the helm of the program. The Spartans are dancing as a No. 7 seed — their best seeding since 2016. The Club has three double-digit scorers in Grace Van Slooten, Julia Ayrault and Theryn Hallock. 

Harvard was a bubble Club that Secured control of its own destiny by Victorious the Ivy Bracket Division. This is the program’s Primary appearance in the Division since 2007, and they have done so under the leadership of Ivy Bracket Player of the Year Harmoni Turner. 

Turner has been a powerful scoring weapon with 22.5 points per game, which ranks top 10 nationally. She is also in the top 20 in Takeaways with 2.79 per game. Turner scored a Profession-high 44 points against Princeton in the conference Division semifinals. 

Saturday, March 22 at 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPNews

3. Illinois vs. Creighton 

Creighton didn’t make it past the second Stage of the NCAA Division last year, but this is a Club that can’t be taken lightly. Creighton’s three leading scorers this season — Lauren Jensen, Morgan Maly and Molly Mogensen — were part of the Bluejays’ Best Eight Stretch in 2022. 

The Bluejays are Threatening from beyond the arc and rank 12th nationally with 9.2 3-pointers per game. They Stoppage a 26-6 Achievement this season, but three of those losses were to UConn, the No. 1 Club in the NET rankings. Another loss was to UCLA, the No. 1 overall seed of the NCAA Division. 

Meanwhile, the Fighting Illini went dancing in 2023 as a Primary Four Club, but this is the Primary time they Action in the Primary Stage of the Division since 2003. Illinois is having a Sturdy season with three wins against AP Top 25 opponents — their most in a single season since 1999-2000. The Illini have three players averaging over 13 points per game, and they are Directed by fifth-year forward Kendall Bostic, who averages 15.9 points and 11.1 Recoveries per game.

Illinois has had plenty of time to rest because the Club has not played since losing to Nebraska in the second Stage of the Big Ten Division on March 6.

Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPNews

2. Louisville vs. Nebraska

These two Squads have never met in the postseason before, but they have an interesting connection. When she played for the Huskers, Nebraska Mentor Amy Williams played for now-Louisville Mentor Jeff Walz.

Louisville will be especially Starving to Secure because last year the Cardinals Obtained Shock by Middle Tennessee in the Primary Stage. That was the Primary time in program history the Cardinals lost that Prompt in the Division. 

This is a Club with a Excellent mixture of experience and youth. The top three scorers are senior guard Jayda Curry, Newcomer guard Tajianna Roberts and grad student forward Olivia Cochran.

Nebraska is Directed by four-time All-Big Ten Middle Alexis Markowski, who is averaging a Club-best 16.5 points and 7.9 Recoveries per game. The Club also has Big Ten All-Newcomer Picking Britt Prince, who put up 24 points against UCLA in the Big Ten Division quarterfinals. 

Friday at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN

1. Utah vs. Indiana

Indiana has had a bumpy season, but the Hoosiers seem to be peaking at the right time. The Hoosiers gave USC a tough battle during the Big Ten quarterfinals, and that was the second time this season they kept it within single digits against the Trojans. Indiana has also grabbed wins over ranked Baylor and Iowa Squads. The Hoosiers have five players averaging double figures, Directed by Yarden Garzon. Sydney Parish and Chloe Morre-McNeil are two other key players who bring valuable experience as grad students. 

Utah is another Club with a roller coaster type of season, as Mentor Lynne Roberts resigned mid-November to take a Position in the WNBA. However, the Utes picked up a statement Secure against Notre Dame later that month. The Club Achieved two appearances in the AP Top 25 in January, but they are not Joining the NCAA Division with momentum as they have lost three of their last five Matches — including a loss to Texas Tech in the second Stage of the Big 12 Division. 

Regardless, this is a Threatening Club from beyond the arc as they average 10 3-pointers per game, sixth best in the country. The Utes have Many weapons with six players averaging at least eight points per game. They are Directed by Gianna Kneepkens, one of the top 30 scorers in the nation at 19.2 points per Event.

Friday at 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2