Teams | 40 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finals site | Frank Erwin Center Austin, Texas | ||||
Champions | Tennessee Volunteers (1st title, 2nd title game, 4th Final Four) | ||||
Runner-up | Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters (3rd title game, 4th Final Four) | ||||
Semifinalists |
| ||||
Winning coach | Pat Summitt (1st title) | ||||
MOP | Tonya Edwards (Tennessee) | ||||
|
The 1987 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 11, ended on March 29, and featured 40 teams. The Final Four were Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, and Long Beach State, with Tennessee winning its first title with a 67-44 victory over Louisiana Tech. [1] Tennessee's Tonya Edwards was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. [2]
Upsets were not unknown in the NCAA tournaments. For example, in the prior year, two 4 seeds made it to the Final Four. However, in the first five NCAA tournaments, once a team reached the Final Four, no team had beaten a higher seeded team. That changed in 1987. [3]
One semifinal game matched defending National Champion Texas against Louisiana Tech. Although both teams were 1 seeds, the Texas team came into the tournament with only a single regular season loss, earning them the number one ranking in the country. In addition, the Final Four was played on the home court of the Longhorns. Despite that, and a crowd of over 15 thousand, the largest crowd in the history of the sport, the Louisiana Tech team managed to beat the Texas team 79–75. The Lady Techsters hit 58.3% of their field goals, the fourth best performance in NCAA Final Four history, and a blistering 73.9% in the second half, missing only six of the 23 shots taken in the second half. Texas tried to wear down Teresa Weatherspoon, but set an NCAA Final Four record with eleven assists, while putting in 19 points of her own. [4] [5]
The other semifinal game matched 2 seed Tennessee against 1 seed Long Beach State. Although Long Beach was averaging over 96 points per game, and had scored 102 in the West Regional final against Ohio State, the Lady Vols held the team to 64 points, and upset the 1 seed by a score of 74–64. [5]
The lone loss by Texas in the regular season had been to Tennessee, ending the Longhorns 40 game win streak, but the two teams played again two weeks later, and this time Texas emerged victorious, with a 14-point victory. Tennessee earned the number one ranking in the AP vote after the win over Texas, but they began to stumble after the loss to Texas, with losses to Auburn, Mississippi and Vanderbilt. They played Louisiana Tech in February, and the lady Techsters won by nine points, dropping the Lady Vols to ninth in the poll. [6] The Tennessee team earned a 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but after their upset win against Long Beach, they faced the Louisiana Tech team again, a team that had beaten the Volunteers in 11 of the last 12 meetings. One of those meetings had been the 1982 National Championship game, when the Lady Techsters beat the Volunteers by 23 points. The 1987 Championship would turn that result on its head, as Tennessee won by 23 points, upsetting Louisiana Tech 67–44, for their first National Championship. [7]
Teresa Weatherspoon recorded 11 assists in the National Semifinal game, the most scored in a Final Four game since they started keeping records of this statistic in 1985. [3]
Forty teams were selected to participate in the 1987 NCAA Tournament. Eighteen conferences were eligible for an automatic bid to the 1987 NCAA tournament. [8]
Automatic bids | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Record | ||||
Qualifying school | Conference | Regular Season | Conference | Seed |
Auburn University | SEC | 29–1 | 8–1 | 1 |
Bowling Green State University | MAC | 27–2 | 16–0 | 9 |
Eastern Washington University | Mountain West | 18–11 | 8–4 | 10 |
James Madison University | Colonial | 26–3 | 12–0 | 4 |
University of Kansas | Big Eight | 19–12 | 9–5 | 7 |
Manhattan College | MAAC | 20–10 | 6–6 | 10 |
New Mexico State University | High Country | 23–6 | 10–2 | 9 |
North Carolina State University | ACC | 23–6 | 11–3 | 3 |
Northeast Louisiana | Southland Conference | 14–9 | 9–1 | 10 |
Ohio State University | Big Ten | 24–4 | 17–1 | 2 |
Old Dominion University | Sun Belt Conference | 17–12 | 5–1 | 5 |
Rutgers University | Atlantic 10 | 28–2 | 17–1 | 2 |
University of Southern California | Pac-10 | 21–7 | 15–3 | 3 |
Southern Illinois University Carbondale | Missouri Valley Conference | 27–2 | 18–0 | 5 |
University of Southern Mississippi | Metro | 21–8 | 6–6 | 10 |
Tennessee Technological University | Ohio Valley Conference | 23–6 | 12–2 | 7 |
University of Texas at Austin | Southwest | 28–1 | 16–0 | 1 |
Villanova University | Big East | 27–3 | 15–1 | 6 |
Twenty-two additional teams were selected to complete the forty invitations. [8]
Nineteen conferences earned an automatic bid. In eleven cases, the automatic bid was the only representative from the conference. Nineteen at-large teams were selected from eight of the conferences. In addition, two independent (not associated with an athletic conference) teams earned at-large bids. [8]
Bids | Conference | Teams |
6 | Southeastern | Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi, Tennessee, Vanderbilt |
4 | Big Ten | Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio St. |
4 | Atlantic Coast | Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina St., Virginia |
3 | Sun Belt | Old Dominion, South Ala., Western Kentucky |
3 | Pacific-10 | Oregon, Southern California, Washington |
3 | Atlantic 10 | Penn St., Rutgers, St. Joseph's |
2 | Metro | Memphis, Southern Miss. |
2 | Independent | Louisiana Tech, New Orleans |
2 | Big Eight | Kansas, Kansas St. |
1 | Southwest | Texas |
1 | Pacific Coast | Long Beach St. |
1 | Ohio Valley | Tennessee Tech |
1 | Mountain West | Eastern Washington |
1 | Missouri Valley | Southern Ill. |
1 | Mid-American | Bowling Green |
1 | Metro Atlantic | Manhattan |
1 | High Country | New Mexico St. |
1 | Gulf Star | Northwestern St. |
1 | Colonial | James Madison |
1 | Big East | Villanova |
In 1987, the field remained at 40 teams. The teams were seeded, and assigned to four geographic regions, with seeds 1-10 in each region. In Round 1, seeds 8 and 9 faced each other for the opportunity to face the 1 seed in the second round, while seeds 7 and 10 faced each other for the opportunity to face the 2 seed. In the first two rounds, the higher seed was given the opportunity to host the first round game. In most cases, the higher seed accepted the opportunity. The exceptions: [3]
Because Oregon hosted both a first and second round game, there were only 23 first and second round locations, rather than 24.
The following table lists the region, host school, venue and the twenty-four first round locations:
The regionals, named for the general location, were held from March 20 to March 23 at these sites:
The forty teams came from twenty states. Louisiana and Tennessee had the most teams with four each. Thirty states did not have any teams receiving bids. [8]
Bids | State | Teams |
---|---|---|
4 | Louisiana | Northwestern St., LSU, Louisiana Tech, New Orleans |
4 | Tennessee | Tennessee Tech, Memphis, Tennessee, Vanderbilt |
3 | Illinois | Southern Ill., Illinois, Northwestern |
3 | North Carolina | North Carolina St., Duke, North Carolina |
3 | Pennsylvania | Villanova, Penn St., St. Joseph's |
3 | Virginia | James Madison, Old Dominion, Virginia |
2 | Alabama | Auburn, South Ala. |
2 | California | Southern California, Long Beach St. |
2 | Kansas | Kansas, Kansas St. |
2 | Mississippi | Southern Miss., Mississippi |
2 | Ohio | Bowling Green, Ohio St. |
2 | Washington | Eastern Washington, Washington |
1 | Georgia | Georgia |
1 | Iowa | Iowa |
1 | Kentucky | Western Kentucky |
1 | New Jersey | Rutgers |
1 | New Mexico | New Mexico St. |
1 | New York | Manhattan |
1 | Oregon | Oregon |
1 | Texas | Texas |
First and second round games played at higher seed except where noted.
First round March 11 | Second round March 13–15 | Regional semifinals March 19–20 | Regional finals March 21 | ||||||||||||||||
8 | South Alabama | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | at St. Joseph's | 67* | |||||||||||||||||
9 | St. Joseph's | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Texas | 86 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Texas | 91 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | James Madison | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Vanderbilt | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | James Madison | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Texas | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Rutgers | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Duke | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Manhattan | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Duke | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Rutgers | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Rutgers | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | North Carolina State | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | North Carolina State | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | at Villanova | 67 |
First round March 11 | Second round March 13–15 | Regional semifinals March 19–20 | Regional finals March 22 | ||||||||||||||||
8 | Northwestern | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Kansas State | 61* | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Northwestern | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Louisiana Tech | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Louisiana Tech | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Southern Illinois | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Southern Illinois | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | LSU | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Louisiana Tech | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Iowa | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Kansas | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Northeast Louisiana | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Kansas | 51 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Georgia | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Georgia | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Iowa | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Iowa | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | New Orleans | 46 |
First round March 11 | Second round March 13–15 | Regional semifinals March 19–20 | Regional finals March 22 | ||||||||||||||||
8 | Illinois | 80 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Bowling Green | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Illinois | 58 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Auburn | 92 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Auburn | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Old Dominion | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Old Dominion | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | North Carolina | 58 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Auburn | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Tennessee | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Tennessee Tech | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Southern Mississippi | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Tennessee Tech | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Tennessee | 95 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Tennessee | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Virginia | 58 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Virginia | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Memphis State | 75 |
First round March 11 | Second round March 13–15 | Regional semifinals March 19–20 | Regional finals March 22 | ||||||||||||||||
8 | Washington | 86 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | New Mexico State | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Washington | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Long Beach State | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Long Beach State | 94 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Mississippi | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Penn State | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Mississippi | 80 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Long Beach State | 102 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Ohio State | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Eastern Washington | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | at Oregon | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | at Oregon | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Ohio State | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Ohio State | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | USC | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | USC | 81 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Western Kentucky | 69 |
National semifinals March 27 | National championship March 29 | ||||||||
1E | Texas | 75 | |||||||
1MW | Louisiana Tech | 79 | |||||||
1MW | Louisiana Tech | 44 | |||||||
2ME | Tennessee | 67 | |||||||
2ME | Tennessee | 74 | |||||||
1W | Long Beach State | 64 |
Fifteen conferences had more than one bid, or at least one win in NCAA Tournament play: [8]
Conference | # of Bids | Record | Win % | Round of 32 | Sweet Sixteen | Elite Eight | Final Four | Championship Game |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southeastern | 6 | 9–5 | .643 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Big Ten | 4 | 6–4 | .600 | 4 | 2 | 2 | – | – |
Atlantic Coast | 4 | 3–4 | .429 | 4 | 2 | – | – | – |
Atlantic 10 | 3 | 3–3 | .500 | 3 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
Pacific-10 | 3 | 3–3 | .500 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – |
Sun Belt | 3 | 1–3 | .250 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – |
Independent | 2 | 4–2 | .667 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Big Eight | 2 | 1–2 | .333 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
Metro | 2 | 0–2 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – |
Pacific Coast | 1 | 3–1 | .750 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – |
Southwest | 1 | 3–1 | .750 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – |
Colonial | 1 | 1–1 | .500 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – |
Gateway | 1 | 1–1 | .500 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – |
Ohio Valley | 1 | 1–1 | .500 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
Six conferences went 0-1: Big East, Gulf Star Conference, High Country, MAAC, MAC, and Mountain West [8]
The NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, sometimes referred to as Women's March Madness, is a single-elimination tournament played each spring in the United States, currently featuring 68 women's college basketball teams from the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), to determine the national championship.
The 1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. This was the first year the field was expanded to 64 teams, from 53 in the previous year's tournament. It began on March 14, 1985, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Lexington, Kentucky. A total of 63 games were played.
The 1999 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 12, 1999, and concluded on March 28, 1999, when Purdue won its first national championship in any women's sport. The Final Four was held at the San Jose Arena in San Jose, California, on March 26–28, 1999. Purdue defeated Duke 62-45 in Carolyn Peck's final game as head coach for the Boilermakers. She had previously announced her intention of leaving Purdue after two seasons to coach the expansion WNBA Orlando Miracle.
The 2003 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 22, 2003, and concluded on April 8, 2003, when the Connecticut Huskies (UConn) won their second straight national title. The Final Four was held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on April 6–8, 2003. UConn, coached by Geno Auriemma, defeated archrival Tennessee, coached by Pat Summitt, 73–68 in the championship game. UConn's Diana Taurasi was named Most Outstanding Player.
The 1998 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 13, 1998, and concluded on March 29, 1998, when Tennessee won the national title. The Final Four was held at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 27–29, 1998. Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, NC State, and Arkansas qualified for the Final Four. Tennessee and Louisiana Tech won their semi-final Final Four matchups and continued on to the championship. Tennessee defeated Louisiana Tech 93–75 to take their sixth title, and complete an undefeated season (39–0).
The 1982 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament was the first Women's Basketball Tournament held under the auspices of the NCAA. From 1972 to 1982, there were national tournaments for Division I schools held under the auspices of the AIAW. The inaugural NCAA Tournament included 32 teams. Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, Cheyney State, and Maryland met in the Final Four, held at the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia and hosted by Old Dominion University, with Louisiana Tech defeating Cheyney for the title, 76-62. Louisiana Tech's Janice Lawrence was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Her teammate Kim Mulkey went on to become the first woman to win NCAA Division I basketball titles as a player and coach, winning the 2005, 2012, 2019 titles as head coach at Baylor and the 2023 title at LSU..
The 1983 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 18 and concluded on April 3 with USC winning the title. The tournament consisted of 36 teams. The Final Four was held in Norfolk, Virginia and consisted of USC, Louisiana Tech, Old Dominion, and Georgia. USC's Cheryl Miller was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
The 1984 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 16 and ended on April 1. It featured 32 teams, four fewer than the previous year. Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, Cheyney, and Southern California were the Final Four, with Southern California defeating Tennessee, 72-61, for its second straight title. USC's Cheryl Miller was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. The semi-finals and finals were held in Pauley Pavilion on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles, California.
The 1985 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 14 and ended on March 31 and featured 32 teams. The Final Four consisted of Old Dominion, Northeast Louisiana, Western Kentucky, and Georgia, with Old Dominion defeating Georgia, 70–65 in the championship game. Old Dominion's Tracy Claxton was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
The 1986 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 12 and ended on March 30. The tournament expanded to 40 teams from 32. The Final Four consisted of Texas, Tennessee, Western Kentucky, and USC, with Texas defeating Southern California, 97-81 in the championship game. Texas's Clarissa Davis was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. With their championship win, Texas completed the first undefeated season (34-0) since the NCAA began sponsoring women's basketball in 1982.
The 1988 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 16 and ended on April 3. The tournament featured 40 teams. The Final Four consisted of Long Beach State, Auburn, Tennessee, and Louisiana Tech. Louisiana Tech won its second title with a 56-54 victory over Auburn. Louisiana Tech's Erica Westbrooks was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
The 1989 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 15 and ended on April 2. The tournament expanded from 40 to 48 teams. The Final Four consisted of Auburn, Louisiana Tech, Tennessee, and Maryland, with Tennessee winning its second title with a 76–60 victory over Auburn. Tennessee's Bridgette Gordon was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
The 1990 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 11 and ended on April 1. The tournament featured 48 teams. The Final Four consisted of Virginia, Stanford, Auburn, and Louisiana Tech, with Stanford defeating Auburn 88-81 to win its first NCAA title. Stanford's Jennifer Azzi was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
The 1991 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 13 and ended on March 31. The tournament featured 48 teams. The Final Four event was hosted by the University of New Orleans, and held at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans. The Final Four teams consisted of Tennessee, Stanford, Connecticut, and Virginia, with Tennessee defeating Virginia 70-67 (OT) to win its third NCAA title. Virginia's Dawn Staley was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
The 2000 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 17 and ended on April 2. The tournament featured 64 teams. The Final Four consisted of Connecticut, Penn St., Tennessee, and Rutgers, with Connecticut defeating Tennessee 71-52 to win its second NCAA title. Connecticut's Shea Ralph was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
The 2001 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 16 and ended on April 1. The tournament featured 64 teams. The Final Four, held at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, consisted of Connecticut, Notre Dame, Purdue, and Southwest Missouri State, with Notre Dame defeating Purdue 68–66 to win its first NCAA title. Notre Dame's Ruth Riley was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
The 1993 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 17 and ended on April 4. The tournament featured 48 teams. The Final Four consisted of Ohio State, Iowa, Vanderbilt, and Texas Tech, with Texas Tech defeating Ohio State 84–82 to win its first NCAA title. Texas Tech's Sheryl Swoopes was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
The 1994 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament featured 64 teams for the first time ever. The Final Four consisted of North Carolina, Purdue, Louisiana Tech, and Alabama, with North Carolina defeating Louisiana Tech 60–59 to win its first NCAA title on a 3-point shot by Charlotte Smith as time expired. The ball was inbounded with only 00:00.7 left on the clock, making it one of the most exciting finishes in tournament history.
The Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters basketball team represents Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. The team currently competes in Conference USA. The current head coach of the Lady Techsters is Brooke Stoehr. Louisiana Tech has won three National Championships and has competed in 13 Final Fours, 23 Sweet Sixteens, and 27 NCAA tournaments. The Lady Techsters basketball program boasts three Wade Trophy winners, five Olympic medalists, eight members of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, 16 All-Americans, and 21 WNBA players. The Lady Techsters have an all-time record of 1207–406, with a .748 winning percentage, and are the fifth program in NCAA history to reach 1,200 wins. The Lady Techsters have made 27 appearances in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, which is the twelfth most all-time.
The 2013 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament was played from March 23 through April 9, 2013. Tennessee continued its streak of making every NCAA women's basketball tournament at 32 consecutive appearances. Kansas made the regional semifinals for the second year in a row as a double-digit seed, UConn made it into the Final Four for the sixth consecutive year, the longest such streak, and Louisville became the first team seeded lower than fourth in a region to advance to the championship game. For the first time in tournament history, the same four teams were #1 seeds as in the previous year.