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Season | 2016–17 | ||||
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Teams | 64 | ||||
Finals site | American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas | ||||
Champions | South Carolina Gamecocks (1st title, 1st title game, 2nd Final Four) | ||||
Runner-up | Mississippi State Bulldogs (1st title game, 1st Final Four) | ||||
Semifinalists |
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Winning coach | Dawn Staley (1st title) | ||||
MOP | A'ja Wilson (South Carolina) | ||||
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The 2017 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament was played from Friday, March 17 to Sunday, April 2, 2017, with the Final Four played at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on March 31 and April 2. This was the first time that the women's Final Four was played in Dallas and the first time since 2002 that the Final Four games were played on Friday and Sunday, rather than Sunday and Tuesday. [1] South Carolina defeated Mississippi State to win the championship.
Tennessee continued its record streak of making every NCAA women's basketball tournament at 36 consecutive appearances. UConn also continued its record streak of 10 consecutive Final Four appearances.
The first two rounds, also referred to as the subregionals, were played at the sites of the top 16 seeds, as was done in 2016. The following are the sites that hosted each round of the 2017 tournament.
First and second rounds
Regional semifinals and finals (Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight)
National semifinals and championship (Final Four and championship)
Pending any changes to the format, a total of 64 teams will enter the 2017 tournament. Thirty-two automatic bids shall be awarded to each program that wins their conference's tournament. The remaining 36 bids are "at-large", with selections extended by the NCAA Selection Committee. The tournament is split into four regional tournaments, and each regional has teams seeded from 1 to 16, with the committee ostensibly making every region as comparable to the others as possible.[ citation needed ] The top-seeded team in each region plays the #16 team, the #2 team plays the #15, etc. (meaning where the two seeds add up to 17, that team will be assigned to play another).
The basis for the subregionals returned to the approach used between 1982 and 2002; the top sixteen teams, as chosen in the bracket selection process, hosted the first two rounds on campus.
The Selection Committee will also seed the entire field from 1 to 64.
Selections for the 2017 NCAA Division I women's basketball championship were announced at 7 p.m. Eastern time, Monday, March 13 via ESPN.
The following teams automatically qualified for the 2017 NCAA field by virtue of winning their conference's tournament.
Conference | Team | Appearance | Last bid |
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ACC | Notre Dame | 24th | 2016 |
America East | Albany | 6th | 2016 |
American | UConn | 29th | 2016 |
Atlantic 10 | Dayton | 7th | 2015 |
Atlantic Sun | Florida Gulf Coast | 4th | 2015 |
Big 12 | West Virginia | 12th | 2016 |
Big East | Marquette | 10th | 2011 |
Big Sky | Montana State | 2nd | 1993 |
Big South | UNC Asheville | 3rd | 2016 |
Big Ten | Maryland | 25th | 2016 |
Big West | Long Beach State | 12th | 1992 |
Colonial | Elon | 1st | Never |
C-USA | WKU | 19th | 2015 |
Horizon | Green Bay | 17th | 2016 |
Ivy | Penn | 5th | 2016 |
MAAC | Quinnipiac | 3rd | 2015 |
MAC | Toledo | 8th | 2001 |
MEAC | Hampton | 9th | 2014 |
Missouri Valley | Drake | 11th | 2007 |
Mountain West | Boise State | 4th | 2015 |
Northeast | Robert Morris | 5th | 2016 |
Ohio Valley | Belmont | 3rd | 2016 |
Pac-12 | Stanford | 31st | 2016 |
Patriot | Bucknell | 3rd | 2008 |
SEC | South Carolina | 14th | 2016 |
Southern | Chattanooga | 15th | 2016 |
Southland | Central Arkansas | 2nd | 2016 |
SWAC | Texas Southern | 1st | Never |
Summit | Western Illinois | 2nd | 1995 |
Sun Belt | Troy | 3rd | 2016 |
West Coast | Gonzaga | 9th | 2015 |
WAC | New Mexico State | 5th | 2016 |
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First round Round of 64 March 17–18 | Second Round Round of 32 March 19–20 | Regional semifinals Sweet 16 March 25 | Regional Final Elite 8 March 27 | ||||||||||||||||
1 | UConn | 116 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Albany | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | UConn | 94 | |||||||||||||||||
Storrs, Connecticut (Sat/Mon) | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | Syracuse | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Syracuse | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Iowa State | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | UConn | 86 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | UCLA | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Texas A&M | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Penn | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Texas A&M | 43 | |||||||||||||||||
Los Angeles, California (Sat/Mon) | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | UCLA | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | UCLA | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Boise State | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | UConn | 90 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Oregon | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | West Virginia | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Elon | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | West Virginia | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
College Park, Maryland (Fri/Sun) | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | Maryland | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Maryland | 103 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Bucknell | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Maryland | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Oregon | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Temple | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Oregon | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Oregon | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
Durham, North Carolina (Sat/Mon) | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Duke | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Duke | 94 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Hampton | 31 |
ESPN |
March 27 7:00 PM |
Connecticut90, Oregon 52 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 28–13, 21–11, 23–19, 18–9 | ||
Pts: N. Collier 28 Rebs: N. Collier 12 Asts: K. Nurse 7 | Pts: S. Ionescu 15 Rebs: S. Ionescu 8 Asts: M. Cazorla/M. McGwire 4 |
Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, CT Attendance: 8,978 Referees: Mark Zentz, Felicia Grinter, Penny Davis |
First round Round of 64 March 17–18 | Second Round Round of 32 March 19–20 | Regional semifinals Sweet 16 March 24 | Regional Final Elite 8 March 26 | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Baylor | 119 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Texas Southern | 30 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Baylor | 86 | |||||||||||||||||
Waco, Texas (Sat/Mon) | |||||||||||||||||||
9 | California | 46 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | LSU | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | California | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Baylor | 97 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Louisville | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Tennessee | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Dayton | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Tennessee | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
Louisville, Kentucky (Sat/Mon) | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Louisville | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Louisville | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Chattanooga | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Baylor | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Mississippi State | 94* | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Oklahoma | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Gonzaga | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Oklahoma | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
Seattle, Washington (Sat/Mon) | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | Washington | 108 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Washington | 91 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Montana State | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Washington | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Mississippi State | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | DePaul | 88 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Northern Iowa | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | DePaul | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
Starkville, Mississippi (Fri/Sun) | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Mississippi State | 92 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Mississippi State | 110 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Troy | 69 |
* – Denotes overtime period
ESPN |
March 26 7:30 PM |
Baylor 85, Mississippi State94 (OT) | ||
Scoring by quarter: 19–21, 21–22, 21–17, 14–15, Overtime: 10–19 | ||
Pts: K. Brown 27 Rebs: K. Brown 9 Asts: A. Jones 7 | Pts: M. William 41 Rebs: V. Vivians 6 Asts: M. William 7 |
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK Attendance: 3,128 Referees: Dee Kanter, Cameron Inouye, Michael McConnell |
First round Round of 64 March 17–18 | Second round Round of 32 March 19–20 | Regional semifinals Sweet 16 March 24 | Regional final Elite 8 March 26 | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Notre Dame | 79 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Robert Morris | 49 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Notre Dame | 88* | |||||||||||||||||
Notre Dame, Indiana (Fri/Sun) | |||||||||||||||||||
9 | Purdue | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Green Bay | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Purdue | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Notre Dame | 99 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Ohio State | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Ohio State | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Western Kentucky | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Ohio State | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
Lexington, Kentucky (Fri/Sun) | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Kentucky | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Kentucky | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Belmont | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Notre Dame | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Stanford | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | NC State | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Auburn | 48 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | NC State | 80 | |||||||||||||||||
Austin, Texas (Fri/Sun) | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | Texas | 84 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Texas | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Central Arkansas | 50 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Texas | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Stanford | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Kansas State | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Drake | 54 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Kansas State | 48 | |||||||||||||||||
Manhattan, Kansas (Sat/Mon) | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Stanford | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Stanford | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | New Mexico State | 64 |
* – Denotes overtime period
First round Round of 64 March 17–18 | Second Round Round of 32 March 19–20 | Regional semifinals Sweet 16 March 25 | Regional Final Elite 8 March 27 | ||||||||||||||||
1 | South Carolina | 90 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | UNC Asheville | 40 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | South Carolina | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
Columbia, South Carolina (Fri/Sun) | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | Arizona State | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Arizona State | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Michigan State | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | South Carolina | 100 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Quinnipiac | 58 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Marquette | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Quinnipiac | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Quinnipiac | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
Coral Gables, Florida (Sat/Mon) | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Miami (FL) | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Miami (FL) | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Florida Gulf Coast | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | South Carolina | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Florida State | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Missouri | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | South Florida | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Missouri | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
Tallahassee, Florida (Fri/Sun) | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | Florida State | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Florida State | 87 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Western Illinois | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Florida State | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Oregon State | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Creighton | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Toledo | 49 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Creighton | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
Corvallis, Oregon (Fri/Sun) | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Oregon State | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Oregon State | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Long Beach State | 55 |
ESPN |
March 27 9:00 PM |
South Carolina71, Florida State 64 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 24–17, 16–12, 15–16, 16–19 | ||
Pts: K. Davis 23 Rebs: D. Cliney 7 Asts: K. Davis/A. Gray/T. Harris 2 | Pts: L. Romero 16 Rebs: I. Slaughter 10 Asts: L. Romero 6 |
Stockton Arena, Stockton, CA Attendance: 3,134 Referees: Lisa Jones, Bryan Brunette, Gina Cross, In'Fini Robinson |
National semifinals March 31 | National Championship Game April 2 | ||||||||
BDP1 | UConn | 64 | |||||||
OKC2 | Mississippi State | 66* | |||||||
OKC2 | Mississippi State | 55 | |||||||
SCK1 | South Carolina | 67 | |||||||
LEX2 | Stanford | 53 | |||||||
SCK1 | South Carolina | 62 |
* – Denotes overtime period
ESPN2 |
March 31 10:02 PM |
UConn 64, Mississippi State 66 (OT) | ||
Scoring by quarter: 13–22, 15–14, 20–12, 12–12, Overtime: 4–6 | ||
Pts: G. Williams 21 Rebs: N. Collier/G. Williams 8 Asts: S. Chong 5 | Pts: V. Vivians 19 Rebs: T. McCowan 8 Asts: M. William 6 |
American Airlines Center – Dallas, Texas Attendance: 19,200 Referees: Lisa Jones, Jesse Dickerson, Maj Forsberg |
ESPN2 |
March 31 7:30 PM |
Stanford 53, South Carolina 62 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 12–14, 17–6, 8–21, 16–21 | ||
Pts: E. McCall/A. Smith 14 Rebs: E. McCall 14 Asts: M. Sniezek 6 | Pts: A. Gray 18 Rebs: A. Wilson 19 Asts: A. Wilson 4 |
American Airlines Center – Dallas, Texas Attendance: 19,200 Referees: Joe Vaszily, Felicia Grinter, Michol Murray |
ESPN |
April 2 6:00 pm |
Mississippi State 55, South Carolina 67 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 14–18, 12–18, 18–16, 11–15 | ||
Pts: V. Vivians 12 Rebs: T. McCowan 10 Asts: M. William 4 | Pts: A. Wilson 23 Rebs: A. Wilson/A. Gray 10 Asts: B. Cuevas-Moore/A. Gray/T. Harris 2 |
American Airlines Center – Dallas, Texas Referees: Dee Kantner, Tina Napier, Brenda Pantoja |
Conference | Bids | Record | Win % | R64 | R32 | S16 | E8 | F4 | CG | NC |
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SEC | 8 | 15–7 | .682 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Pac-12 | 7 | 15–7 | .682 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | – | – |
American | 3 | 4–3 | .571 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
ACC | 7 | 12–7 | .632 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – |
Big 12 | 6 | 8–6 | .571 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – |
Big Ten | 4 | 5–4 | .556 | 4 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | – |
MAAC | 1 | 2–1 | .667 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
Big East | 3 | 2–3 | .400 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – |
Missouri Valley | 2 | 0–2 | .000 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
ESPN had US television rights to all games during the tournament. [60] For the first and second rounds, ESPN aired select games nationally on ESPN2, ESPNU, or ESPNews. All other games aired regionally on ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPN3 and were streamed online via WatchESPN. Most of the nation got whip-a-round coverage during this time, which allowed ESPN to rotate between the games and focus the nation on the game that had the closest score. The Lexington and Oklahoma City regional semifinals aired concurrently on ESPN and ESPN2, while ESPN televised the Bridgeport and Stockton regional semifinals and all four regional finals. The national semifinals aired on ESPN2, and the national championship on ESPN.
First & Second Rounds Friday/Sunday
Sweet Sixteen & Elite Eight Friday/Sunday
Final Four
| First & Second Rounds Saturday/Monday
Sweet Sixteen & Elite Eight Saturday/Monday
Championship
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Westwood One has exclusive radio rights to the entire tournament. [61] [62] Teams participating in the Regional Finals, Final Four, and championship are allowed to have their own local broadcasts, but they are not allowed to stream those broadcasts online.
Regional Finals Sunday
Final Four
| Regional Finals Monday
Championship
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