Women's Selection Sunday: 68-team NCAA Tournament bracket announced

Regional 4 - Spokane

1. USC (28-3)
16. UNC Greensboro (25-6)

8. California (25-8)
9. Mississippi State (21-11)

5. Kansas State (26-7)
12. Fairfield (28-4)

4. Kentucky (22-7)
13. Liberty (26-6)

6. Iowa (22-10)
11. Murray State (25-7)

3. Oklahoma (25-7)
14. Florida Gulf Coast (30-3)

7. Oklahoma State (25-6)
10. South Dakota State (29-3)

2. UConn (31-3)
15. Arkansas State (21-10)

Takeaways: USC was rewarded the final 1-seed, but it's an award that means little. The Trojans and star JuJu Watkins may have to go through the strongest 2-seed (Paige Bueckers and UConn), and the only Big Ten team that beat them in the regular season (Iowa Hawkeyes). USC beat UConn 72-70 on Dec. 21 in the most-watched women's basketball game this season. If they meet for a second time, the rematch could draw even more eyes.

Regional 3 - Birmingham

1. Texas (31-3)
16. High Point/William and Mary

8. Illinois (21-9)
9. Creighton (26-6)

5. Tennessee (22-9)
12. South Florida (23-10)

4. Ohio State (25-6)
13. Montana State (30-3)

6. Michigan (22-10)
11. Iowa State/Princeton

3. Notre Dame (26-5)
14. Stephen F. Austin (29-5)

7. Louisville (21-10)
10. Nebraska (21-11)

2. TCU (31-3)
15. Fairleigh Dickinson (29-3)

Takeaways: Regional 3 seems to be filled with top teams searching for momentum when they need it most. No. 1-seeded Texas got blown out in the SEC Tournament title game, fifth-seeded Tennessee lost three of its last four games, and Notre Dame was ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 less than a month ago, yet finds itself as a 3-seed. Will one of those juggernauts return to form, or is this the region that produces a Cinderella story?

Regional 2 - Birmingham

1. South Carolina (30-3)
16. Tennessee Tech (26-5)

8. Utah (22-8)
9. Indiana (19-12)

5. Alabama (23-8)
12. Green Bay (29-5)

4. Maryland (23-7)
13. Norfolk State (30-4)

6. West Virginia (24-7)
11. Columbia/Washington 

3. North Carolina (27-7)
14. Oregon State (19-15)

7. Vanderbilt (22-10)
10. Oregon (19-11)

2. Duke (26-7)
15. Lehigh (27-6)

Takeaways: South Carolina barely celebrated the announcement that it had earned a 1-seed because it was not the top overall seed. The Gamecocks now have a chip on their shoulder, along with momentum from dominating the SEC Tournament. 

Regional 1 - Spokane

1. UCLA (30-2)
16. UC San Diego/Southern 

8. Richmond (27-6)
9. Georgia Tech (22-10)

5. Ole Miss (20-10)
12. Ball State (27-7)

4. Baylor (27-7)
13. Grand Canyon (32-2)

6. Florida State (23-8)
11. George Mason (27-5)

3. LSU (28-5)
14. San Diego State (25-9)

7. Michigan State (21-9)
10. Harvard (24-4)

2. NC State (26-6)
15. Vermont (21-12)

Takeaways: The UCLA women's basketball team earned the No. 1 overall seed in the women's NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The Bruins' regular-season win over fellow 1-seed South Carolina, and their Big Ten Tournament title victory over No. 1-seeded USC, surely helped them earn the top mark. UCLA made the Sweet 16 in 2024, but lost to LSU. Those two programs could find themselves in a rematch if they both make the Elite Eight. 

Earlier this month, Paige Bueckers and UConn won the Big East title, the 23rd in program history.

"They're playing as well as anyone in America right now," FOX Sports analyst Kim Adams said at the time. "They have all the pieces to win it all."

While Bueckers tries to win her first national title in her final collegiate season, freshman Sarah Strong could help her reach that elusive championship.

"Sarah is the best and most difficult player to match up with that they've had since Breanna Stewart," St. John's head coach Joe Tartamella told John Fanta. 

Head coach Geno Auriemma has claimed 11 national championships with the Huskies, but they haven't won it all since 2016.