NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament

NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament is the annual single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA Division II women's basketball. First held in 1982, the event features 64 teams selected from eight geographic regions across the United States. The champion is crowned at the Elite Eight, a centralized final site event.

History

The tournament was established in 1982, concurrent with the NCAA's assumption of governance over women's collegiate athletics from the AIAW. Early tournaments were dominated by programs like the North Dakota Fighting Sioux and UC Riverside Highlanders. The Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks emerged as a dynasty under coach Steve Kinder, winning multiple titles in the 2000s and 2010s. Significant format changes have occurred, including the expansion to 64 teams and the introduction of regionalization to reduce travel. The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the 2020 tournament, with the event resuming in 2021 under modified health protocols. The championship final site has rotated among cities like St. Joseph, Columbus, and Birmingham.

Format

The tournament field consists of 64 teams, with automatic bids awarded to the champions of the 23 Division II conferences, such as the GLIAC, Lone Star Conference, and Peach Belt Conference. The remaining 41 spots are filled by at-large selections determined by the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Committee. The bracket is divided into eight regional tournaments, each featuring eight teams seeded one through eight by the committee. Regional competition is typically hosted by the top seed and uses a single-elimination format. The eight regional champions advance to the Elite Eight, a pre-determined neutral site where quarterfinals, semifinals, and the national championship game are played over a single weekend.

Champions

The most successful program is the Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks with five national championships, followed by the North Dakota Fighting Sioux with three. Other multiple-time champions include the North Alabama Lions, South Dakota Coyotes, and Emporia State Lady Hornets. Recent champions feature a diverse array of programs, such as the Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps, Drury Panthers, and the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. The reigning champion as of 2024 is the Minnesota State Mavericks, who won their first title in Birmingham. Coaches like Annette Wiles of North Georgia and Mike Miller of Sioux Falls have led their teams to the championship game.

Records and statistics

Cheryl Miller, while at the University of Southern California, set a single-game scoring record in the 1983 tournament. The North Dakota Fighting Sioux hold the record for consecutive championship game appearances with three from 1997 to 1999. Individual career scoring records in the tournament are held by players like Megan Vogel of South Dakota State. The Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks own the record for most tournament appearances and wins. Notable team performance records include the perfect season achieved by the Shippensburg Raiders in 2018. The WBCA National Player of the Year award has frequently been won by participants in the tournament, such as Jodi Johnson of Ashland.

Media coverage

Television coverage of the championship game has been provided by CBS Sports Network since 2011, with earlier broadcasts on ESPNU and Fox Sports Net. The Elite Eight semifinals and final are typically televised nationally. Streaming coverage for all tournament games is available via the NCAA.com website and its associated apps. Regional sports networks like Bally Sports often broadcast early-round games featuring local teams. Radio broadcasts are provided by school-affiliated networks and partners like Westwood One. The WBCA collaborates with the NCAA on promotional and media efforts for the event.

Category:NCAA Division II women's basketball Category:College basketball competitions in the United States Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1982