Top Seeds Revealed: UCLA And USC No. 1 In March Madness

The UCLA women’s basketball team achieved a historic milestone, earning the top overall seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament for the first time ever. Their impressive season included only two losses, both to their rival USC, but their overall performance convinced the NCAA selection committee to reward them with the top spot. Alongside UCLA and USC, South Carolina and Texas rounded out the four No. 1 seeds revealed on Sunday evening.

South Carolina Comes Up Short for Top Seed, Despite Strong Resume

South Carolina, coached by Dawn Staley, entered Selection Sunday hopeful of capturing the No. 1 overall seed. After winning last year’s national championship with an undefeated record, this year’s squad faced more hurdles, finishing 30-3. A significant factor was a 29-point loss to UConn, which the committee highlighted as a crucial reason for UCLA edging them out. Coach Staley expressed some disappointment with the outcome, noting the added difficulty of repeating as champions, something no team has achieved since UConn’s historic run from 2013 to 2016.

USC Feels Slighted Even as Top Seed

Despite being named a No. 1 seed, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb voiced frustration, feeling that the Trojans were undervalued by the committee. Her surprise reflects the intense competition and growing parity in women’s college basketball. Led by standout player JuJu Watkins, USC faces a challenging path to the Final Four, potentially having to overcome strong teams like UConn to reach Tampa.

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Source: UCLA, South Carolina, USC, Texas women’s tournament No. 1 seeds

Tournament Field Highlights Increased Competitive Balance

The women’s tournament this year is characterized by greater competitive balance than usual, with no team entering March Madness undefeated or even with just a single loss. It’s only the second occurrence of this scenario in nearly two decades. NCAA selection chair Derita Dawkins emphasized that seeds were assigned based purely on season performance, anticipating a thrilling and highly competitive tournament.

Top Seeds Revealed: UCLA and USC No. 1 in March Madness

Historical Achievements and New Financial Rewards for Women’s Teams

The Big Ten, boosted by newcomers UCLA and USC, is seeking its first women’s basketball championship since Purdue in 1999. The conference set a record by sending 12 teams to the tournament, followed by strong representation from the SEC (10), ACC (8), and Big 12 (7).

The Ivy League made history with three teams—Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia—earning bids. Both Princeton and Columbia must win play-in games, while Harvard enters directly as a 10 seed. Also notable, six schools—including William & Mary (15-18), Arkansas State, Fairleigh Dickinson, George Mason, Grand Canyon, and UC San Diego—are making their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearances. William & Mary’s sub-.500 record makes them the first team with a losing record since 2022 to reach the tournament.

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This year also marks a groundbreaking change financially. For the first time, women’s NCAA teams will earn monetary rewards for their tournament wins, mirroring the men’s tournament system. Teams reaching the Final Four could generate about $1.26 million in financial rewards distributed over the following three years.

Key Teams and Tournament Surprises

The prominent two-seeds in this year’s tournament include powerhouse UConn, Duke, TCU, and NC State. Despite strong regular-season performances, Notre Dame slipped to a three-seed due to late-season struggles.

Virginia Tech, James Madison, Saint Joseph’s, and Colorado were the notable teams left just outside the bracket, categorized as the “first four out.” The fierce competition for spots underscores the rising talent level across women’s basketball.

As the women’s game continues to grow, TV ratings and audience engagement have skyrocketed, highlighted by last year’s women’s championship game between South Carolina and Iowa outperforming the men’s final, marking a significant shift in the popularity and commercial success of women’s collegiate basketball.