What Is the First Four in Women's March Madness?

Since 2022 the NCAA women’s basketball tournament has mirrored the men’s 68 team layout. That change introduced the First Four, a set of opening play in games that officially launches March Madness a couple of days before the first round begins.

If you have only followed the traditional 64 team bracket, the concept can feel confusing. This guide explains what the First Four is, which teams appear, and how those games influence the rest of the tournament.

Why the Field Expanded to 68 Teams

For years the women’s tournament featured a clean 64 team bracket. Calls for parity with the men’s event, coupled with rising program depth across Division I, convinced the NCAA to add four more at large spots starting with the 2022 season.

The expansion rewards additional bubble teams, delivers extra television inventory, and generates early excitement without overhauling the core bracket structure.

How the First Four Is Structured

The First Four consists of four single elimination games played on the Wednesday and Thursday before first round action. Winners immediately advance to face predetermined No. 1 or No. 5 seeds less than 48 hours later.

Two of the matchups feature the last four at large selections while the other two pit the four lowest seeded automatic qualifiers against each other.

• Game 1: Last four at large team A vs team B
• Game 2: Last four at large team C vs team D
• Game 3: Lowest AQ seed A vs seed B
• Game 4: Lowest AQ seed C vs seed D

Selection Criteria for First Four Teams

The NCAA selection committee seeds the entire 68 team field from 1 to 68. Programs slotted at 65 through 68 receive First Four designations if they earned an automatic bid from a one bid league.

Meanwhile the final four at large berths, often separated by razor thin resume differences, are also sent to the play in round. This mirrors the men’s approach and preserves bracket balance.

Impact on the Main Bracket

Winning a First Four game technically counts as an NCAA tournament victory, something coaches cherish when contract incentives rely on tourney success metrics.

Historically First Four winners in the men’s event have reached as far as the Final Four. While the sample size is smaller on the women’s side, early evidence suggests that momentum from midweek action can propel underdogs to at least one more upset in the opening weekend.

Notable First Four Moments So Far

In the inaugural 2022 edition, Dayton upset DePaul to earn a date with top seeded Georgia, marking the Flyers’ first tournament win in seven years.

The following season saw Tennessee Tech surge past Monmouth and then push Indiana into the fourth quarter before bowing out, proving the play in round can showcase teams capable of legitimate scares.

Where and When to Watch

The First Four games rotate among campus sites selected from the top 16 overall seeds, giving higher ranked programs an early chance to host. Tipoff times typically fall into evening television windows on ESPN networks.

Brackets are released on Selection Sunday, so fans have roughly 48 hours to study matchups and plan viewership before the play in round tips off midweek.

Final Thoughts

The First Four injects an extra layer of drama into Women’s March Madness without altering the heart of the 64 team bracket fans know and love.

Understanding how those four contests are selected and slotted helps bracket builders project potential upsets and appreciate the full journey programs take from Selection Sunday to the national championship.