How Many Teams Are in Women’s March Madness?

Few annual events capture sports fans quite like March Madness, and the women’s bracket has grown significantly in both size and visibility over the past decade.

If you are filling out a bracket or simply curious about the tournament format, the first thing to know is how many teams actually make the field and why the number matters.

Current Field Size: 68 Teams

As of the 2022 tournament, the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship features 68 teams. This matches the men’s field, which has been at 68 since 2011.

The jump from 64 to 68 added four more at-large opportunities and introduced the First Four play-in round, giving additional programs a chance to compete on the national stage.

How the 68 Teams Are Chosen

Selection Sunday finalizes the bracket with a blend of automatic bids and at-large bids. Automatic qualifiers are conference champions, while at-large spots go to teams deemed most deserving by the selection committee.

In total, 32 conferences award automatic bids. The remaining 36 positions are granted at-large after the committee reviews win-loss records, strength of schedule, NET rankings, and head-to-head results.

• 32 automatic bids (conference champions)
• 36 at-large bids (committee selected)

What Is the First Four?

The First Four consists of four single-elimination games played before the traditional Round of 64. Eight teams participate: the four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams.

Winners advance into the main bracket as 11 or 16 seeds, depending on placement. While technically an extra step, these games often deliver high-energy matchups and set the tone for the tournament.

A Brief History of Expansion

The women’s championship began in 1982 with 32 teams. It doubled to 64 in 1994, mirroring the men’s standard of that era.

Calls for parity grew louder as the men’s field expanded to 68, and after careful review the NCAA approved the same move on the women’s side for the 2022 tournament. Early feedback has been positive, particularly from mid-major programs that benefited from the extra slots.

Why the Number Matters to Fans and Teams

A 68-team layout does more than create additional games. It provides exposure, revenue, and recruiting boosts for schools that might otherwise miss the cut.

For bracket enthusiasts, the larger field offers more potential upsets and storylines. Each added game can swing office pools, highlight under-the-radar players, and keep the first week of March Madness buzzing from morning to midnight.

Television Exposure and Ratings Impact

ESPN and its family of networks broadcast every game, and the larger field creates more live windows and shoulder programming.

Higher ratings translate into increased rights fees, helping grow resources for women's basketball at every level.

Conclusion

Women’s March Madness now invites 68 teams to chase a national title, aligning with the men’s format and expanding opportunities across the board.

Whether your school is battling through the First Four or resting on a top seed, understanding the structure behind that number adds context to every tip-off, upset, and Cinderella run.