South Carolina is the defending champion after it beat Iowa last year in a title game watched by an audience of 18.7 million, record viewership for a women's college basketball game. South Carolina also won NCAA titles under coach Dawn Staley in 2022 and 2017.

South Carolina has found extra incentive going into the NCAA Women's Tournament. Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said she felt slighted by the selection committee's decision to give South Carolina (30-3) the No.

William & Mary is one of six teams set to make its first appearance in the women’s NCAA Tournament. The others are Arkansas State, Fairleigh Dickinson, George Mason, Grand Canyon and UC San Diego. Four teams are headed to the men’s tournament for the first time: High Point, Omaha, SIU Edwardsville and UC San Diego.