NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament: Commitment to Two-Site Regionals

The NCAA women's basketball tournament has confirmed its commitment to utilizing a two-site format for its four regionals for at least the next five seasons. This decision follows a successful implementation of the two-site model over the past three years, which has resulted in record attendance figures. Lynn Holzman, NCAA vice president for women's basketball, emphasized the importance of gender equity in tournament participation, stating that any future expansion of the men's tournament would also apply to the women's field.

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The NCAA women's tournament began in 1982 with 32 teams and has progressively expanded, reaching 64 teams by 1994 and 68 teams in 2022. The shift from a four-site to a two-site regional format was introduced in 2023, aiming to enhance the atmosphere and increase attendance. The previous four-site model recorded a total attendance of 73,954, while the two-site format achieved a new high of 84,754 attendees last year. The current regional sites for this year are Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, and Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.

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The NCAA has already awarded regional sites for the next two years, with Philadelphia and Las Vegas set to host in 2027, followed by Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C., in 2028. The bid process for the subsequent three years will open this summer, with awards to be announced in 2027. Holzman noted that while the two-site format has its advantages, there are ongoing concerns regarding television broadcast windows and practice availability for teams.

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The women's Final Four has been secured through 2031, with upcoming locations including Phoenix, Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis, San Antonio, Portland, and Dallas. Notably, the 2028 Final Four will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, which will increase capacity by approximately 13,000 seats compared to the originally planned Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

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Holzman highlighted the continuous growth of the women's tournament, mentioning the transition to unit payments for participating teams starting in 2025. She pointed out an increase in female viewership among the 18-34 age demographic, which is seen as a positive trend for the sport. Holzman noted, "The players are using their own platforms to connect with fans, and it's positive for us to see these trends."

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Despite the positive developments, there are concerns regarding the impact of the two-site format on broadcasting and team logistics. Holzman acknowledged these issues but maintained that the benefits of increased attendance currently outweigh the drawbacks. The NCAA will continue to evaluate the format and its implications as the tournament evolves.

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• “To have the same championship participation postseason opportunities is a commitment under gender equity,” — Lynn Holzman, NCAA Vice President for Women's Basketball

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• “When you look at some of the demographics, one of the things we're seeing is an increase of the age 18-34 female viewership,” — Lynn Holzman, NCAA Vice President for Women's Basketball

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