Women: LSU, Iowa open on top line, but UConn is No. 1 overall

By Charlie Creme Updated: 4/18/2023 at 9:00 a.m. ET

The format for the 2024 NCAA tournament will stay the same for the first time in three years. The move to two regionals returns, with Albany, New York, and Portland, Oregon, as hosts. The Final Four shifts to Cleveland for the first time since 2007. At this time last year, South Carolina was the clear favorite. UConn assumes that role heading into the 2023-24 season, albeit not nearly as overwhelmingly as South Carolina a year ago.

Bracket Watch

Iowa, as a No. 2 seed, and No. 3 seed LSU battled for the national championship three weeks ago. With the Hawkeyes' Caitlin Clark and the Tigers' Angel Reese leading the way, count them as favorites to get to Cleveland in 2024 as both teams open as No. 1 seeds in our offseason Bracketology. UConn, the overall No. 1 seed, and Utah, a newcomer to elite status, are the other teams on the top line. The NCAA tournament landscape looks even more balanced after only two 1-seeds reached the Final Four. Familiar names South Carolina and Stanford are still in the top 16 but will have to figure out significant personnel losses. With the Utes, Cardinal and UCLA leading the way, the Pac-12 has the most tournament teams with nine; the ACC and Big Ten each have eight.

On the Bubble

Albany 1

Storrs

College Park

Blacksburg

Columbia

Portland 4

Salt Lake City

Austin

Oxford

Bloomington

Albany 2

Baton Rouge

Stanford

South Bend

Columbus

Portland 3

Iowa City

Waco

Knoxville

Los Angeles