# 1996 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament

The 1996 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament took place from March 15–31, 1996. The Final Four consisted of Connecticut, Georgia, Stanford, and Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Georgia 83–65 in the championship game.

## Tournament records

* Three-point field goal percentage – Nykesha Sales, Connecticut, hit four of five three-point field goal attempts(80%) in the semi-final game against Tennessee, tying a record for three-point field goal percentage in a Final Four game, held by four other players.
* Three-point field goal percentage – Abby Conklin, Tennessee hit four of five three-point field goal attempts(80%) in the championship game against Georgia, tying a record for three-point field goal percentage in a Final Four game, held by four other players.
* Three-point field goals – Harvard hit 16 three-point field goals in a Mideast first-round game, setting the record for most three-point field goals in an NCAA tournament game, subsequently tied by two other teams.

## Qualifying teams – automatic

Sixty-four teams were selected to participate in the 1996 NCAA Tournament. Thirty-one conferences were eligible for an automatic bid.
Automatic Bids :
| | | Record | Record | |
| Qualifying School | Conference | Regular Season | Conference | Seed |
| Appalachian State University | Southern Conference | 24–5 | 14–0 | 13 |
| Austin Peay State University | Ohio Valley Conference | 21–7 | 13–3 | 14 |
| Butler University | Midwestern Collegiate | 21–8 | 13–3 | 15 |
| Clemson University | ACC | 22–7 | 9–7 | 3 |
| University of Colorado at Boulder | Big Eight | 25–8 | 9–5 | 3 |
| Colorado State University | WAC | 25–4 | 12–2 | 8 |
| University of Connecticut | Big East | 30–3 | 17–1 | 1 |
| The George Washington University | Atlantic 10 | 25–6 | 14–2 | 6 |
| Grambling State University | SWAC | 21–6 | 13–1 | 16 |
| Harvard University | Ivy League | 20–6 | 13–1 | 14 |
| University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa | Big West Conference | 23–5 | 15–3 | 11 |
| College of the Holy Cross | Patriot League | 23–9 | 9–3 | 15 |
| Howard University | MEAC | 20–9 | 13–3 | 16 |
| Louisiana Tech University | Sun Belt Conference | 28–1 | 14–0 | 1 |
| University of Maine | North Atlantic Conference | 27–4 | 18–0 | 11 |
| Manhattan College | MAAC | 19–10 | 11–3 | 14 |
| University of Memphis | Conference USA | 20–10 | 10–4 | 8 |
| Missouri State University | Missouri Valley Conference | 25–4 | 16–2 | 12 |
| University of Montana | Big Sky Conference | 24–4 | 13–1 | 12 |
| Old Dominion University | Colonial | 27–2 | 16–0 | 2 |
| Pennsylvania State University | Big Ten | 25–6 | 13–3 | 2 |
| Radford University | Big South Conference | 17–11 | 10–4 | 16 |
| University of San Francisco | West Coast Conference | 22–7 | 12–2 | 12 |
| St. Francis (PA) | Northeast Conference | 19–10 | 13–5 | 15 |
| Stanford University | Pac-10 | 25–2 | 18–0 | 1 |
| Stephen F. Austin State University | Southland | 25–3 | 18–0 | 11 |
| University of Tennessee | SEC | 26–4 | 9–2 | 1 |
| Texas A&M University | Southwest | 20–11 | 8–6 | 7 |
| University of Toledo | MAC | 24–5 | 15–3 | 10 |
| University of Central Florida | Trans America | 15–13 | 7–8 | 16 |
| Youngstown State University | Mid-Continent | 20–8 | 14–4 | 15 |

## Qualifying teams – at-large

Thirty-three additional teams were selected to complete the sixty-four invitations.
At-large Bids :
| | | Record | Record | |
| Qualifying School | Conference | Regular Season | Conference | Seed |
| University of Alabama | Southeastern | 22–7 | 7–4 | 4 |
| Auburn University | Southeastern | 20–8 | 6–5 | 6 |
| DePaul University | Conference USA | 20–9 | 13–1 | 7 |
| Duke University | Atlantic Coast | 25–6 | 12–4 | 4 |
| University of Florida | Southeastern | 21–8 | 6–5 | 5 |
| University of Georgia | Southeastern | 23–4 | 10–1 | 2 |
| University of Iowa | Big Ten | 25–3 | 15–1 | 2 |
| James Madison University | Colonial | 21–8 | 12–4 | 13 |
| University of Kansas | Big Eight | 20–9 | 11–3 | 4 |
| Kent State University | Mid-American | 23–6 | 16–2 | 10 |
| University of Massachusetts | Atlantic 10 | 20–9 | 11–5 | 8 |
| Michigan State University | Big Ten | 17–10 | 9–7 | 9 |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Ohio Valley | 24–5 | 13–3 | 13 |
| University of Mississippi | Southeastern | 18–10 | 6–5 | 7 |
| University of Nebraska–Lincoln | Big Eight | 19–9 | 8–6 | 9 |
| North Carolina State University | Atlantic Coast | 19–9 | 10–6 | 5 |
| University of Notre Dame | Big East | 22–7 | 15–3 | 12 |
| Ohio State University | Big Ten | 20–12 | 8–8 | 9 |
| Oklahoma State University–Stillwater | Big Eight | 19–9 | 8–6 | 7 |
| University of Oregon | Pacific-10 | 18–10 | 10–8 | 11 |
| Oregon State University | Pacific-10 | 19–10 | 11–7 | 6 |
| University of Portland | West Coast | 23–6 | 12–2 | 13 |
| Purdue University | Big Ten | 20–10 | 11–5 | 5 |
| University of Rhode Island | Atlantic 10 | 21–7 | 13–3 | 10 |
| Southern Methodist University | Southwest | 19–10 | 9–5 | 10 |
| University of Southern Mississippi | Conference USA | 21–7 | 11–3 | 9 |
| University of Texas at Austin | Southwest | 20–8 | 13–1 | 5 |
| Texas Tech University | Southwest | 25–4 | 13–1 | 4 |
| Tulane University | Conference USA | 21–9 | 9–5 | 14 |
| University of Utah | Western Athletic | 21–7 | 12–2 | 8 |
| Vanderbilt University | Southeastern | 20–7 | 7–4 | 3 |
| University of Virginia | Atlantic Coast | 23–6 | 13–3 | 3 |
| University of Wisconsin–Madison | Big Ten | 21–7 | 12–4 | 6 |

## Bids by conference

Thirty-one conferences earned an automatic bid. In seventeen cases, the automatic bid was the only representative from the conference. Thirty-three additional at-large teams were selected from fourteen of the conferences.
| Bids | Conference | Teams |
| 7 | Southeastern | Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt |
| 6 | Big Ten | Penn St., Iowa, Michigan St., Ohio St., Purdue, Wisconsin |
| 4 | Atlantic Coast | Clemson, Duke, North Carolina St., Virginia |
| 4 | Big Eight | Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma St. |
| 4 | Conference USA | Memphis, DePaul, Southern Miss., Tulane |
| 4 | Southwest | Texas A&M, SMU, Texas, Texas Tech |
| 3 | Atlantic 10 | George Washington, Massachusetts, Rhode Island |
| 3 | Pacific-10 | Stanford, Oregon, Oregon St. |
| 2 | Big East | Connecticut, Notre Dame |
| 2 | Colonial | Old Dominion, James Madison |
| 2 | Mid-American | Toledo, Kent St. |
| 2 | Ohio Valley | Austin Peay, Middle Tenn. |
| 2 | West Coast | San Francisco, Portland |
| 2 | Western Athletic | Colorado St., Utah |
| 1 | Big Sky | Montana |
| 1 | Big South | Radford |
| 1 | Big West | Hawaii |
| 1 | Ivy | Harvard |
| 1 | Metro Atlantic | Manhattan |
| 1 | Mid-Continent | Youngstown St. |
| 1 | Mid-Eastern | Howard |
| 1 | Midwestern Collegiate | Butler |
| 1 | Missouri Valley | Missouri St. |
| 1 | North Atlantic | Maine |
| 1 | Northeast | St. Francis (PA) |
| 1 | Patriot | Holy Cross |
| 1 | Southern | Appalachian St. |
| 1 | Southland | Stephen F. Austin |
| 1 | Southwestern | Grambling State |
| 1 | Sun Belt | Louisiana Tech |
| 1 | Trans-America | UCF |

## First and second rounds

In 1996, the field remained at 64 teams. The teams were seeded, and assigned to four geographic regions, with seeds 1-16 in each region. In Round 1, seeds 1 and 16 faced each other, as well as seeds 2 and 15, seeds 3 and 14, seeds 4 and 13, seeds 5 and 12, seeds 6 and 11, seeds 7 and 10, and seeds 8 and 9. In the first two rounds, the top four seeds were given the opportunity to host the first-round game. In all cases, the higher seed accepted the opportunity.
The following table lists the region, host school, venue and the sixteen first and second round locations:
| Region | Rnd | Host | Venue | City | State |
| East | 1&2 | Old Dominion University | Old Dominion University Fieldhouse | Norfolk | Virginia |
| East | 1&2 | University of Virginia | University Hall (University of Virginia) | Charlottesville | Virginia |
| East | 1&2 | University of Tennessee | Thompson-Boling Arena | Knoxville | Tennessee |
| East | 1&2 | University of Kansas | Allen Field House | Lawrence | Kansas |
| Mideast | 1&2 | University of Iowa | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Iowa City | Iowa |
| Mideast | 1&2 | University of Connecticut | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion | Storrs | Connecticut |
| Mideast | 1&2 | Vanderbilt University | Memorial Gymnasium (Vanderbilt University) | Nashville | Tennessee |
| Mideast | 1&2 | Duke University | Cameron Indoor Stadium | Durham | North Carolina |
| Midwest | 1&2 | University of Georgia | Georgia Coliseum (Stegeman Coliseum) | Athens | Georgia |
| Midwest | 1&2 | Louisiana Tech University | Thomas Assembly Center | Ruston | Louisiana |
| Midwest | 1&2 | Clemson University | Littlejohn Coliseum | Clemson | South Carolina |
| Midwest | 1&2 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock Municipal Coliseum | Lubbock | Texas |
| West | 1&2 | Pennsylvania State University | Recreation Building (Rec Hall) | University Park | Pennsylvania |
| West | 1&2 | University of Colorado | CU Events Center (Coors Events Center) | Boulder | Colorado |
| West | 1&2 | Stanford University | Maples Pavilion | Stanford | California |
| West | 1&2 | University of Alabama | Coleman Coliseum | Tuscaloosa | Alabama |

## Regionals and Final Four

The Regionals, named for the general location, were held from March 23 to March 25 at these sites:
* East Regional University Hall (University of Virginia), Charlottesville, Virginia (Host: University of Virginia)
* Midwest Regional William R. Johnson Coliseum, Nacogdoches, Texas (Host: Stephen F. Austin University)
* West Regional Hec Edmundson Pavilion, Seattle, Washington (Host: University of Washington)
* Mideast Regional Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois (Host: DePaul University)
Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four held on March 29 and March 31 in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Charlotte Coliseum, (co-hosted by Davidson College and UNC Charlotte).

## Bids by state

The sixty-four teams came from thirty-two states, plus Washington, D.C. Texas and Tennessee had the most teams with five bids. Eighteen states did not have any teams receiving bids.
| Bids | State | Teams |
| 5 | Tennessee | Austin Peay, Memphis, Tennessee, Middle Tenn., Vanderbilt |
| 5 | Texas | Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M, SMU, Texas, Texas Tech |
| 4 | Ohio | Toledo, Youngstown St., Kent St., Ohio St. |
| 4 | Virginia | Old Dominion, Radford, James Madison, Virginia |
| 3 | Indiana | Butler, Notre Dame, Purdue |
| 3 | Louisiana | Grambling State, Louisiana Tech, Tulane |
| 3 | Massachusetts | Harvard, Holy Cross, Massachusetts |
| 3 | North Carolina | Appalachian St., Duke, North Carolina St. |
| 3 | Oregon | Oregon, Oregon St., Portland |
| 2 | Alabama | Alabama, Auburn |
| 2 | California | San Francisco, Stanford |
| 2 | Colorado | Colorado, Colorado St. |
| 2 | District of Columbia | George Washington, Howard |
| 2 | Florida | UCF, Florida |
| 2 | Mississippi | Ole Miss, Southern Miss. |
| 1 | New York | Manhattan |
| 1 | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| 1 | Georgia | Georgia |
| 1 | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| 1 | Illinois | DePaul |
| 1 | Iowa | Iowa |
| 1 | Kansas | Kansas |
| 1 | Maine | Maine |
| 1 | Michigan | Michigan St. |
| 1 | Missouri | Missouri St. |
| 1 | Montana | Montana |
| 1 | Nebraska | Nebraska |
| 1 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma St. |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | Penn St., St Francis |
| 1 | Rhode Island | Rhode Island |
| 1 | South Carolina | Clemson |
| 1 | Utah | Utah |
| 1 | Wisconsin | Wisconsin |

## Brackets
### East Region

| First round March 15 and 16 | First round March 15 and 16 | First round March 15 and 16 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Regional semifinals March 23 University Hall Charlottesville, VA | Regional semifinals March 23 University Hall Charlottesville, VA | Regional semifinals March 23 University Hall Charlottesville, VA | | Regional finals March 25 University Hall Charlottesville, VA | Regional finals March 25 University Hall Charlottesville, VA | Regional finals March 25 University Hall Charlottesville, VA |
| 1 | Tennessee | 97 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Radford | 56 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Radford | 56 | 1 | Tennessee | 97 | | | | | | | |
| Knoxville, TN | Knoxville, TN | Knoxville, TN | 1 | Tennessee | 97 | | | | | | | |
| Knoxville, TN | Knoxville, TN | Knoxville, TN | 9 | Ohio State | 65 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Memphis | 75 | 9 | Ohio State | 65 | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Ohio State | 97 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Ohio State | 97 | | | | 1 | Tennessee | 92 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Kansas | 71 | | | | |
| 5 | Texas | 73 | | | | | | | 4 | Kansas | 71 | | | | |
| 12 | SW Missouri St. | 55 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | SW Missouri St. | 55 | 5 | Texas | 70 | | | | | | | |
| Lawrence, KS | Lawrence, KS | Lawrence, KS | 5 | Texas | 70 | | | | | | | |
| Lawrence, KS | Lawrence, KS | Lawrence, KS | 4 | Kansas | 77 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Kansas | 72 | 4 | Kansas | 77 | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Middle Tennessee State | 57 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Middle Tennessee State | 57 | | | | | | | | 1 | Tennessee | 52 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Virginia | 46 |
| 6 | George Washington | 83 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Virginia | 46 |
| 11 | Maine | 67 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Maine | 67 | 6 | George Washington | 43 | | | | | | | |
| Charlottesville, VA | Charlottesville, VA | Charlottesville, VA | 6 | George Washington | 43 | | | | | | | |
| Charlottesville, VA | Charlottesville, VA | Charlottesville, VA | 3 | Virginia | 62 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Virginia | 100 | 3 | Virginia | 62 | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Manhattan | 55 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Manhattan | 55 | | | | 3 | Virginia | 72 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Old Dominion | 60 | | | | |
| 7 | Ole Miss | 53 | | | | | | | 2 | Old Dominion | 60 | | | | |
| 10 | Toledo | 65 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Toledo | 65 | 10 | Toledo | 66 | | | | | | | |
| Norfolk, VA | Norfolk, VA | Norfolk, VA | 10 | Toledo | 66 | | | | | | | |
| Norfolk, VA | Norfolk, VA | Norfolk, VA | 2 | Old Dominion | 72 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Old Dominion | 83 | 2 | Old Dominion | 72 | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Holy Cross | 56 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Mideast Region

| First round March 15 and 16 | First round March 15 and 16 | First round March 15 and 16 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Regional semifinals March 23 Allstate Arena Rosemont, IL | Regional semifinals March 23 Allstate Arena Rosemont, IL | Regional semifinals March 23 Allstate Arena Rosemont, IL | | Regional finals March 25 Allstate Arena Rosemont, IL | Regional finals March 25 Allstate Arena Rosemont, IL | Regional finals March 25 Allstate Arena Rosemont, IL |
| 1 | Connecticut | 94 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Howard | 63 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Howard | 63 | 1 | Connecticut | 88 | | | | | | | |
| Storrs, CT | Storrs, CT | Storrs, CT | 1 | Connecticut | 88 | | | | | | | |
| Storrs, CT | Storrs, CT | Storrs, CT | 9 | Michigan State | 68 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 57 | 9 | Michigan State | 68 | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Michigan State | 60 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Michigan State | 60 | | | | 1 | Connecticut | 72 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 12 | San Francisco | 44 | | | | |
| 5 | Florida | 61 | | | | | | | 12 | San Francisco | 44 | | | | |
| 12 | San Francisco | 68 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | San Francisco | 68 | 12 | San Francisco | 64 | | | | | | | |
| Durham, NC | Durham, NC | Durham, NC | 12 | San Francisco | 64 | | | | | | | |
| Durham, NC | Durham, NC | Durham, NC | 4 | Duke | 60 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Duke | 85 | 4 | Duke | 60 | | | | | | | |
| 13 | James Madison | 53 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | James Madison | 53 | | | | | | | | 1 | Connecticut | 67 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Vanderbilt | 57 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 74 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Vanderbilt | 57 |
| 11 | Oregon | 60 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Oregon | 60 | 6 | Wisconsin | 82 | | | | | | | |
| Nashville, TN | Nashville, TN | Nashville, TN | 6 | Wisconsin | 82 | | | | | | | |
| Nashville, TN | Nashville, TN | Nashville, TN | 3 | Vanderbilt | 96 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Vanderbilt | 100 | 3 | Vanderbilt | 96 | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Harvard | 83 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Harvard | 83 | | | | 3 | Vanderbilt | 74 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Iowa | 63 | | | | |
| 7 | DePaul | 96 | | | | | | | 2 | Iowa | 63 | | | | |
| 10 | SMU | 82 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | SMU | 82 | 7 | DePaul | 71 | | | | | | | |
| Iowa City, IA | Iowa City, IA | Iowa City, IA | 7 | DePaul | 71 | | | | | | | |
| Iowa City, IA | Iowa City, IA | Iowa City, IA | 2 | Iowa | 72 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Iowa | 72 | 2 | Iowa | 72 | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Butler | 67 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Midwest Region

| First round March 15 and 16 | First round March 15 and 16 | First round March 15 and 16 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Regional semifinals March 23 William R. Johnson Coliseum Nacogdoches, Texas | Regional semifinals March 23 William R. Johnson Coliseum Nacogdoches, Texas | Regional semifinals March 23 William R. Johnson Coliseum Nacogdoches, Texas | | Regional finals March 25 William R. Johnson Coliseum Nacogdoches, Texas | Regional finals March 25 William R. Johnson Coliseum Nacogdoches, Texas | Regional finals March 25 William R. Johnson Coliseum Nacogdoches, Texas |
| 1 | Louisiana Tech | 98 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Central Florida | 41 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Central Florida | 41 | 1 | Louisiana Tech | 84 | | | | | | | |
| Ruston, LA | Ruston, LA | Ruston, LA | 1 | Louisiana Tech | 84 | | | | | | | |
| Ruston, LA | Ruston, LA | Ruston, LA | 9 | Southern Mississippi | 46 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Utah | 66 | 9 | Southern Mississippi | 46 | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Southern Mississippi | 74 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Southern Mississippi | 74 | | | | 1 | Louisiana Tech | 66 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Texas Tech | 55 | | | | |
| 5 | Purdue | 60 | | | | | | | 4 | Texas Tech | 55 | | | | |
| 12 | Notre Dame | 73 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Notre Dame | 73 | 12 | Notre Dame | 67 | | | | | | | |
| Lubbock, Texas | Lubbock, Texas | Lubbock, Texas | 12 | Notre Dame | 67 | | | | | | | |
| Lubbock, Texas | Lubbock, Texas | Lubbock, Texas | 4 | Texas Tech | 82 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Texas Tech | 78 | 4 | Texas Tech | 82 | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Portland | 61 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Portland | 61 | | | | | | | | 1 | Louisiana Tech | 76 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Georgia | 90 |
| 6 | Oregon State | 65 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Georgia | 90 |
| 11 | Stephen F. Austin | 67 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Stephen F. Austin | 67 | 11 | Stephen F. Austin | 93 | | | | | | | |
| Clemson, SC | Clemson, SC | Clemson, SC | 11 | Stephen F. Austin | 93 | | | | | | | |
| Clemson, SC | Clemson, SC | Clemson, SC | 3 | Clemson | 88 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Clemson | 79 | 3 | Clemson | 88 | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Austin Peay | 52 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Austin Peay | 52 | | | | 11 | Stephen F. Austin | 64 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Georgia | 78 | | | | |
| 7 | Oklahoma State | 90 | | | | | | | 2 | Georgia | 78 | | | | |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 82 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 82 | 7 | Oklahoma State | 55 | | | | | | | |
| Athens, GA | Athens, GA | Athens, GA | 7 | Oklahoma State | 55 | | | | | | | |
| Athens, GA | Athens, GA | Athens, GA | 2 | Georgia | 83 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Georgia | 98 | 2 | Georgia | 83 | | | | | | | |
| 15 | St. Francis PA | 66 | | | | | | | | | | |

### West Region

| First round March 15 and 16 | First round March 15 and 16 | First round March 15 and 16 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Regional semifinals March 23 Alaska Airlines Arena Seattle, WA | Regional semifinals March 23 Alaska Airlines Arena Seattle, WA | Regional semifinals March 23 Alaska Airlines Arena Seattle, WA | | Regional finals March 25 Alaska Airlines Arena Seattle, WA | Regional finals March 25 Alaska Airlines Arena Seattle, WA | Regional finals March 25 Alaska Airlines Arena Seattle, WA |
| 1 | Stanford | 82 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Grambling State | 43 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Grambling State | 43 | 1 | Stanford | 94 | | | | | | | |
| Stanford, CA | Stanford, CA | Stanford, CA | 1 | Stanford | 94 | | | | | | | |
| Stanford, CA | Stanford, CA | Stanford, CA | 8 | Colorado State | 63 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Colorado State | 66 | 8 | Colorado State | 63 | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Nebraska | 62 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Nebraska | 62 | | | | 1 | Stanford | 78 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Alabama | 76 | | | | |
| 5 | North Carolina State | 77 | | | | | | | 4 | Alabama | 76 | | | | |
| 12 | Montana | 68 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Montana | 68 | 5 | North Carolina State | 68 | | | | | | | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | Tuscaloosa, AL | Tuscaloosa, AL | 5 | North Carolina State | 68 | | | | | | | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | Tuscaloosa, AL | Tuscaloosa, AL | 4 | Alabama | 88 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Alabama | 95 | 4 | Alabama | 88 | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Appalachian State | 66 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Appalachian State | 66 | | | | | | | | 1 | Stanford | 71 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Auburn | 57 |
| 6 | Auburn | 73 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Auburn | 57 |
| 11 | Hawaii | 53 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Hawaii | 53 | 6 | Auburn | 68 | | | | | | | |
| Boulder, CO | Boulder, CO | Boulder, CO | 6 | Auburn | 68 | | | | | | | |
| Boulder, CO | Boulder, CO | Boulder, CO | 3 | Colorado | 61 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Colorado | 83 | 3 | Colorado | 61 | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Tulane | 75 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Tulane | 75 | | | | 6 | Auburn | 75 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Penn State | 69 | | | | |
| 7 | Texas A&M | 68 | | | | | | | 2 | Penn State | 69 | | | | |
| 10 | Kent State | 72 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Kent State | 72 | 10 | Kent State | 59 | | | | | | | |
| University Park, PA | University Park, PA | University Park, PA | 10 | Kent State | 59 | | | | | | | |
| University Park, PA | University Park, PA | University Park, PA | 2 | Penn State | 86 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Penn State | 94 | 2 | Penn State | 86 | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Youngstown State | 71 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Final Four – Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina

| National semifinals March 29 | National semifinals March 29 | National semifinals March 29 | National championship March 31 | National championship March 31 | National championship March 31 |
| E1 | Tennessee | 88 | | | |
| ME1 | Connecticut | 83$^{OT}$ | | | |
| ME1 | Connecticut | 83$^{OT}$ | E1 | Tennessee | 83 |
| | | | MW2 | Georgia | 65 |
| MW2 | Georgia | 86 | MW2 | Georgia | 65 |
| W1 | Stanford | 76 | | | |

## Record by conference

Sixteen conferences had more than one bid, or at least one win in NCAA Tournament play:
| Conference | # of Bids | Record | Win % | Round of 32 | Sweet Sixteen | Elite Eight | Final Four | Championship Game |
| Southeastern | 7 | 19–6 | .760 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Big Ten | 6 | 7–6 | .538 | 5 | 2 | – | – | – |
| Atlantic Coast | 4 | 6–4 | .600 | 4 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| Big Eight | 4 | 4–4 | .500 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – |
| Southwest | 4 | 3–4 | .429 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – |
| Conference USA | 4 | 2–4 | .333 | 2 | – | – | – | – |
| Pacific-10 | 3 | 4–3 | .571 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – |
| Atlantic 10 | 3 | 1–3 | .250 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Big East | 2 | 5–2 | .714 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – |
| Colonial | 2 | 2–2 | .500 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – |
| Mid-American | 2 | 2–2 | .500 | 2 | – | – | – | – |
| West Coast | 2 | 2–2 | .500 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – |
| Western Athletic | 2 | 1–2 | .333 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Ohio Valley | 2 | 0–2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sun Belt | 1 | 3–1 | .750 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| Southland | 1 | 2–1 | .667 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – |
Fifteen conferences went 0-1: Big Sky Conference, Big South Conference, Big West Conference, Ivy League, MAAC, Mid-Continent, MEAC, Midwestern Collegiate, Missouri Valley Conference, North Atlantic Conference, Northeast Conference, Patriot League, Southern Conference, SWAC, and Trans America

## All-Tournament team

* Michelle M. Marciniak, Tennessee
* Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee
* Tiffani Johnson, Tennessee
* La'Keshia Frett, Georgia
* Saudia Roundtree, Georgia

## Game officials

* Art Bomegen (semifinal)
* Doug Cloud (semifinal)
* Wes Dean (semifinal)
* John Morningstar (semifinal)
* Bob Trammell (semifinal)
* Scott Yarborough (semifinal)
* Sally Bell (final)
* Dee Kantner (final)
* Violet Palmer (final)
This was the first year the NCAA used three officials in tournament games, which was the standard for men's games since the 1978-79 season. Several conferences, including the SEC, assigned three officials to its regular season and conference tournament games for several seasons before the NCAA changed its rules.