2025 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship Field Announced
INDIANAPOLIS—The NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Committee recently released the 64-team bracket for the 2025 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship. Among the teams making waves is the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) champion, SUNY Cobleskill, who will be making their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. They finished the season with a commendable record of 24-4 and will square off against No. 9 Smith College, boasting an impressive record of 26-2.
The matchup is set to take place on Friday, March 7, at Ainsworth Gym located in Northampton, Massachusetts, although the exact tip-off time is yet to be determined.
This NCAA championship features a 64-team tournament format, where 43 teams received automatic qualification by winning their respective conferences. The remaining 21 spots are filled via at-large bids from conferences that have automatic qualifiers. Geographical proximity is taken into account when pairing teams for matchups.
SUNY Cobleskill earned its place in this prestigious tournament by narrowly defeating Maine Maritime Academy, with a final score of 55-53 in the NAC Championship game held on Saturday in Cobleskill. On the other hand, Smith College, which was the runner-up in the 2024 NCAA Division III Championship, is making its sixth straight tournament appearance and seventh overall.
Smith College will also be hosting as one of the 16 NCAA pod hosts, alongside Amherst College, who made it into the tournament with a record of 19-7 after gaining an at-large berth. Additionally, Liberty League champion Vassar College (21-6) is set to compete against Amherst in another first-round matchup in Northampton.
The first and second rounds of the tournament will take place on March 7 and 8, with winners advancing to the sectional play on March 14 and 15. The four sectional champions will then compete in the national semifinals and final championship game on March 20 and 22. It’s important to note that all games prior to the semifinals will be held on the campuses of the participating institutions, while the semifinals and finals are set to occur at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Fans and participants alike can feel the excitement building as the tournament approaches, promising thrilling matchups and unforgettable moments on the court.
