Brace yourselves. The 2025 women’s March Madness bracket might already be wonky.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s March, and that means there is basketball galore. So many people are tuning in across the country as teams march ― get it? ― towards the NCAA tournament. Typically, that means some madness ― see what I did there? ― as top programs across the country compete for a national championship.
However, the wild times have started early this year during tournament play. Upsets across multiple conferences are causing chaos and potentially affecting the larger March Madness women’s bracket. Unfortunately, projected seeding might already be cooked for many programs nationwide. Here’s what I mean.
Here are 4 teams already threatening to upend March Madness:
Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt has now beaten the Tennessee Lady Volunteers twice this season, including upsetting them during the SEC tournament. Freshman Mikayla Blakes was a one-woman wrecking crew, but Vandy had several other players, including Khamil Pierre and Iyana Moore, who simply unraveled Kim Caldwell’s team. Their defense left a lot to be desired at times, and then, their offense sputtered on the other end.With the tournament elimination, Tennessee’s NCAA tournament seeding could be at stake. “It’s been a really disappointing last week, week-and-a-half,” Caldwell said after losing to the Commodores. “I don’t think we played well. Even some of the games we won, we didn’t play well. We need to rest, get healthy, and get back to it.”
For the first time in program history, Vanderbilt has beaten Tennessee twice in the same season. Shea Ralph has her team playing some great basketball in Greenville.
Tennessee has now lost 3 of its last 4 and per @CharlieCreme now doesn’t have a path to the top-16
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) March 6, 2025
Florida Gators
Florida Gators freshman Liv McGill is a name you’ll want to know. McGill’s 29-point outing against No. 19-ranked Alabama was incredible. McGill helped the Gators fend off a Crimson Tide team led by Sarah Ashlee Barker that ate into a double-digit lead.
Ultimately, Florida beat Alabama 63-61 with just seconds remaining. Like Tenneesee, Alabama’s seeding for the forthcoming NCAA tournament might be in jeopardy after the loss.
WOW. Major shakeup in the SEC tournament with 11 seed Florida taking down 6 seed Alabama
Recent weeks Bama looked to be potentially pushing for a top-16 seed and poised to try and make some major SEC tournament noise.
Instead Florida ends their run in their first game
— Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) March 7, 2025
Iowa Hawkeyes
The Iowa Hawkeyes aren’t the same group that went to the national championship last season, and without Caitlin Clark, they haven’t had the season most probably hoped for. Still, under the leadership of Villanova transfer Lucy Olsen, they’re a feisty group and potentially busted part of the women’s bracket.
During the ongoing Big Ten tournament, Iowa upset the No. 24 ranked Michican State Spartans, 74-61, and could also impact Michigan State’s seeding. It’s possible they could be a No. 2 seed on selection Sunday.
Stanford Cardinal
Surprisingly, Stanford’s shocking loss to Clemson in the ACC Tournament means they could miss out on the NCAA tournament. Yes, after Tara Vanderveer’s retirement, the program’s 36-year streak of going dancing could come to an end. Per SB Nation’s Mitchell Northam, head coach Kate Paye said the team might be willing to play in another tournament, perhaps the Women’s Basketball Invitation.
The end of an era: Stanford falls in the 1st round of the ACC tournament and is poised to miss out on the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1987, snapping a streak of 36 consecutive appearances. It was the 2nd-longest streak in NCAA Tournament history behind Tennessee’s 42
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) March 6, 2025
This article originally appeared on For The Win: March Madness women’s bracket in 2025 might already be cooked
