You can find a PackWBB.com opinion piece written earlier about NCAA tournament expansion here.

2027 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Expansion Talking Points

• Field Expansion: Tournament grows from 68 to 76 teams (effective 2026-27 season), creating 8 additional bids and more championship opportunities for student-athletes.
• Participation Impact: 21% of all Division I women’s basketball teams will now make the NCAA postseason (up from 18%). The women’s field has grown from 32 teams (1982) → 64 (1994) → 68 (2022) → 76 (2027), a 12-team increase since 2022.
• Opening Round Format: 24 teams (12 lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers + 12 lowest-seeded at-large teams) play 12 games over two days (March 17-18, 2027) at 12 campus sites hosted by top-16 seeds.
  • Automatic qualifiers play only other AQs (6 games).
  • At-large teams play only other at-larges (6 games).
  • Teams paired by closest overall seed; exceptions possible for rematches, geography, or same-conference matchups.
• Bracket & Schedule Unchanged After Opening Round: Standard 64-team single-elimination format follows.
  • Round of 64: Friday–Saturday
  • Round of 32: Sunday–Monday
  • Regionals: March 26 & 29 (Philadelphia & Las Vegas)
  • Women’s Final Four: April 2 & 4 (Columbus, Ohio)
• Financial Benefits: Additional revenue distributions to schools (part of >$131 million new revenue over next 6 years of broadcast deals).
  • 16 extra basketball fund units for women’s basketball.
  • Supports program investment, scholarships, and direct revenue-sharing with student-athletes.
  • More schools gain national exposure, boosting enrollment and alumni support.
• Fan & Competitive Enhancements: More high-quality early-round matchups; nearly half of teams seeded 15/16 are now expected to win at least one game.
• Broadcast: All games air on ESPN networks.
• Official Quote (Women’s Committee Chair):
  “The growth of women’s basketball has been phenomenal in recent years, and we are pleased to be able to offer additional opportunities to the student-athletes and teams that earn them.” — Amanda Braun, Division I Women’s Basketball Committee Chair & Athletics Director, Milwaukee.

2027 NCAA women’s basketball tournament schedule

• Selection Sunday
  • Sunday, March 14

Opening round

• Wednesday, March 17 and Thursday, March 18
  • Campus sites

First round

• Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20
  • Campus sites

Second round

• Sunday, March 21 and Monday, March 22
  • Campus sites

Sweet 16

• Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Las Vegas, Nevada

Elite Eight

• Sunday, March 28 and Monday, March 29
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Las Vegas, Nevada

Final Four

• Friday, April 2
  • Nationwide Arena (Columbus, Ohio)

National Championship Game

• Sunday, April 4
  • Nationwide Arena (Columbus, Ohio)