Few sports in the country have received the influx of attention that women's basketball has over the past couple of years. March Madness is an exciting time, pitting some of the best collegiate basketball teams against each other for a champion, launching the careers of dozens of young athletes. The tournament officially kicked off on Wednesday, with Iowa State and Southern making it to the next rounds. Columbia and William & Mary universities followed right after.
Here's what you should know about the exciting tournament:
Tournament dates
March Madness began earlier in the month, with Selection Sunday taking place this March 16th. The tournament kicked off officially this week, with the First Four games on March 19th and 20th. Below are the following game dates:
- First round: March 21-22
- Second round: March 23-24
- Sweet 16: March 28-29
- Elite Eight: March 30-31
- Final Four: Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. The second semi-final will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
- NCAA championship game: The final game of the tournament will take place on Sunday, April 6th, at 3 PM.
How to watch
March Madness is available to stream or broadcast on ESPN. This is more complicated than it sounds, with ESPN having subsidiaries like ESPN2, ESPNU, and EPSNews. While the final rounds will likely air on the main channel, be sure to check out the smaller ones if you're following a particular team.
In regards to streaming, apps like ESPN+ and Fubo will grant you access to the games. If possible, you can opt into their free trial options.
Check out the tournament bracket
The NCAA Division I March Madness Bracket features all the information you need, providing you with dates, teams, and locations where the games will be played. Check it out below.
Who are the favorites
March Madness is an unpredictable tournament; it's one of the reasons why it's so fun to watch. Still, despite its unwieldy nature, there are a few favorites based on past performances. According to ESPN, some of this year's favorites include USC, UCLA, and Texas, having 10 - 1 odds to win it all.